Mel Gibson Says Losing Malibu Mansion in Fire Allows Him to Do 'What I'm Being Called to Do'
Actor and filmmaker Mel Gibson believes losing his $14.5 million Malibu mansion in the Palisades fire last week is a "purification" as he is preparing to film for the sequel of "The Passion of the Christ." Gibson, who discussed his upcoming film "Flight Risk" on the debut episode of "Arroyo Grande," told Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo that he had lost his home in the fire after living there for 15 years.
"It was an odd mixture of sadness and kind of a weird realization and blessing," Gibson said. "Yeah, I'm gonna miss some stuff. There was valuable stuff, there was personal stuff—that just breaks my heart. I feel like I'm being stripped down and prepared for something else."
"Now, that's maybe very personal, but I feel like the Almighty is preparing me to do something big," he added.
According to Church Leaders, Arroyo then proceeded to ask whether the loss was "a spiritual preparation for the resurrection movie you're about to embark on."
"Totally," Gibson responded. "I think that's kind of it. It's like, hey, look, God gives, God takes, we come in with nothing. That's the same way we go out. And here's the deal: You'll always be okay if you seek first the kingdom of God."
Citing Scripture, Gibson highlighted God's provision and care for His children in Matthew 6:26-27.
"You'll always be okay. You'll get what you need. Look at the flowers of the field. Look at the birds of the air. They get fed. They get clothed," said Gibson, sharing that it was one of his father's favorite Scripture passages.
He recalled his father telling him as a young child to not worry about "stuff" and "money," a lesson that the filmmaker says has "stayed" with him since.
Gibson told Arroyo that the loss of his home is ultimately an "opportunity" to recreate his path.
"You gotta look at the upside of this. I mean, there's plenty of downsides, but honestly, I see it as kind of a blessing and a purification," he said. "I got a lot of faith."
Arroyo also asked Gibson concerning last week's appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast where he said how the timing of the sequel to "The Passion of the Christ" titled "The Resurrection of the Christ" is perfect two decades later.
"Well, I think the cares and the weeds and the flowers, you know, they've all grown up around us in the last 20 years to a degree where I think society is kind of devolving somehow," Gibson explained. "And I think we need a reminder of the most basic things and the things that form our civilization."
"I thought it was like 20 years, maybe a bit too late, but I think now it's perfect because I've had all these things taken, and it sort of frees me up to not worry about that stuff and just move ahead and do what I'm being called to do," he said.
Gibson stressed, "And I'm being called to do it. I don't even know why it's the right time, but I think it is."
On Thursday, President-elect Donald Trump announced that Gibson, Jon Voight, and Sylvester Stallone would serve as 'special ambassadors' to Hollywood. All three men have been outspoken Trump supporters since his first presidential campaign in 2016, The Christian Post reports.
"They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years, to Foreign Countries BACK—BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest. It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!"
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/John Phillips/Stringer
Originally published January 17, 2025.
