Paramount agreed to make the film, but as insurance, it split the $72 million budget with 20th Century Fox Fox was given rights to international distribution in return. Gibson turned Warners down - though three years later, he did make 'Lethal Weapon 4.'Ĥ. The studio agreed to fund the production only if Gibson agreed to headline a fourth 'Lethal Weapon' movie. Mel Gibson took the script to his then-home studio, Warner Bros., with the hope to direct the project. He is not related to William Wallace, but he was inspired by the famous rebel's life story.ģ. Wallace was inspired to write the screenplay by a trip to Scotland to explore his own roots. He'd been a martial arts instructor, the manager of an animal show at Opryland in Nashville, a singer/songwriter, and a TV scriptwriter.Ģ.

'Braveheart' was Randall Wallace's first produced screenplay, but he'd done a lot of interesting work before that. Still, even though the movie has been a staple for 20 years, there may be plenty you don't know about it, from its generous liberties with history to the R-rated pranks the director pulled on his leading lady.ġ. Two decades later, it's still the most famous movie ever made about Scotland. At its center is a charismatic performance by the 'Lethal Weapon' star, then at the height of his popularity as a box office draw and action hero.

The Best Picture winner thrilled audiences as well as critics with its exciting battle scenes, stirring speeches, and sweeping historical narrative of 13th-century Scottish independence fighter William Wallace.

The movie, which opened 20 years ago this week (on May 24, 1995), won five Oscars, two of them for star Mel Gibson (in his roles as producer and director). In retrospect, the popularity of ' Braveheart' seems like a foregone conclusion.

Is brave heart based on a true story