The bad news continues to pile up for Mel Gibson. Even as the former Sexiest Man Alive weathers a tidal wave of bad publicity, the actor still hopes to maintain his directing career.

But that’s going to be a challenge for the Lethal Weapon star if his peers in Hollywood decide to keep their distance from both Mel and his scandals. And it looks like that might be what’s happening.

Throughout the controversy surrounding tape recordings that appear to capture Gibson using racist and sexist language while threatening physical violence against his ex-girlfriend, the Passion of the Christ director has continued to develop an epic movie he hoped to shoot about Norse Vikings.

Leonardo DiCaprio had been slated to lead the cast of the seafaring drama, but now it appears the Inception star may be the first to jump ship.

Radar Online claims to have spoken to an inside source who has confirmed that Leo is backing out of any commitments he may have made to work with Gibson. “Not a chance,” said the source when asked if DiCaprio was still considering the film.

The insider continued, “Leo has earned the right to pick and choose who he works with and Mel Gibson is not one of them.”

(Photo by PR Photos)

Story provided by the Dish Information Corporation