Once upon a time, Mel Gibson was a big movie star capable of anchoring major studio productions. He took some time off from acting to have a prolonged public breakdown, and has since popped up in indie oddities like The Beaver and as the villain in Machete Kills. Now he’s looking to make a comeback. Gibson will play the chief antagonist in The Expendables 3 later this year, and Deadline reports that he’s in talks to star in Blood Father, “a Taken-style action thriller.” Penned by The Town writer Peter Craig, Blood Father revolves around an ex-con who tries to protect his estranged 16-year old daughter from a group of drug dealers. It will be directed by Jean-François Richet, best known for making Mesrine, a biography of a famous French bank robber.
Taken helped transform Liam Neeson from a guy known for his roles in stately literary adaptations and historical pictures into the first person directors turn to when they can’t afford to leave any terrorists alive. Blood Father will begin production in New Mexico later this year, so audiences will have to wait to see if this results in a Neeson-like career renaissance for Gibson, or if it goes straight-to-DVD like Get The Gringo, the actor’s last attempt to return to action stardom.