Mel Gibson’s Close Call with a Horse on the Set of ‘Braveheart’

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1995’s epic film “Braveheart,” directed by Mel Gibson, is frequently lauded for its grandiose and gruesome battle sequences, as well as Gibson’s portrayal of the Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace. Interestingly, it was during the filming of a horse-related stunt that Gibson felt he was on the verge of encountering his fate, which he believed contributed to creating the most authentic movie experience possible.

As a cinephile in the ’90s, I had already made my mark in Hollywood, but “Braveheart” wasn’t just another action flick for me; it was a game-changer. It catapulted me from a known action star to a respected director and actor all at once. The production of those grand-scale battle scenes demanded meticulous planning, especially since we had numerous live horses on set for the stunts.

In a tumultuous battle scene, Gibson executed a daring stunt that involved dismounting from his horse. However, in the heat of the moment, there was a close call where he might have tumbled under the horse instead. Fortunately, his stunt double stepped in to prevent this mishap. This anecdote was shared by Gibson during his MegaCon Orlando appearance (as reported by ScreenRant).

In a different scenario, we had a mechanical horse equipped with reins and foot pedals. The dilemma was figuring out when it would rear up if you tugged back on the reins and pressed down with your heels. I was experimenting with this horse when suddenly a man attacked me with a spear, striking me in the chest. Despite my fall from the horse, the scene continues in the film since the horse continued to move, as it is shown. However, they did not transition to the following segment immediately because what followed was the 2,000-pound horse coming down on me after I fell off.

In this situation, I’d find myself thinking, “I believe I just met my demise.” My stand-in, a fellow named Mic Rogers, seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Suddenly, his arms enter the frame and he swiftly pulled me away from beneath a galloping horse. The impact was so intense that if I hadn’t been rescued, I would likely not be here today.

Braveheart Has an Impressive Legacy

Gibson’s work on Braveheart remains among his finest, despite an unintended scene from his near-death experience being incorporated into the film. In the end, all efforts proved worthwhile as Braveheart earned five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

The film “Braveheart” remains popular, consistently showing up on streaming lists, and unlike Mel Gibson’s more recent projects, it was put out when he was still a highly sought-after actor for numerous films each year. After spending years as an outsider in Hollywood, Gibson has been slowly gaining bigger roles again, such as in the “John Wick” series’ “The Continental,” and directing his latest hit movie, “Flight Risk.” In recent conversations, Gibson hinted that he might soon start shooting a follow-up to his contentious religious film, “The Passion of the Christ,” and there are whispers that another “Lethal Weapon” sequel could be on the horizon.

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2025-02-15 17:34