From L: Timothy Dalton as James Bond; Mel Gibson at MegaCon Orlando on Feb. 7, 2025; Russell Crowe inGladiator(2000).Photo:Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty; Gerardo Mora/Getty; Universal/Getty
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty; Gerardo Mora/Getty; Universal/Getty
Mel Gibsonis reflecting on some big roles he turned down.The actor appeared on a panel atMegaConin Orlando, Florida, on Friday, Feb. 7, and revealed two jobs he passed on years ago:James Bondin the 1980s, and Maximus in 2000’sGladiator.Asked about roles he missed out on, Gibson, 69, said, “Of course you go back and you think, ‘Man, I wish I had done that.’ ““Like,Ridley [Scott]came to me withGladiator; I didn’t do that movie. I was doingThe Patriot, so I couldn’t doGladiator,” he said. “So Russell [Crowe] did it, and he did a great job.““It’s kind of interesting, the things you miss. … It’s a bunch of stuff,” Gibson continued.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Mel Gibson at MegaCon in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 7, 2025.Gerardo Mora/GettyAnother example? When Gibson got a call from the James Bond films' producer Albert R. Broccoli in the ’80s, when he was 26 years old and had already broken out in 1979’sMad Max.“He said, ‘We want you to be James Bond,’ " recalled the two-timeAcademy Awardwinner. “But then I thought to myself, ‘I’m 26 years old,’ and I just remembered thatSean [Connery]could never escape that character.“And though Connery “finally did” leave behind Bond with 1987’sThe Untouchables, according to Gibson — who called the late acting legend “fantastic” in it — he was in 007’s “prison” for “decades.““So I thought, ‘I’m not gonna do that,’ and I let it go. ‘Cause I thought, ‘I’ll do some other stuff,’ " Gibson added, of passing on playing Bond. (Roger MooreandTimothy Daltonboth played the character during the ’80s.)The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Mel Gibson and Danny Glover at MegaCon in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 7, 2025.Gerardo Mora/GettyOne role that Gibson did take on that went down in history was that of Martin Riggs in 1987’sLethal Weaponand its three sequels, released in 1989, 1992 and 1998.The actorhad a surprise reunionat MegaCon with hisLethal WeaponcostarDanny Glover, nearly 38 years after the release of the first movie in the buddy-cop franchise.Glover, 78, ascended the stage near the end of Gibson’s panel discussion, getting a standing ovation from the crowd after the two actors embraced.Elsewhere at MegaCon, casts fromTwilight,Happy Days,The Breakfast Cluband more reunited, sharing secrets from their storied sets.
Mel Gibsonis reflecting on some big roles he turned down.
The actor appeared on a panel atMegaConin Orlando, Florida, on Friday, Feb. 7, and revealed two jobs he passed on years ago:James Bondin the 1980s, and Maximus in 2000’sGladiator.
Asked about roles he missed out on, Gibson, 69, said, “Of course you go back and you think, ‘Man, I wish I had done that.’ "
“Like,Ridley [Scott]came to me withGladiator; I didn’t do that movie. I was doingThe Patriot, so I couldn’t doGladiator,” he said. “So Russell [Crowe] did it, and he did a great job.”
“It’s kind of interesting, the things you miss. … It’s a bunch of stuff,” Gibson continued.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
Mel Gibson at MegaCon in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 7, 2025.Gerardo Mora/Getty
Gerardo Mora/Getty
Another example? When Gibson got a call from the James Bond films’ producer Albert R. Broccoli in the ’80s, when he was 26 years old and had already broken out in 1979’sMad Max.
“He said, ‘We want you to be James Bond,’ " recalled the two-timeAcademy Awardwinner. “But then I thought to myself, ‘I’m 26 years old,’ and I just remembered thatSean [Connery]could never escape that character.”
And though Connery “finally did” leave behind Bond with 1987’sThe Untouchables, according to Gibson — who called the late acting legend “fantastic” in it — he was in 007’s “prison” for “decades.”
“So I thought, ‘I’m not gonna do that,’ and I let it go. ‘Cause I thought, ‘I’ll do some other stuff,’ " Gibson added, of passing on playing Bond. (Roger MooreandTimothy Daltonboth played the character during the ’80s.)
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
Mel Gibson and Danny Glover at MegaCon in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 7, 2025.Gerardo Mora/Getty
One role that Gibson did take on that went down in history was that of Martin Riggs in 1987’sLethal Weaponand its three sequels, released in 1989, 1992 and 1998.
The actorhad a surprise reunionat MegaCon with hisLethal WeaponcostarDanny Glover, nearly 38 years after the release of the first movie in the buddy-cop franchise.
Glover, 78, ascended the stage near the end of Gibson’s panel discussion, getting a standing ovation from the crowd after the two actors embraced.
Elsewhere at MegaCon, casts fromTwilight,Happy Days,The Breakfast Cluband more reunited, sharing secrets from their storied sets.
source: people.com
