
Is Mel Gibson working on Apocalypto 2? Does the film deserve a sequel? What could it be about? Let’s discuss.

Mel Gibsonโs 2006 film Apocalypto was an undeniably ambitious project that also became remarkably divisive. Whether you loved it or hated it, one thing is certain โ Apocalypto, much like Gibson himself, has aged into something of a misunderstood masterpiece that appealed primarily to a very particular audience. That audience is still left wondering if there will ever be an Apocalypto 2.
Mel Gibsonโs Apocalypto
Now, nearly two decades after its original release, the movie remains torn between praise for its visuals and period accuracy and criticism for its disturbing and brutal content.
With such a polarized response from critics and viewers alike, the possibility of revisiting that same world in a sequel seemed slim from the very beginning. And this is par for the course when it comes to Gibson as a filmmaker โ throughout his decades-long career behind the camera, he has rarely returned to direct follow-ups to his movies.

Fromย Braveheartย toย Get the Gringoย and beyond, Gibson tends to take on passion projects that stand entirely alone, for better or worse. With the exception ofย The Passion of the Christ, itโs safe to say Gibson isnโt big on sequels.
So, as the years roll on, making a sequel toย Apocalyptoย seems more like an unlikely long shot than ever. But could there perhaps be an opportunity to reexamine Mayan culture in a new Mel Gibson Film?
A Matter of Representation

Back in 2006, our modern notion of โdiversityโ appeared much different for films. Even then, a movie likeย Apocalyptoย was nothing short of groundbreaking. Featuring an entirely native cast with no spoken English, the film presented an unparalleled picture of the Mayan culture.
While some critics saw the movie as โracistโ โ mostly due toย Gibsonโs many blundersย โ the truth is that there has never been a film that better captures the lifestyle of pre-colonial indigenous cultures in Central and South America quite likeย Apocalypto.

Was it violent? Sure, but the violent ways of the Mayan Empire are aย well-known historical fact.
Anย Apocalypto 2ย would give viewers a privileged chance to reexamine history through the eyes of Mel Gibson. The filmmaker might have uttered some racially-charged comments in the past. Still, when we see films likeย Apocalypto, itโs easy to see that Gibsonโs passion for history far outweighs any possible racial prejudice.
Why Mel Gibson Should Make Apocalypto 2
Apocalyptoโs ending might be one of the best in a historical drama. These films are usually made to portray a pivotal historical event.ย Apocalypto, on the other hand, presents the โprequelโ to said eventโthe arrival of Spanish ships on Mayan shores.
At the time of the filmโs release, some historians argued thatย the film was colonialist, portraying the Maya as a civilization in dire need of saving. However, thatโs only a surface-level reading on whatย Apocalyptoโs ending truly means. As we see the ships approaching the New World, we know what comes next. If the violence we saw in the rest of the film was shocking, then we, as people familiar with the Spanish conquest of the Americas, know that whatโs yet to come is the true apocalypse the movie promises.
Mel Gibson (who is currentlyย working onย The Passion of the Christ 2) has never been vocal about anย Apocalypto 2, and itโs easy to see why that might be.ย Apocalyptoย is a perfect story; the ending tells a story on its own, without the need to portray the actual conquest to tell us how violent things are going to get for the Mayans.
In the unlikely scenario thatย Apocalypto 2ย is ever made, Gibson might opt to avoid the film. As a result, a sequel might be the perfect way to dilute the originalโs legacy.
If you have never seen the film or were dissuaded by comments about its โnegative portrayal of nativesโ or โhistorical inaccuracies,โ do yourself a favour and give it a chance. Youโll be pleasantly surprised โ as long as you can endure Mel Gibsonโs trademark ultraviolence.
Tell us, would you like anย Apocalypto 2?