The acclaimed list of movies in the CV of Mel Gibson across four decades is a testament to his top-notch versatility as an actor and director.
However, much like his movie The Passion of the Christ, Gibson often finds himself at the end of polarizing views for many reasons, including allegations of anti-Semitism. However, in 2010, public opinion lopsided against his favor like never before after an outburst at his ex-girlfriend came to the fore. That ended his stint as a mainstream superstar.
Still, many powerful individuals in Hollywood don’t shy from collaborating with the Mad Max star, and in the last 15 years, he has continued doing his thing, albeit on a much smaller scale compared to his glory days. In that time he has also turned down some important roles, including the opportunity to work in a Marvel movie.
Which Marvel Role Did Mel Gibson Turn Down
Robert Downey Jr. has been one of the most vocal supporters of Mel Gibson‘s return and even urged the industry to give his long-time friend a second chance in 2011. By that time, the Oppenheimer star had established himself as Marvel Cinematic Universe’s much-loved superhero, Tony Stark after the success of Iron Man (2008) and Iron Man 2 (2010).
It’s understood the chance to be part of the MCU franchise landed on Gibson’s door as well, though not with Downey Jr.
In a 2016 interview at the Cannes Film Festival, he was asked if he’d ever been approached to work in a superhero movie. He replied: “Yeah, long time ago. To play Thor’s dad. But I didn’t do it.”
Rejecting the opportunity to play Thor’s father, Odin Borson, the King of Asgard, was certainly a bold decision from Gibson, as it could’ve potentially opened doors for many more appearances in the MCU.
Regardless, Marvel Studios moved quickly to rope in the iconic actor Anthony Hopkins to work alongside Chris Hemsworth in Thor (2011), which was a financial success, making $449.3 million at the box office.
Why Mel Gibson Is Considered Robert Downey Jr’s Mentor
Naturally, many fans and critics alike, question Downey Jr’s stance on Gibson. However, the Iron Man star, who himself has traveled through the path of redemption after almost losing everything in his career in the 90s, has a very good reason to lend his voice to support the controversial figure.
There was a time when Downey Jr. wasn’t able to get any gig in the industry because he couldn’t get sober. In that period, Gibson emerged as a very supportive figure for his Air America co-star.
He once recalled: “I couldn’t get hired, so he cast me in the lead of a movie that was actually developed for him. And he kept a roof over my head… and he kept food on the table.”
Not only that, Gibson, now 67, guided him to accept responsibility for his wrongdoings to become a man of some humility. Fair to say, he helped Downey Jr. turn the page in his life for the better.
Source: The Guardian
