Posted on 07/29/2010 3:55:40 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Leonardo DiCaprio is withdrawing from a Mel Gibson-directed flick about vikings in the wake of the domestic abuse scandal, RadarOnline.com has exclusively confirmed.
Not a chance, said a source, close to the Inception star, when asked if he was still planning to star in Gibsons next project.
The decision is a major setback for the Oscar-winning actor/director, who is facing allegations of domestic abuse and child endangerment.
It also lends support to critics who are suggesting Mel wont be able to recover from the Oksana Grigorieva scandal.
Oksana, 40, has accused Gibson, 54, of punching her in the face twice as she held their infant daughter Lucia during a domestic dispute at his Malibu mansion on January 6.
After allegedly hitting Oksana on the head and mouth, she has claimed, Mel then choked her.
Detectives from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department detectives are investigating the allegation along with Mels claim that Oksana tried to extort him with threats of a scandal.
Mel was interviewed on Sunday but refused to answer questions about the incident, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Mels profane-laced rants, recorded by Oksana and obtained by RadarOnline.com, are laced with racial slurs -- including the N-word -- and demands for repeated sexual favors.
The viking film was to be DiCaprios first picture with Mel.
A source close to DiCaprio said the star, who is currently basking in the release of his wildly acclaimed box-office topping movie Inception, did not want to risk his reputation, with being associated with Mel.
Leo has earned the right to pick and choose who he works with and Mel Gibson is not one of them, the source added.
The as-yet untitled project is being produced by Graham King and Mels Icon Productions.
Variety had previously reported DiCaprio had long been fascinated by Viking culture and was poised to play one in a storyline that will be as unsparing as Mels other hit period directing efforts, Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto.
Before DiCaprios withdrawal, shooting was slated to begin in fall 2010.
Comment is being sought from DiCaprio.
Wimphilda.
Blood, Slaughter, Rape and Pillage, let us have a real Viking movie, with closeups.
Me, I punish him because that flick wasn't in English.
I'll not watch any foreign-language movies.
Otherwise, he can bad-mouth all the gold diggers he wants.
‘which is composed significantly of women?”
It *is*?
I figured his biggest fan base was the SanFran Boys Club.
Every time Bill The Butcher came onscreen, DiCaprio seemed to mysteriously vanish into thin air.
[did any other women notice that, too?]
:)
I still like Mel. The good far outweighs the bad. As a Jew I should write him off due to his anti-Semitic remarks....but I don’t. Mel is OK with me.
We wouldn’t know about Mel insulting blacks and using the n-word except that his gold digger girlfriend did a number on him
That looks a lot like my biker husband.
[and I dare you to ask ~him~ that]...LOL
I’ll vouch for that.
NIIICE LOL
It was released on Ash Wednesday, which I found symbolically *perfect* and I’m not even catholic.
Will he work with known anti-Semite Oliver Stone?
As if Kierra Knightly could hold a real sword this large with one hand.
The Viking movie could be great, as long as they keep the girls away from the battle axes.
When did he say he was “willing” to work on a Polanski film?
Last I heard, the police were investigating the little woman for extortion on Mel and the tapes were tampered with. I think Mel and his honey deserved each other.
Can you imagine the skeletons DiCaprio has in his closet? Maybe it is not wise to mount that high horse.
“I’ll not watch any foreign-language movies.”
You’re missing some good ones. Some of my favorite movies are subtitled.
My first thought precisely upon reading this article.
Actually I thought his acting was very good in that but I just couldn't suspend disbelief enough to take a 150 lb skinny pretty boy serious as one of the toughest fighting Five points street gang members.
no, he would be HONORED to work for the genius Polanski i bet.
I don't think so. I really do think it's his out of control screaming, racist life.
A man who cheated on and divorced his wife of 20 + years is no religious conservative, which falls right in line with Hollywood morals.
Seems the man has some demons he needs to deal with and should take a break from the movie world.
leo is such a pu**y.
LLS
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