Braveheart 25 years on: how Mel Gibson listened to Kevin Costner and went big to win five Oscars for epic production
- Kevin Costner had planted the idea of making an epic in Gibson’s head after the American won seven Oscars for his film ‘Dances with Wolves’ in 1990
- In his film about Scottish rebel leader William Wallace, Gibson used thousands of extras, and mechanical horses, for battles, and took liberties with history
Braveheart landed large on movie screens 25 years ago this month, with Mel Gibson pulling double duty, directing and starring as Scottish rebel leader William Wallace. Three hours of kilts, drama, brutally cinematic battle scenes and a literal cast of thousands were involved.
Today, Gibson admits it was fellow actor-turned-director Kevin Costner who planted the “big” idea after Costner directed his sprawling 1990 western Dances With Wolves, which went on to win seven Oscars.
“I spoke to him and I was like, ‘That was amazing. I’m so smacked that you did that with your first film,’ ” Gibson recalls in an anniversary interview with USA Today. “And he said, ‘There’s only one way to go, man. Big.’”
“And I said, ‘OK, I’m going big.’”
Gibson followed through on that promise in 1995’s Braveheart, which earned five Oscars (including best director and best picture) and marks its 25th anniversary with a commemorative Blu-ray release on June 16.