Posted on 09/28/2024 8:50:22 PM PDT by Antoninus
It’s confirmed! Mel Gibson set to produce epic TV series on the Great Siege of 1565 filmed in Malta
We knew he was in Malta for a good reason!
Hollywood star Mel Gibson has announced plans to produce a limited television series about the Great Siege of 1565, which will be filmed in Malta.
After a recent visit to the island to scout locations for his ‘Passion of the Christ’ sequel, the famous actor was captivated by Malta's rich history and impressive fortifications, confirming that the series will be shot on location, in the very fortresses where the siege took place.
Mel Gibson, famous for acting in blockbusters such as ‘The Patriot’, ‘Mad Max’, and ‘Lethal Weapon’, has also directed and produced films like ‘Braveheart’ and ‘The Passion of the Christ’.
Speaking to MovieWeb, he expressed his excitement about the project, describing the Great Siege as an incredible historical event. The series will focus on the dramatic defense of Malta, where 700 Knights of St John held off an invading force of 40,000 Ottoman Turks.
‘I'm also 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. Because 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.’
While Mel Gibson will primarily serve as the series’ producer, he revealed that he is already collaborating with a writer to craft the script for this historical epic.
During his mid-September visit, the actor met with Prime Minister Robert Abela and toured key locations such as Valletta, Mdina, and Birgu.
Will you be watching Mel Gibson’s new television series?
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bkmk
Will be purchasing… thanks!
Well, crap. I have the screen rights to “Angels in Iron”-—at least I did until last year. I think I let them lapse.
I have a great script, and actually had Mel or Jon Voight pegged for the role of the elder Knight leading the defense.
I really, really wanted to produce this as a feature film, not a series.
It will be excellent.
“Angels in Iron” is a fantastic book on this. A novel. I bought screenwrights and held them for 10 years, til I couldn’t afford them any more. Let them lapse 2 years ago. I have a great script, and had hoped to make a feature film, a la “Magnificent Seven in Iron.”
Muslims and Liberals will hate the show. The Siege of Vienna would also be a great tale to tell. So too the battle of Lepanto that broke the back of the Ottoman Navy. Young Don Juan lead the Christians to Victory in that encounter. The Pope had all Catholics pray the rosary for victory and it happened.
One historical film I have enjoyed is Kingdom of Heaven.
I know it’s somewhat dramatized, but it still was pretty good, I thought.
They had two sieges in Malta history. Against Muslims back in the day, and against Nazis in World War 2. Citizen of Malta given George Cross by the King of England.
“Angels in Iron” is a fantastic book on this. A novel. I bought screenwrights and held them for 10 years, til I couldn’t afford them any more. Let them lapse 2 years ago. I have a great script, and had hoped to make a feature film, a la “Magnificent Seven in Iron.”
Oh, Mel could make it work as a series, I think, but he has never done a series before.
Personally, I think it makes a better movie.
Yeah, except they made the Muzzies look like the good guys and the evil Knights Templars look like the villains.
Depends on how much material there is. If it is about a specific battle, then yes. We are better off with a movie.
Get a move done on Xenophon’s Anabasis - The March of the 10,000. I can’t understand why this was never done! What an epic film it would be. I still can’t believe it was never done back in the 1960s Sword & Sandal days.
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