Mel Gibson 'Was Interested' inSchindler’s ListRole 'but It Wasn't Going to Happen,' Says Agent

Mar. 15, 2025

Mel Gibson, Schindler’s List.Photo:Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty; Mary Evans/AMmblin Entertainment/Universal Pictures/Ronald Grant/Everett CollectionMel Gibsonwanted to be considered for the lead role in 1993’sSchindler’s List, one of the filmmakers behind the film revealed in a new interview.Agent Michael Ovitz, who played a key role in making the movie, participated in a new interview withThe Hollywood Reporterto mark 30 years since the Holocaust drama swept the Oscars in 1994. (It won seven total, including Best Picture.)Ovitz revealed to the outlet that Gibson, now 68, at one point expressed interest in starring in the project.“Mel Gibson’s name came up. He was interested. His agent put him forward. But it wasn’t going to happen. Steven wanted a non–movie star for the part,” said Ovitz.A rep for Gibson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.Liam Neesonearned a Best Actor Oscar nomination for playing Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who helped save hundreds of Jewish people during the Holocaust.Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler.Snap/ShutterstockThe actor, 71, toldTHRof other stars rumored to have been in the running for the role: “I heardHarrison Ford’s name.[Kevin] Costner’s name. The Australian actor Jack Thompson — I thought, ‘Oh, yeah, Jack looks very like Schindler.’ I looked nothing like Schindler. Anyway, it was always in the back of my head, but I wasn’t holding out huge hope.“DirectorSteven Spielbergadded, though, “A lot of people were interested in playing Schindler, and a lot of them were movie stars, and to all of them I promised never to divulge any of their history with me, so I’m not saying those names are accurate.““I’m saying there were a number of people, even more than the names you gave me,” added Spielberg, 77.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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.In 1996, Gibson won an Oscar for directing Best Picture–winnerBraveheart, in which he also starred. The actor faced controversy in 2006, whenhe shouted an anti-Semitic slurat a Los Angeles police officer during a DUI arrest. Gibson apologized after the incident, saying, “I acted like a person completely out of control … and said things I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed.“Gibson recently starred withMark Wahlberg in the faith-based movieFather Stu, as well as theJohn Wicktelevision seriesThe Continental.In theTHRinterview, Spielberg added ofSchindler’s List’s legacy, “It’s the best movie I’ve ever made. I am not going to say it’s the best movie I everwillmake. But currently, it’s the work I’m proudest of.”

Mel Gibson, Schindler’s List.Photo:Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty; Mary Evans/AMmblin Entertainment/Universal Pictures/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection

Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty; Mary Evans/AMmblin Entertainment/Universal Pictures/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection

Mel Gibsonwanted to be considered for the lead role in 1993’sSchindler’s List, one of the filmmakers behind the film revealed in a new interview.Agent Michael Ovitz, who played a key role in making the movie, participated in a new interview withThe Hollywood Reporterto mark 30 years since the Holocaust drama swept the Oscars in 1994. (It won seven total, including Best Picture.)Ovitz revealed to the outlet that Gibson, now 68, at one point expressed interest in starring in the project.“Mel Gibson’s name came up. He was interested. His agent put him forward. But it wasn’t going to happen. Steven wanted a non–movie star for the part,” said Ovitz.A rep for Gibson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.Liam Neesonearned a Best Actor Oscar nomination for playing Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who helped save hundreds of Jewish people during the Holocaust.Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler.Snap/ShutterstockThe actor, 71, toldTHRof other stars rumored to have been in the running for the role: “I heardHarrison Ford’s name.[Kevin] Costner’s name. The Australian actor Jack Thompson — I thought, ‘Oh, yeah, Jack looks very like Schindler.’ I looked nothing like Schindler. Anyway, it was always in the back of my head, but I wasn’t holding out huge hope.“DirectorSteven Spielbergadded, though, “A lot of people were interested in playing Schindler, and a lot of them were movie stars, and to all of them I promised never to divulge any of their history with me, so I’m not saying those names are accurate.““I’m saying there were a number of people, even more than the names you gave me,” added Spielberg, 77.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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.In 1996, Gibson won an Oscar for directing Best Picture–winnerBraveheart, in which he also starred. The actor faced controversy in 2006, whenhe shouted an anti-Semitic slurat a Los Angeles police officer during a DUI arrest. Gibson apologized after the incident, saying, “I acted like a person completely out of control … and said things I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed.“Gibson recently starred withMark Wahlberg in the faith-based movieFather Stu, as well as theJohn Wicktelevision seriesThe Continental.In theTHRinterview, Spielberg added ofSchindler’s List’s legacy, “It’s the best movie I’ve ever made. I am not going to say it’s the best movie I everwillmake. But currently, it’s the work I’m proudest of.”

Mel Gibsonwanted to be considered for the lead role in 1993’sSchindler’s List, one of the filmmakers behind the film revealed in a new interview.

Agent Michael Ovitz, who played a key role in making the movie, participated in a new interview withThe Hollywood Reporterto mark 30 years since the Holocaust drama swept the Oscars in 1994. (It won seven total, including Best Picture.)

Ovitz revealed to the outlet that Gibson, now 68, at one point expressed interest in starring in the project.

“Mel Gibson’s name came up. He was interested. His agent put him forward. But it wasn’t going to happen. Steven wanted a non–movie star for the part,” said Ovitz.

A rep for Gibson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Liam Neesonearned a Best Actor Oscar nomination for playing Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who helped save hundreds of Jewish people during the Holocaust.

Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler.Snap/Shutterstock

Snap/Shutterstock

The actor, 71, toldTHRof other stars rumored to have been in the running for the role: “I heardHarrison Ford’s name.[Kevin] Costner’s name. The Australian actor Jack Thompson — I thought, ‘Oh, yeah, Jack looks very like Schindler.’ I looked nothing like Schindler. Anyway, it was always in the back of my head, but I wasn’t holding out huge hope.”

DirectorSteven Spielbergadded, though, “A lot of people were interested in playing Schindler, and a lot of them were movie stars, and to all of them I promised never to divulge any of their history with me, so I’m not saying those names are accurate.”

“I’m saying there were a number of people, even more than the names you gave me,” added Spielberg, 77.

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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In 1996, Gibson won an Oscar for directing Best Picture–winnerBraveheart, in which he also starred. The actor faced controversy in 2006, whenhe shouted an anti-Semitic slurat a Los Angeles police officer during a DUI arrest. Gibson apologized after the incident, saying, “I acted like a person completely out of control … and said things I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed.”

Gibson recently starred withMark Wahlberg in the faith-based movieFather Stu, as well as theJohn Wicktelevision seriesThe Continental.

In theTHRinterview, Spielberg added ofSchindler’s List’s legacy, “It’s the best movie I’ve ever made. I am not going to say it’s the best movie I everwillmake. But currently, it’s the work I’m proudest of.”

source: people.com