Mel Gibson

AGE 46

WHY HIM He can open even a dog tag like ''We Were Soldiers'' at No. 1. All ''Signs'' point to a comfy retirement when the time comes, given his $25 million salary and hefty percentage points in M. Night Shyamalan's $200 million-plus grosser. But instead of hanging in Malibu with his posse of kids, this practicing Catholic -- who recently wrapped ''The Singing Detective'' -- is taking on what may be his biggest challenge yet: directing ''The Passion,'' starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus. Renowned prankster Gibson is saying the film will be in unsubtitled Latin and Aramaic, a cross we doubt he'll make audiences bear.

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