Mel Gibson To Direct DiCaprio in Untitled Viking Film

Now this is a combination I'll throw some support behind. Variety reports that Gibson will be directing DiCaprio in "an untitled period drama set in the world of Viking culture." Want to hear (arguably) the best part? The Departed screenwriter William Monahan is writing the script.

If all goes according to plan, this will be Gibson's next directorial effort; production is slated for the fall of 2010. Very little information was released about the film. Here's what we know so far:

• DiCaprio, who has "long been fascinated with Viking culture," will play a Viking.


• Producer Graham King calls it "an awe-inspiring story, created with some of the industry's finest cinematic talent."


• The film will be just as "unsparing" as other epic Gibson-directed flicks like Braveheart, Passion of the Christ, and Apocalypto.

Leonardo DiCaprio is my favorite actor working today, so naturally I'm pretty stoked about this news. And say what you will about Gibson and his offensive ramblings a while back - the guy knows what he's doing behind a camera.  There have been some pretty mediocre Viking flicks over the past few years - I'm thinking specifically of the disastrous Pathfinder and the moderately interesting Outlander - so if Gibson can bring the same sense of scope that gave Braveheart and Apocalypto such an important weight, I think they could have a hit on their hands.

As we all know though, the script is the most important aspect of a film. William Monahan is no stranger to period pieces with Kingdom of Heaven under his belt, so I've got faith he can provide a fresh take on Viking mythos. Coincidentally, Monahan also wrote the upcoming Martin Campbell-directed Edge of Darkness which stars Gibson.

What say you, readers? Are you excited about this film's potential? Or is the combination of talent involved mixed with Viking lore not doing it for you? Sound off in the comments below.