Rio Gallegos, Argentina, March 3 (UPI) --

In the wake of his harrowing personal journey bringing THE PASSION OF
THE CHRIST to movie screens, a film tightly focused on the final
twelve hours of suffering endured by Jesus, director-actor Mel
Gibson--who identified closely with his subject--has announced his
next helming will be a complete departure.

"I want to lighten up and do a comedy," Gibson said this week, from
his personally funded genetics institute and macadamia nut plantation
in South America. "I'm ready for something of a lark, with more
scope".

After a short rest, Gibson will be off to Europe to scout locations
for HITLER: THE PARTY YEARS; a film he promises to be "a slaphappy
romp" based entirely on "the true facts" as recorded in ancient Third
Reich texts, promising "a gay side of der Fuhrer and his pals" which
Gibson says is often overlooked by modern audiences and historians.
The former Mad Max star is quick to reassure us that he will not let
down his loyal fans, and even though HTPY will be a full-blown Arian
yuck-fest, it will still have plenty of Gibson's cinematic trademarks.

"You'll see," boasts Mel, "Slapstick has never really reached its
ultra-violent potential, and we plan to really explore that. Like,
there'll be real slaps and real sticks, you know, popping veins and
cracked heads. I've studied the historical records myself. Let me
tell you, there were plenty of holly jolly Krauts big on cornhole
humor. It's really some very funny stuff."

This time it will be a family affair, since Gibson's own father will
act as technical advisor. "It'll be great to tag along with me dad
and have him in on the show....looking forward to barrels of beer and
good times." He also assures us that, even though the lead is not yet
cast, the actor of choice will be fully checked out and "of pure blood
persuasion", just as with Gibson's Christ. Meanwhile, the $37 million
dollar Berlin-based laff-riot has already been endorsed by The
Vatican, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Attorney
General John Ashcroft.

HITLER: THE PARTY YEARS is expected to hit theater screens with a
bloody splash Christmas of 2005.




###