Mel Gibson to Star in Million Dollar Hotel


Deseree Stukes ([email protected])
Tue, 6 Oct 1998 09:01:45 -0400


>From Showbiz DISH column:

DISH: Mel Gibson checking into 'Hotel'
By Michael Fleming
MEL GIBSON checking into ``Million Dollar Hotel'' ... ALLISON ANDERS,
KURT VOSS wrap rock picture ... STEVEN SPIELBERG gets co-pilot ... HUGH
GRANT in clash on ``Mickey'' set ... KO footage from ``BOOM BOOM.''
NEW YORK (Variety) - While his primary focus is preparing to direct
``Fahrenheit 451'' for Warner Bros. in May, Mel Gibson will first take a
starring role in ``The Million Dollar Hotel'' for German director Wim
Wenders.
Sources said Gibson has agreed in principle to participate. In his
biggest play against vanity since ``The Man Without a Face,'' Gibson
might shave his head for the role, which he shoots in January.
Gibson's participation was expected after he postponed starring in ``A
Tale of Two Cities'' for producers Paula Weinstein and Barry Levinson.
He feared he couldn't do justice to a period picture and have time to
prepare for the Terry Hayes-scripted adaptation of Ray Bradbury's
``Fahrenheit.'' With ``Hotel,'' he can film a formidable role in a
couple of weeks.
``Hotel'' stars Jeremy Davies (``Saving Private Ryan'') and Milla
Jovovich (now playing Joan of Arc for husband/director Luc Besson) as
two misfits in a seedy hotel whose lives are turned upside down by a
badgering detective trying to solve a possible murder. Gibson would play
the detective.
The film, scripted by Nicholas Klein from a story that Klein hatched
with U2 lead singer Bono, is a co-production between Gibson's Icon
Prods. with Road Movies, and will be produced by Deepak Nayar, Bono,
Klein and Icon's Bruce Davies. Ulrich Felsberg exec produces, and Bono
will possibly play a role in the film, with U2 participating in the
soundtrack.
``Fahrenheit 451,'' a co-production for Warner Bros. between Icon and
Storyline Entertainment, still awaits final word on who will star.
Gibson would prefer to direct only and has been wooing Brad Pitt. Short
of a star of Pitt's caliber, Gibson will be in a similar position as he
was on ``Braveheart,'' which he also wanted to direct only but starred
in because his onscreen presence got the film financed.
_________________________________________________
deseree s. stukes
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