Mel Gibson Might Direct Andrew Garfield in WWII Drama ‘Hacksaw Ridge’

It’s been several years since Mel Gibson has directed a film, and although he recently appeared in ‘The Expendables 3,’ he’s been mostly under the radar for a while now. But that might change as Gibson is in talks to take on his first directing project in eight years: the WWII drama ‘Hacksaw Ridge,’ which could potentially star Andrew Garfield, who currently has some time on his hands as the fate of ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ franchise is somewhat uncertain.

Deadline reports that while Gibson is circling the director’s chair for ‘Hacksaw Ridge,’ he’s still merely in talks, noting that the process is “moving forward delicately and slowly.” But if he should take on the gig, this would be his first directing project since 2006's ‘Apocalypto.’ Garfield is in talks to play the lead role in the film, which is based on a true story.

‘Hacksaw Ridge’ takes place during the second World War and follows Desmond T. Doss, an American military doctor who refused to mercifully kill his patients who had been horrifically injured on the battlefront. Doss went on to become the first “Conscientious Objector” to win the Congressional Medal of Honor for his work. The film was scripted by Robert Schenkkan and Randall Wallace—who previously wrote ‘Braveheart,’ which won Gibson the Oscar. This could be a promising reunion.

Garfield is next set to star in Martin Scorsese’s ‘Silence,’ and Gibson is starring in the upcoming action thriller ‘Blood Father.’ Gibson has been down some bumpy roads in recent years, which might account for his lower profile, but perhaps getting back in the director’s chair could help turn things around.