Leonardo DiCaprio is in talks to lead Mel Gibson's new Viking epic after the two movie stars met in secret to discuss the ambitious project last year.

WENN broke the news about the film in January when Gibson revealed he was planning another trip back in time for a movie about 9th Century England - and he was hoping to recreate an ancient dialect for the movie.

The movie star/director, who wowed film fans with ancient Aramaic in "The Passion of The Christ" and Mayan in "Apocalypto", explained he was tackling old English and Norse as he fulfills his childhood dream of making an ultra-viole...

Wardens at a jail in Mexico have transferred 300 inmates to other prisons to make way for an upcoming Mel Gibson movie shoot, despite protests from the criminals' relatives.

The star is planning to film his next project at the Ignacio Allende prison in the eastern coastal city of Veracruz.

The state governor, Fidel Herrera Beltran, agreed to accommodate Gibson and relocate prisoners to make room for the actor/director's film crew - a decision which caused controversy with the loved ones of the incarcerated.

Hundreds of family members staged a 24-hour demonstration outside the priso...

Mel Gibson's new movie is already causing controversy in Mexico - relatives of inmates at a Veracruz jail have blasted plans to move prisoners to make way for the film shoot.

The Hollywood actor-turned-director has set his sights on filming at the Ignacio Allende prison in the eastern coastal city. Veracruz state governor, Fidel Herrera Beltran, announced earlier this month that prisoners would be moved out of the jail to allow the film crew to work there.

Authorities previously planned to transfer inmates to a new prison in the town next year - but families fear their loved ones wi...

Ridley Scott is heading back to the future - he is teaming up with Leonardo DiCaprio to transform cult novel "Brave New World" for the big screen.

The Alien auteur has reportedly signed to helm the new movie, an adaptation of Aldous Huxley's acclaimed 1931 book, which is set in 2540 AD.

DiCaprio, who is expected to take the lead role in the picture, already owns the film rights to the novel through his Appian Way production company.

The book focuses on a futuristic society which holds technological advances in higher esteem than natural ones - including reproduction.

Accordi...

Celebrity is something of a double edged sword. On one hand you could make millions and be adored by fans all over the world, but it also means the loss of privacy and the constant nitpicking of the mainstream critics. One slip up is all it takes for your face and words to be scattered over magazines and blogs, but sometimes the controversies are worth being taken to task for.

Here's a look at some of the celebrities who lost their mind or temper at the wrong time, and whether or not they have managed to bounce back from the incidents. What do you think of these moments in celeb history...

Mexican victims of 2005's Hurricane Stan have been presented with new homes which were built with a $1 million donation from Hollywood actor Mel Gibson.

The storm devastated the regions of Chiapas and Veracruz, Mexico - where Gibson filmed his 2006 movie Apocalypto - and hundreds of families were left homeless. Gibson subsequently offered up a substantial donation to help officials in the area begin the rebuilding process. And now the results have been unveiled by Mexican officials, with 109 new homes for victims of the disaster.

Hurricane Stan struck Central America and souther...

What is it about Aussies that Americans find so fascinating? Is it the cute accents? The laid-back attitudes? The "party animal" reputations? It could be a mix of all of these traits. It could also be because, although we speak the same language and our cultures have many similarities, many of us know very little about Australia. That strange yet familiar vibe makes those down under denizens appear exciting and mysterious - an irresistible combo!

Since Americans are also fascinated with celebrities, it's no surprise that so many awesome Aussie entertainers have found fame in the U.S. ...

Britney Spears Has accepted an invitation to join Mel Gibson and his family at their Costa Rican home, according to reports. The pop star and her father Jamie are rumored to be heading to Central America with the 52-year-old Apocalypto director and his wife Robyn.

A source tells People magazine, "They're just going away for a few days to relax."

The Gibsons and Spears, who are former California neighbors, have reportedly become close since the pop star's hospitalization in February.

A source says, "Mel and his wife Robyn clearly saw a woman in crisis and wanted to extend the...

Mel Gibson movies Braveheart, Apocalypto and The Patriot have all been named and shamed among the most historically inaccurate films ever made.

The Gibson trio joins 2001: A Space Odyssey, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, 300, Gladiator, Memoirs Of A Geisha, 10,000 B.C. and Tom Cruise's The Last Samurai on Yahoo Movies' new online poll.

Scenes featuring woolly mammoths in the desert (10,000 B.C.), Marcus Aurelius dying in a gladiatorial arena (Gladiator) and Mayan human sacrifices to Sun God Kulkulan (Apocalypto) are among the offending incorrect scenes.

(This news article provi...

A construction worker has committed suicide at Mel Gibson's house in Agoura Hills, California, according to a report. The Apocalypto director and his family were not home when the 47-year-old's body was discovered on Wednesday.

The property is currently under heavy construction.

