Nash: Gibson no factor in Maccabee film

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HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Producer Bruce Nash says his concept for a movie about the original Hanukkah wasn't meant to be a challenge to Mel Gibson's similar project.

Nash told The Hollywood Reporter he and screenwriter Scott Abbott have been working on the project since 2007, and it was on the drawing board well before Gibson and Joe Eszterhas decided to tackle the legend of Judah Maccabee.

"Doing this project comes from a very positive rather than a negative point of view," Nash said. "This is not just a matter of dueling Hollywood projects."

Nash conceded he did feel protective of the Maccabee story after the controversial Gibson announced he was getting involved in the rival project. "I thought it was an important story to share with people of all faiths," said Nash. "For me this project is a lifetime in the making."