First he ranted against Judaism, now he's making a film about it

Jews outraged as Mel Gibson plans new biopic of heroic warrior Judah Maccabee

British and American Jewish groups have reacted with horror to news that Mel Gibson, who attained global notoriety in 2006 for anti- Semitic remarks against a police officer, might direct and star in a film about one of the great heroes of Jewish history.

The Hollywood studio Warner Bros is financing Gibson to develop a script about Jewish warrior Judah Maccabee, who led a revolt in the second century BC against the ancient Seleucid empire, and is still commemorated by the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. The film trade magazine Variety reported yesterday that the studio has given Gibson first option on directing the project. Last night Gibson's Hollywood spokesman did not deny Gibson might star.

The actor hit headlines in July 2006 when he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. He reportedly launched a verbal assault against the arresting police officer, telling him: "Fucking Jews ... the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." Gibson later apologised.

But his inflammatory telephone rants against his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva last year, publicised through a series of high-profile leaks, caused further disbelief.

Gibson has teamed up with Showgirls screenwriter Joe Eszterhas for the project. The Australian-American actor's interest in legendary revolt was previously seen in the Oscar-winning 1995 film Braveheart, telling the story of the 13th-century Scottish rebel William Wallace, which Gibson directed, produced, and in which he starred. British Jewish groups have reacted with anger to the news. "It is astonishing, frankly, that he should choose to take this story on," said Dave Rich, a spokesman for the Jewish charity Community Security Trust, which seeks to protect Britain's Jewish community from "bigotry, anti-Semitism and terrorism". "You have to question what his motivation is. On the surface of it, it's as inappropriate as it gets for him to make a film about of the great heroes of Jewish history."

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, a US-based non-governmental organisation which fights anti-Semitism and bigotry, said in a statement: "We would have hoped that Warner Bros could have found someone better. It would be a travesty to have the story of the Maccabees told by one who has no respect and sensitivity for other people's religious views." Mr Foxman added that Warner Bros should "reconsider Gibson's involvement".

Jeffrey Goldberg, national correspondent of US magazine The Atlantic, wrote yesterday that he interviewed Gibson about his interest in the subject while researching a Maccabee biography. He claimed Gibson was motivated because he felt religious texts chronicling Maccabee's life were "ripping good reads".

Warner Bros was unavailable for comment.