Gibson's new movie sparks controversy

Hollywood actor-director Mel Gibson's new movie has run into trouble after relatives of inmates at a Mexican jail rejected plans to move prisoners to make way for the film shoot.

Hollywood actor-director Mel Gibson's new movie has run into trouble after relatives of inmates at a Mexican jail rejected plans to move prisoners to make way for the film shoot.

The 53-year-old star has set his sights on filming at the Ignacio Allende prison in the eastern coastal city of Veracruz.

The state's governor, Fidel Herrera Beltran, announced earlier this month that prisoners would be moved out of the jail to allow the film crew to work there,

Contactmusic

reported.

Authorities previously planned to transfer inmates to a new prison in the town, but families fear their loved ones will be sent to facilities across the country if the jail is not built in time.

Hundreds of family members launched demonstrations outside the prison in a bid to stop the transfers until the new unit is ready. The 24-hour protest reportedly came to an end after the prison's director announced he had received no orders to transfer inmates and vowed families would be informed if any prisoners are to be moved.

Gibson previously filmed his 2006 epic

Apocalypto

in Veracruz and subsequently handed local authorities a USD 1

million donation to help build new homes for victims of 2005's Hurricane Stan.