THE MACCABEES IT IS:

Gibson plans second biblical epic -19/3/04 (Ekklesia, UK)

Mel Gibson has revealed he is planning another Biblical epic � based on a Jewish revolt in 200BC, told in ancient Greek texts, the Apocrypha and mentioned in the book of Daniel.

Having conquered the US box office with "The Passion of the Christ," about the last hours in the life of Jesus, he is now turning his attention to the story of the Maccabean uprising.

[...]

"The story that's always fired my imagination ... is the Book of Maccabees," Gibson said. "It's about Antiochus, the king who set up his religion in the temple, and forced them all to deny the true God and worship at his feet and worship false gods.

"The Maccabee family stood up, and they made war, they stuck by their guns, and they came out winning," he said. "It's like a western."

[...]

The Maccabean revolt actually started in 167 B.C.E., which the story correctly notes in a part I haven't quoted. Other reports, like this one by Ananova, don't take such pains.

UPDATE: Maybe not. This Ha'aretz article (via Bible and Interpretation News) quotes the same exchange but concludes, "Gibson did not say he was planning another biblical film."