Mel Gibson is heading into bloody, battle-heavy territory with a new project based on one of history’s most jaw-dropping sieges – the Great Siege of Malta. As you learn more and more about the Ottoman Empire’s attempt at conquering the island of Malta, the more you’ll realize why Gibson’s new project will be the one to watch out for.
As revealed by Gibson himself, the untitled miniseries will bring one of the most heroic episodes of Christian history to our screens. It will tell the story of how a mere group of 700 Hospitaller Knights fought against the Ottoman army of 40,000 soldiers and emerged victorious.
So, how could the miniseries give Zack Snyder‘s iconic film, 300, a run for its money? For starters, the upcoming project is based on a real-life showdown that remains one of history’s most talked-about events. On the other hand, 300 was based on the Dark Horse comic book series by Frank Miller and focuses on the fictional retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae.
Moreover, the man attached to the project is known for his raw filmmaking when it comes to historical films. His grit, combined with a more realistic edge, just might prove to be on par with Snyder’s 2006 film, if not better. While the 300 legendary Spartans fought the Persian God King’s army of 300,000, the story of the Knights Hospitaller is every bit as staggering.
With the project being a miniseries, Gibson has the opportunity to depict multiple arcs over the span of episodes, allowing him to deliver a more detailed account of the siege as compared to how much he could fit into a 2-3-hour-long film. Is Gibson coming to give Snyder some serious competition? We will just have to find out.
Mel Gibson Opens up About the Malta Project
Last year, Gibson opened up about his passion project in an interview with Movie Web, where he discussed his trip to Malta and the direction his sequel to The Passion of the Christ is taking.
He revealed that he is “working on a TV limited series about the Siege of Malta, which is an incredible story, and there’s only one place to film that, I mean, in Malta.” Staying authentic with the filming location is important to Gibson, who is clearly very passionate about this piece of history.
He said,
That’s where it happened, at these fortresses where 700 knights defended Malta against an onslaught from the Turkish and Suleiman sent 40,000 men and ships and, wow, the knights won. So, it’s a pretty crazy, great story.
Gibson also admitted that he would love to be a part of the project as an actor, but that would only be possible if he found some time for it in his packed schedule. However, he added, “But I certainly want to be like a producer of it, and I’ve worked with a very talented writer on the script, so it’s going to be good for somebody. I know that it’s a great story.“
As of now, there is no update on the project as to when it will be coming out. All we know is that Gibson has every right to be excited about it!
What’s Going on With the Passion of Christ’s Sequel?
Mel Gibson released his highly successful biblical drama, The Passion of the Christ, in 2004. The film depicts the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. With over $600 million in box office earnings, the film remained the highest-grossing R-rated film in the country for 20 years and even received three nominations at the Oscars.
After much waiting, Gibson announced the film’s sequel, The Resurrection of the Christ. Through Lionsgate, the film will be released in two parts in 2027. The first part comes out on March 26, 2027, aka Good Friday, while the second part will be released on Ascension Day, May 06, 2027.
While the plot remains under wraps, Gibson told Joe Rogan earlier this year on The Joe Rogan Experience that he hopes to begin production in 2026. He added, “There’s a lot required because it’s an acid trip. I’ve never read anything like it.” Gibson continued, giving just a hint of the story he’ll be telling,
My brother and I and Randall all sort of congregated on this. So there’s some good heads put together, but there’s some crazy stuff. And I think in order to really tell the story properly you have to really start with the fall of the angels, which means you’re in another place, you’re in another realm. You need to go to hell. You need to go to Sheol.
Gibson also plans to recast Jim Caviezel, who was struck by lightning on set, as Jesus, which might be a bit tricky, as the OG film was released almost two decades ago, when he was in his late 30s. The actor is now 57 years old. He describes the film as “super ambitious” and calls it a project that he has been thinking about for a long time, but one that isn’t going to be easy.
Share your thoughts on Gibson’s two upcoming projects in the comments section below! Which one are you more excited about?
Stream The Passion of the Christ on Netflix and rent/buy 300 on Prime Video.
