Phil Brennan, NewsMax.com
Monday, Sept. 3, 2003

The paper said other Hollywood studios appear less than enthusiastic about taking the project on, which could make it difficult for movie goers to see the film when it is released early next year.

According to the New York Times, which has been a frequent critic of the film, Hollywood executives say that "The Passion," which the Times describes as chronicling "in bloody detail" the last hours of Jesus' life," and "potentially inflammatory -- not commercial enough for a high-profile mainstream studio like Fox."

Fox's decision to drop any plans to distribute the film came just before a demonstration Thursday by a small group of protesters in front of Murdoch's News Corporation's Manhattan headquarters.

The demonstration was led by Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind, a conservative Democrat, who said the film could incite anti-Semitic violence.

Hivkin's allegation drew an angry response from Catholic League president William Donohue.

“The furor over Mel Gibson’s film has now reached a fever pitch," Donohue said. "Assemblyman Hikind’s response is an example of how reaction to ‘The Passion’ has spilled into hysteria."

'Nonsense'

He added: “The contention that the film ‘will spur anti-Semitic fervor’ is nonsense. Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, after seeing the film, commented, ‘You can quote me -- Mel Gibson’s 'The Passion' is not anti-Semitic. I did not see any anti-Semitism in it.’"

But concerns about anti-Semitism may have been the main reason Fox decided to pass on the film.

"Icon [Gibson's production firm] told us that it has a number of alternative distribution options that it is pursuing," Florence Grace, a spokeswoman for Fox, said. "In light of this, Fox and Icon agreed late last week that Fox will not be involved in the release of the film."

"Rupert Murdoch doesn't need the aggravation," an entertainment executive, speaking anonymously, told the Times.

The Times says the executive told them that International Creative Management, Gibson's Hollywood talent agency which is helping him find a United States distributor, has begun approaching some major studios like Warner Brothers and Miramax to see if they are interested in seeing the movie, adding that Icon executives are also talking to smaller distributors.

Alan Nierob, a spokesman for Gibson, told the Times that Fox executives had seen an early version of the film, but that the final version was still not complete. "He has to finish it first. He's got to do the music. It's almost ready to be shown."

Nierob also said the film might be best suited for a small boutique distributor, adding that "Icon is going to dictate the terms."

Already Gibson has shown the film to representatives of the Christian and Jewish community, and has made changes based on criticisms and suggestions he has received.

Editor's note:
James Hirsen’s "Tales from the Left Coast" - Find out the real stroy behind Mel Gibson`s "The Passion," and more!