Mel Gibson and John Lithgow may be heading back into the world of blockbuster comedy as they are in talks to join Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in the sequel to the Paramount’s 2015 comedy “Daddy’s Home.”
The offers come as both actors have emerged as major figures in this year’s awards season.
It also marks something of a career resurgence for Gibson — who has only taken a handful of acting roles in this decade. And when it comes to broad comedies, you have to go back to 2000 to find Gibson in a major role. That year, he appeared in the romcom “What Women Want” and lent his voice to the cocky rooster Rocky Rhodes in the Aardman stop-motion animation film “Chicken Run.”
Lithgow received a SAG Award on Sunday for his performance as Winston Churchill in the Netflix series “The Crown.” Gibson’s war film, “Hacksaw Ridge,” has been nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Gibson is also up for the top prize at this weekend’s DGA Awards.
Prior to “Hacksaw Ridge,” Gibson had mostly been featured in thrillers like “Edge of Darkness” and “Blood Father,” as well as dramas like “The Beaver.” His most recent appearance in a comedy was in 2013, where he played the villain in Robert Rodriguez’s R-rated shoot-em-up “Machete Kills.”
Gibson will next appear alongside Sean Penn in the film “The Professor and the Madman.” Lithgow will star in the NBC sitcom “Trial & Error,” premiering March 7
Paramount has set “Daddy’s Home 2” to be released on November 10.