Variety has reported from the Cannes Film Festival that Mel Gibson and Kate Bosworth have both signed onto an upcoming action feature titled Force of Nature.
Executed from a script by Cory Miller (Salvation, The Fix), Force of Nature will centre on a retired detective who must protect the residents of a building during a hurricane evacuation; nearby criminals are meanwhile attempting a daring heist which sets the two parties on a collision course.
The film will be directed by Michael Polish (Twin Falls Idaho, Nona) and production will begin in Puerto Rico on July 19th.
I thought I might be invited. But I wasn’t invited. I got the title wrong.
This is the second role announcement for Gibson at Cannes, (the other as a rough Santa in the planned holiday comedy Fatman), who looks like he’s taking on board some nice and varied roles since Dragged Across Concrete; meanwhile Bosworth is currently busy with this year’s I-Land mystery/sci-fi show for Netflix.
I don’t know if the concept is screaming ‘breakaway hit’ yet. Gibson has a ton of middling-to-good quality action films post Lethal Weapon but seems to be searching for the role which will re-earn him the acclaim that he’s gotten in the past and certainly enjoys now as a director. He’s straight up 90% of what works well in Blood Father (that and his onscreen repartee with William H. Macy); Gibson’s talent and skill should not be in doubt.
But he may need a definitive role that would remind the world of this fact.
What do you think, Wasteoids? Gibson back in action roles? Let us know what you think in the comments!