Gibson ordered to court over 'Passion'

A judge has told Mel Gibson that he must attend court to answer questions in a lawsuit filed by a screenwriter on The Passion Of The Christ.

Co-writer Benedict Fitzgerald claims that Gibson deceived him over the 2004 film's scale, alleging that he took a low wage because he was told it would be a low-budget movie.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gregory Alarcon has now ordered Gibson, who directed the film, to appear for a depositions hearing by mid-January.

An attorney for Gibson, 52, had tried to prevent the star from making a court appearance over the allegations.

Fitzgerald claims that he was paid $75,000 (£49,000) and blocked from receiving additional profits, despite the movie grossing £390 million.