Gibson returns for Edge

Mel Gibson is to return to acting by taking his first leading role in six years, it has been reported.

The Guardian says the actor and director, whose credits include the Lethal Weapon series, Braveheart and Chicken Run, has signed up to play a detective in the big-screen adaptation of Edge Of Darkness.

It will be his first starring role since he appeared in M Night Shyamalan's Signs and, perhaps more importantly, his 2006 arrest for drink-driving in California when he reportedly shouted a "barrage" of anti-Semitic abuse at a police officer.

Gibson, who co-wrote and directed surprise 2004 hit The Passion Of The Christ, later apologised for the outburst but he has remained off screen ever since, despite reportedly being offered receiving leading roles.

In 2007, he released his second directorial effort in the UK, the gory Mayan epic Apocalypto.

Edge Of Darkness has been adapted from a 1980s BBC television series by William Monahan, who worked on The Departed. Martin Campbell, who directed Bond adventure Casino Royale, will call the shots.

Titles related to this article

Related/similar articles

• Madagscar 2 (1 December 2008)
• Best of the Year so far (1 June 2010)
• Top 10 Joaquin Phoenix (26 August 2010)
• Caviezel: 'Playing Christ cost me my acting career' (2 May 2011)
• The New Spielberg: Can JJ Abrams Conquer Hollywood? (2 August 2011)
• Gibson producing Jewish warrior epic (9 September 2011)