Fox Set to Distribute Mel Gibson's Film

Newsmax ^ | 7/24/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[DPB101]

Despite critics' claims that Mel Gibson has no distributor to put his blockbuster film "The Passion" into theaters around the country, Gibson does have at least one.

According to Fox News's Roger Friedman, Gibson's company, Icon Entertainment, which produced "The Passion," has a distribution deal with 20th Century Fox.

20th Century Fox is owned by News Corp, which also owns Fox News.

According to Friedman, 20th Century Fox has a first-look option with Icon and right of refusal.

Fox News says they also have the right to outbid another studio. As a result, "The Passion" right now is a 20th Century Fox film.

Executives from that studio and others have now seen "The Passion," and Friedman says 20th is "rumored to be very interested in distributing the film."

So when the emotionally charged film, which portrays the final 12 hours of Christ's ordeal, premiers next Easter, it shouldn't have any problems showing up in your neighborhood theater.

Distribution aside, the film remains contoversial.

Friedman writes, "As he did in Washington and in a couple of other cities, Gibson showed the controversial film about Christ's final 12 hours to politicians and clergy who would not argue with his point of view. Question-and-answer sessions after these screenings, according to one insider, have had more to do with the movie's length and whether Gibson will release it with subtitles."

More to come . . . no doubt.

[The Iguana]

Friedman writes, "As he did in Washington and in a couple of other cities, Gibson showed the controversial film about Christ's final 12 hours to politicians and clergy who would not argue with his point of view. Question-and-answer sessions after these screenings, according to one insider, have had more to do with the movie's length and whether Gibson will release it with subtitles."

A not so subtle dig.

I'm sure Michael Moore invited the NRA and GOA to early screenings of "Bowling for Columbine" - or if he didn't, that Friedman was in the vanguard bringing the lapse to light.

[truthandlife]

BUMP

[NYC Republican]

The liberal Rupert Murdoch

You're kidding, right? Are you saying that he of Sky News/NY Post/FOX News is a liberal? Is all of this just a business venture, and money usurps politics for him?

I can think of very few people, outside of politicians (and Rush and Sean), that have done more for conservatives than this guy.

[DPB101]

Er...I was attempting to characterize Murdoch as a person liberals view as the devil incarnate.

But now we're on the subject, I hear Murdoch's holdings in Australia are anything but conservative.