Disney rethinks links with Mel Gibson
Disney rethinks links with Mel Gibson
By Joshua Chaffin in New York
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2006
Published: August 1 2006 20:39 | Last updated: August 1 2006 20:39
Disney’s efforts to emphasise its family-friendly brand have collided with its involvement with Mel Gibson following the actor’s drunken, anti-Semitic outburst over the weekend.
Disney is scheduled to release Mr Gibson’s latest production, Apocalypto, in December, and to support the film about the decline of the Mayan civilization with an advertising and promotional campaign.
In an ironic twist fit for a screenplay, Disney’s ABC network has also been developing a mini-series about the Holocaust with Mr Gibson.
However, the studio’s plans have been called into question after the actor-turned-producer’s weekend meltdown. After being arrested for drunk driving in Malibu, he lashed out with a stream of anti-Semitic remarks, according to the arresting officer.
Beyond the usual condemnations from religious and community leaders, the incident has made unusual waves in Hollywood. Ari Emanuel, the head of one of the city’s largest talent agencies, Endeavor, has publicly called for the industry to shun Mr Gibson.
“At a time of escalating tensions in the world, the entertainment industry cannot idly stand by and allow Mel Gibson to get away with such tragically inflammatory statements,” Mr Emanuel said in an internet posting.
“Agents don’t do that,” one studio executive remarked. “The fact that they would be willing to burn a bridge is pretty significant.”
So far, Disney has taken a more moderate approach. Oren Aviv, the new president of its film studio, released a statement to Variety saying that he had enjoyed a “great relationship” with Mr Gibson over the years, and that he accepted his apology for a “regrettable situation.”
However, ABC appeared to cut ties with Mr Gibson by saying that it would cancel the Holocaust project.
The scandal comes at a particularly awkward moment for the company.
Since Robert Iger took over as chief executive last year, one of his priorities has been to emphasise the Magic Kingdom’s family-friendly brand in its film division. Just last month, Disney announced a major restructuring in which it would cut its annual film production in half, eliminating adult films in favour of animated productions, such as Cars, and family franchises such as Pirates of the Caribbean.
Accusations of anti-semitism have dogged Mr Gibson since the 2004 release of The Passion of the Christ.
Although mainstream studios balked, the film generated more than $400m at the box office, making it that year’s second-biggest film.
That success has allowed Mr Gibson to become a powerful independent producer in his own right. It also made him a hero among conservative Christian audiences, who often complain of being overlooked by the entertainment industry.
By Joshua Chaffin in New York
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2006
Published: August 1 2006 20:39 | Last updated: August 1 2006 20:39
Disney’s efforts to emphasise its family-friendly brand have collided with its involvement with Mel Gibson following the actor’s drunken, anti-Semitic outburst over the weekend.
Disney is scheduled to release Mr Gibson’s latest production, Apocalypto, in December, and to support the film about the decline of the Mayan civilization with an advertising and promotional campaign.
In an ironic twist fit for a screenplay, Disney’s ABC network has also been developing a mini-series about the Holocaust with Mr Gibson.
However, the studio’s plans have been called into question after the actor-turned-producer’s weekend meltdown. After being arrested for drunk driving in Malibu, he lashed out with a stream of anti-Semitic remarks, according to the arresting officer.
Beyond the usual condemnations from religious and community leaders, the incident has made unusual waves in Hollywood. Ari Emanuel, the head of one of the city’s largest talent agencies, Endeavor, has publicly called for the industry to shun Mr Gibson.
“At a time of escalating tensions in the world, the entertainment industry cannot idly stand by and allow Mel Gibson to get away with such tragically inflammatory statements,” Mr Emanuel said in an internet posting.
“Agents don’t do that,” one studio executive remarked. “The fact that they would be willing to burn a bridge is pretty significant.”
So far, Disney has taken a more moderate approach. Oren Aviv, the new president of its film studio, released a statement to Variety saying that he had enjoyed a “great relationship” with Mr Gibson over the years, and that he accepted his apology for a “regrettable situation.”
However, ABC appeared to cut ties with Mr Gibson by saying that it would cancel the Holocaust project.
The scandal comes at a particularly awkward moment for the company.
Since Robert Iger took over as chief executive last year, one of his priorities has been to emphasise the Magic Kingdom’s family-friendly brand in its film division. Just last month, Disney announced a major restructuring in which it would cut its annual film production in half, eliminating adult films in favour of animated productions, such as Cars, and family franchises such as Pirates of the Caribbean.
Accusations of anti-semitism have dogged Mr Gibson since the 2004 release of The Passion of the Christ.
Although mainstream studios balked, the film generated more than $400m at the box office, making it that year’s second-biggest film.
That success has allowed Mr Gibson to become a powerful independent producer in his own right. It also made him a hero among conservative Christian audiences, who often complain of being overlooked by the entertainment industry.
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