An emergency call was made to a police station in nearby Lost Hills - the same station where Gibson was taken following his infamous drunk-driving arrest in 2006 - on Wednesday morning, reports website TMZ.com.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

Actor Mel Gibson has sold his Malibu mansion for a staggering $30 million, according to local reports. The Californian mansion has a mere six bedrooms, but boasts a private terrace on the beach, along with a gym, a swimming pool and a wine cellar.

Gibson made a $6 million profit on the Mediterranean-style beachfront property after buying it for $24 million in 2003.

The Apocalypto director's latest sale is his second in as many weeks - earlier this month he sold off his 76-acre Connecticut estate for $40 million, also to an unnamed buyer.

The actor-turned-filmmaker still owns...

Rapper Kanye West has branded himself the Mel Gibson of the music world - and believes the pair miss out on awards because they are outspoken. The hip-hop star is adamant his albums are "the best", but fails to pick up any gongs because critics want him to stop publicly expressing his views.

Speaking to MTV, he says, "My favorite movie this year was Apocalypto and I love Mel Gibson. Sometimes I feel a little like Mel Gibson. (People say to him) 'OK, Mel Gibson, we know (your movie is) the best, but if you shut up, maybe we can give you an award.' That's how I think that's how people f...

As the foundation of the Mayan civilization begins to crumble, one man's previously idyllic existence is forever changed when he is chosen as a sacrifice needed to appease the gods in director Mel Gibson's mythic, end-times adventure Apocalypto. Also on DVD: Epic Movie, Letters From Iwo Jima, Venus, The Good German and Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker.

From Mel Gibson, director of The Passion Of The Christ and the Academy Award®-winning Braveheart (Best Director, Best Picture, 1995) comes the thrilling historical epic Apocalypto. This intense, nonstop action-adventure transports you to an ancient South American civilization, for an experience unlike anything you’ve ever known. In the twilight of the mysterious Mayan culture, young Jaguar Paw is captured and taken to the great Mayan city where he faces a harrowing end. Driven by the power of his love for his wife and son, he makes an adrenaline-soaked, heart-racing escape to rescue them an...

Opera star Placido Domingo's seven-year-old movie epic The Other Conquest is to be re-released in US cinemas to mark Mexico's national day Cinco de Mayo. The film, about the ancient Aztec tribe's efforts to preserve its culture in the wake of the Spanish invasion in the early 16th century, was released to limited cinemas in 2000 and grossed an estimated $3 million.

But, following the success of Mel Gibson's Apocalypto movie, Domingo and his fellow producers have decided the time is right to re-release their film.

Domingo also appears on the movie's soundtrack, performing an aria t...

Apocalypto star Rudy Youngblood's Comanche roots are being questioned as a Native American group plans to honor the actor. Youngblood, who played central character Jaguar Paw in Mel Gibson's Mayan history epic, has spoken out about his heritage in interviews, boasting that his ancestors fought at Little Big Horn.

But Comanche leaders and Native American historians are questioning his claims. One historian, David Yeagley, tells the Los Angeles Times, "He has no Indian blood in him that anyone can validate."

Youngblood, who will be honored at next month's First Americans In The Arts...

Mel Gibson has been caught up in a new rant controversy after telling a Central American Studies professor to "f- off" during a tense press conference. The movie mogul, who made headlines last summer for anti-Semitic comments he made during a drunk driving arrest, was addressing a film class at Cal State University at Northridge last night when the professor questioned the accuracy of his Apocalypto film.

Alicia Estrada asked Gibson if he had read about the Mayan culture before shooting the controversial film, suggesting that some of the bloodthirsty, sacrificial scenes in the film we...

Mel Gibson is musing over the idea of turning his favorite holiday destination into a permanent home after confessing he could quit Hollywood for Costa Rica. The actor/director, who made Apocalypto in Latin America and is reportedly making back-to-back films in Panama, admits he is interested in becoming a homeowner in Costa Rica.

He says, "I thought about it. Maybe I'll just come down here sometimes and spend my holidays."

Gibson has been enjoying a working holiday in Costa Rica, while scouting out new movie locations for his upcoming epic, a biopic of Spanish explorer Vasco Nu...

"It's exciting to think we could have a black president. It's exciting to think we could have a woman president. It's a step in a great direction." The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers is eager to vote for change in the 2008 presidential elections.

"Maybe the best movie I've seen in 25 years is Apocalypto... When I saw that film, I'd never seen anything like it." Hollywood great Robert Duvall is a big fan of Mel Gibson's new epic.

"Yeah, I've had some bumps in the road. The Truth About Charlie wasn't a highlight. And Planet Of The Apes, though an amazing experience, didn't turn ou...

With all the excitement surrounding the upcoming Oscar awards, it is easy to overlook the animals that play such an important role in movies. Although animals are an integral part of some of the most acclaimed films, their well-being and safety are sometimes neglected.

American Humane, the authority behind the "No Animals Were Harmed" end credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, applauds those nominated movies that included animal-safety monitoring as part of their production process -- but calls attention to those that did not.

