Masked & Wigged Mel Gibson Turns Up For Sneak Peek At “Apocalypto”
Posted September 25, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Reports indicate Gibson showed up wearing a wig and a mask to hide his identity, then unspooled the film for a mostly Native American audience at a casino in a town called Goldsby and at a university in the city of Lawton.
It’s an unusual tactic for any new movie, since most directors prefer to have their big unveiling at a major film festival such as the one that wrapped up in Toronto earlier this month. But ever the iconoclast, Gibson chose the far more obscure route and the much more unusual location.
Like his previous smash success, “The Passion of the Christ”, “Apocalypto” contains no English.
It’s the story of what happened to the ancient Mayan civilization in Mexico and uses an ancient language to move the narrative along. The film does have subtitles, but those who’ve seen it say it doesn’t have a lot of dialogue in it to begin with.
Reporters were kept away from the screenings, although initial word on the flick has been mostly positive.
It comes just two months after Gibson got into more hot water in Hollywood. He’s still apologizing for making some very pointed anti-Semitic remarks following his arrest for impaired driving near Los Angeles.
Whether his new flick will soar to the heights of “Christ” is another story.
That film had the major backing of churches, which openly encouraged parishioners to see it, making it the biggest independent moneymaker in Hollywood history.
But that impetus will be missing this time around.
Those curious about what Gibson has been up to will find out just before Christmas. “Apocalypto” is scheduled to open in North America on December 8th.
