New Production Photo & Official Synopsis Released
Call it the car crash factor, but despite Mel Gibson‘s misogynistic, racist, sexist and violent ramblings, the curiosity surrounding his role in Jodie Foster‘s “The Beaver” is huge. And while the status of the film was unknown in the wake of tapes of his psychotic outbursts, it looks like enough distance has been settled that Summit Entertainment is confident enough to put the film into theatres.
Deadline reports that Summit is eyeing a spring 2011 release for the film. A spring date would certainly gel with previous reports that the film might be hitting U.K. cinemas on February 11, 2011. Even more tantalizing, a trailer for the film will apparently drop tomorrow during “Entertainment Tonight” (though it seems to be the kind of thing they would want to hype all week rather than roll out quietly; either way, we guess we’ll have to endure watching that show tomorrow). A new production still surfaced today too which you can see in full below the jump.
But even outside of Mel Gibson’s antics, the film was always one on lips around Hollywood. The script for “The Beaver” had topped the 2008 Black List and the ambitious concept follows a family man (Gibson) who develops a dual personality through the titular puppet he begins to wear on his arm. The film had picked up some strong buzz, with Gibson’s performance deemed likely to mark a comeback for the troubled star, and many had pegged him as a potential awards nominee. Well, the film didn’t get a nominating run so don’t expect Gibson to be nominated for anything, but if his performance is anything close to the advance word it has received, and if he actually shows some contrition, Hollywood and even the public — who love to forgive their bad boys — could welcome him back like the prodigal son.
All we can say is, we’re definitely curious. The film boasts a strong cast including Anton Yelchin and Jennifer Lawrence, and really, the prospect of Gibson running around talking to his hand sounds like a project made in cult movie heaven. So comeback or final sendoff? We’ll just have to wait and see. Updated: Official synopsis and it’s crazy to think as weird as this movie sounds it is rated PG-13.
Two-time Academy Award® winner Jodie Foster directs and co-stars with two-time Academy Award® winner Mel Gibson in THE BEAVER – an emotional story about a man on a journey to re-discover his family and re-start his life.Plagued by his own demons, Walter Black was once a successful toy executive and family man who now suffers from depression. No matter what he tries, Walter can’t seem to get himself back on track…until a beaver hand puppet enters his life.