The following Oscar-nominated films, which wer...

Academy awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak theatre at Hollywood & highland center, and televised live by the ABC television network at 5 p.m. PST (8 p.m. EST), beginning with a half-hour arrivals segment, “The Road to The Oscars.” Babel is nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture.

Nominations By Category - 79th Awards

Best Motion Picture Of The Year

Babel

The Departed

Letters From Iwo Jima

Little Miss Sunshine

The Queen

Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role

Leonardo Dicaprio -...

Mel Gibson fought to contain his anger when he faced a barrage of criticism over his movie Apocalypto at its Mexico City premiere on Monday. The movie star initially pulled out of plans to attend the screening after Latin American history groups slated the film and the way it portrayed the savagery of the ancient Mayans.

And when he attended the premiere, local journalists were keen to ask him about the criticism leveled at him and his film. Gibson simply said, "People who criticize the movie should do their homework. I did."

But it was one curious hack who really upset Gibson, ...

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association just announced the winners of the 64th Golden Globe awards. Babel took home the award for best drama, while Dreamgirls won best comedy/musical. The night's big TV winners were Grey's Anatomy (best drama series) and Ugly Betty (best musical or comedy series). See full list of winners:

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

Babel

Bobby

The Departed

Little Children

The Queen

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

Penélope Cruz -- Volver

Judi Dench -- Notes On A Scandal

Maggie Gyllenhaal -- S...

Mel Gibson has reversed his decision not to attend the Mexican premiere of his new movie Apocalypto this week because he's determined to show the world ancient Mayans were "cool." Gibson's publicists revealed the movie mogul would miss the screening because he was upset by comments made by groups in Mexico and Guatemala, who felt his film portrayed their ancestors as savages.

But the star decided he couldn't miss out on the chance to meet with the descendants of the ancient Mayans who appear in the epic. Gibson employed Latino actors for the film and has said he wants to make the Ma...

The Queen is the frontrunner at this year's Orange BAFTA awards, after receiving an incredible 10 nominations. Dame Helen Mirren has been nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role, for her performance as Queen Elizabeth in the hit film about the British Royal Family after the death of Princess Diana, while Stephen Frears is in the running for the Achievement in Direction award. Full List of Nominations Below!

The British drama will also do battle with Casino Royale - which is named in nine categories - for Outstanding British Film of the Year. And Daniel Craig - who made his debut a...

Mel Gibson will not be attending the Mexican premiere of his new film Apocalypto because some Mayans are angered by his portrayal of their ancestors. The star, who employed Mayans to tell the story of how the pre-Columbian people built a civilization in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, has been criticized for showing them as a violent race who often carry out beheadings and human sacrifices.

Some Mayan descendants find the film - which features characters speaking in the Mayan language - derogatory. However, Gibson insists he wants the film to encourage young people to speak the langua...

Emmanuel Lubezki, (Children Of Men), Dick Pope, (The Illusionist), Robert Richardson, (The Good Shepherd), Dean Semler, (Apocalypto), and Vilmos Zsigmond, (The Black Dahlia) are vying for top honors in the feature film category at the 21st Annual American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Outstanding Achievement Awards competition.

"There is no textbook formula for artful cinematography," says Russ Alsobrook, ASC who chairs the organization's Awards Committee. "It takes talent and skill to master a complex craft, as well as a collaborative spirit. These five, amazingly talented indivi...

Mel Gibson's bloody epic Apocalypto has become the subject of a film rating legal battle in Italy after the country's cinema review board ruled the movie could be seen by kids. The surprise decision comes as most other countries in Europe are making a point of imposing tough ratings on the film for its brutal portrayal of ancient Mayan torture and human sacrifice. The gripping movie features graphic scenes of decapitation and mutilation.

A top Italian consumer group, Codacons, announced yesterday it plans to appeal the decision in court. Codacons president Carlo Rienzi says, "The film...

Filmmaker Mel Gibson has dismissed claims his movies are excessively violent, insisting they only appear that way because of their detailed characterization. Gibson, whose controversial projects include The Passion Of The Christ and his new Apocalypto, lays the blame with Hollywood product starring action heroes such as Jean-Claude Van Damme.

He says, "Everybody likes to beat up on me for the violence, but I think people think it's more violent because I fool them into caring for the characters. When it matters, when they give a s**t, it seems more violent. When you're watching Jean-C...

A lot of strange, crazy and even predictable things happened in the celebrity world during 2006; however, no one was prepared for the racial tensions and outbursts from well-known and respected actor/director Mel Gibson and Seinfeld star Michael Richards.

No stranger to debatable material, Mel began the year shooting his latest controversial epic, Apocalypto, about the end days of the Mayan civilization. And in May he pointed his finger at President Bush, comparing the U.S. leader to the barbaric Mayans portrayed in his new film.

But it was Mel's barbaric ways that would steal th...