After developing a passion project for nearly 20 years,Mel Gibsonis finally ready to move forward, bringing another A-list star along for the ride.Sean Pennis in talks to star alongsideMel Gibsonin the unique biopicProfessor and the Madman. Both stars will play the two men who helped create the Oxford English Dictionary, under amazing circumstances.
The Hollywood Reporterreveals thatMel Gibsonpurchased the rights toSimon Winchester’s book of the same name back in 1998, and has been developing it ever since. For many years, he had planned to direct the biopic himself, but this new report reveals that he has handed thedirectorial reinsover toFarhad Safinia, who co-wroteApocalyptowithMel Gibson.Farhad Safiniawrote the screenplay, withTodd KomarnickiandJohn Boormanwriting an earlier draft.
Mel Gibsonwill star as Professor James Murray, who, in 1857, started compiling entries for the comprehensive work that would come to be known as theOxford English Dictionary.Sean Pennwill portray Dr.W.C. Minor, who compiled more than 10,000 entries for the dictionary, but, at the time, he was an inmate at an asylum for the criminally insane. Both men’s work helped change the course of literary history.
Voltage Pictures is providing financing for the project and will sell it to international buyers at the Toronto International Film Festival next month.Mel Gibsonwill produce through his Icon Productions company, along with his partnerBruce Davey. The filmmakers are eyeing a production start in September, but it isn’t known where exactly filming may take place.
Surprisingly, this project will mark the first time bothMel GibsonandSean Pennhave worked together. They both burst onto the Hollywood scene at around the same time, withMel Gibsonstarring in the 1979 classicMad MaxandSean Penn’s breakout role coming just two years later in 1981’sTaps. We’ll be sure to keep you posted with more updates onProfessor and the Madmanas soon as more information is released.
