Mel Gibson is in talks to star in the action-thriller Blood Father, which has Jean-François Richet (Assault on Precinct 13) attached to direct.

The story is being compared to the 2009 Liam Neeson hit Taken, centering on an ex-con (Mel Gibson) who tries to protect his estranged and troubled 16-year-old daughter from drug dealers trying to kill her. The daughter has not been cast at this time.

Peter Craig (The Town) wrote the screenplay, with Chris Briggs (Shark Night 3D) producing through his Why Not Productions company. The project is being fast-tracked into production, which is scheduled to begin shooting this May in New Mexico, although no distributor has been found at this time.

Mel Gibson most recently starred in Machete Kills, and he will next be seen this summer as a part of the all-star cast in The Expendables 3. Aside from directing the Assault on Precinct 13 remake in 2005, Jean-François Richet is best known for Mesrine: Killer Instinct (Part 1) and Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 (Part 2), which both starred Vincent Cassel.