Last year it was announced that Mel Gibson was working on a movie about the Jewish story of The Maccabees. From the first announcement, many wondered whether it was a genuine interest in the story or an attempt at damage limitation following renewed claims of anti-Semitism, which led to Gibson’s interest.

Now though, the project has stalled, with Warner Bros. saying that the latest version of the script lacked “feeling” and “a sense of triumph,” according to TheWrap. The studio is now said to be “Analyzing what to do with the project,” but at the moment it’s been put on the shelf.

It’s been a hot potato from the beginning, with many Jewish groups furious at the very idea of Gibson’s involvement, especially if he were to also star as Judah Maccabee, who led his brothers in revolt against the Seleucid Empire, ruled by Antiochus Epiphanes who had forbidden Jewish practices, and whose victory is celebrated at Hanukkah.

However it’s not just Jewish groups who are angry now, as the movie’s screenwriter, Joe Eszterhas, has launched an angry tirade at Gibson, accusing him of numerous instances of anti-Semitism while working on the film, and saying the only reason Mel was interested in the film was because he thought he could use it to convert Jews to Christianity. You can read more about that here.

The Maccabees movie may still live on – it’s a great story – but it’s tough to imagine Gibson directing it.