In the six years since his last starring role ("Signs"), Mel Gibson has battled one controversy after another. First, his blockbuster directorial effort "The Passion of the Christ" caused uproar among some Jewish groups because of its negative depiction of Jews during the time of Jesus. His follow-up film, "Apocalypto," was marred by negative publicity after his infamous anti-Semitic remarks during a DUI arrest a few months before. Now, after keeping a low profile for the past two years, Gibson has agreed to headline Martin Campbell's new thriller, "Edge of Darkness."

A big-screen adaptation of a 1985 BBC miniseries Campbell also directed, "Darkness" will find Gibson playing a conservative police investigator who discovers a conspiracy behind the death of his activist daughter.

William Monahan ("The Departed") wrote the script, and the project is currently being independently financed by producer Graham King ("The Aviator"). It will be intriguing to see if any studios acquire the feature before the cameras roll or if they take a "wait and see" approach. No doubt numerous debates are being waged in Hollywood boardrooms as to whether Gibson can still be a potent box office star after his DUI incident. But with Campbell seemingly back in a creative groove after "Casino Royale" and the respected Monahan and King on board, it's hard to imagine someone not taking a gamble on it.

Production on "Darkness" should begin this August in Boston.

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