Mel Gibson’s Interest in ‘Schindler’s List’ Role

Mel Gibson was interested in the leading role in “Schindler’s List” but wasn’t selected due to his fame.

According to Hollywood agent and CAA co-founder Michael Ovitz, Mel’s name came up during the casting process for the 1993 movie.

Ovitz revealed that Mel was interested in the project, and although his agent attempted to secure the part, director Steven Spielberg was seeking a lesser-known actor for the role.

In 1993, amidst his successful acting career, Mel was deemed too prominent for the part, having recently starred in his third ‘Lethal Weapon’ movie and amassed several popular credits.

The role of Oskar Schindler went to Liam Neeson, contributing to the film’s success at the 1994 Oscars with 7 wins, including Best Picture.

Interestingly, it was reported that Mel made racist and antisemitic comments during his 2006 DUI arrest, making the consideration for this Holocaust-themed film noteworthy.