Mel Gibson returns to Sydney roots
01 August 2015 by News DeskHollywood star Mel Gibson has returned to Sydney to make a new film about a WW2 war hero.
The American-born actor, who first found fame in Australian cult movie Mad Max, is to direct World War II drama Hacksaw Ridge, to be filmed in Sydney and New South Wales where he lived during his teenage years.
“I’m so glad to be here again, working here again, bumping into people I’ve known for years and decades. It’s been great,” said the Oscar-winning star. “I started off here over 35 years ago and feel like I’ve picked up where I left off since last I worked here.”
Hacksaw Ridge is based on the true story of conscientious objector Desmond Doss, who saved 75 men in Okinawa in World War II without ever firing a gun. “It’s about a man who wouldn’t touch a weapon and wanted to be part of saving lives in the worst place on earth. Okinawa was a horrific place… there were over 300,000 casualties,” he said during a press conference.
The New South Wales government predicts the film will generate more than 700 jobs and inject more than $26 million into the Sydney and regional NSW economy. Filming will begin in September and the movie is due to be released in 2016.