The Wrap reports that screenwriter Joe Eszterhas and Mel Gibson are in the midst of a public feud regarding Gibson's aborted plans to make a film about the ancient Jewish hero Maccabbee, who led his people in a revolt that is still celebrated at Hannukah. The convoluted tale began when Gibson and Warner Brothers decided to bring the story to the screen with Gibson as Macabbee. That very notion caused controversy, given Gibson's scandalous anti-Semitic remarks in the past. Eszterhas says he was enthused about the project but had concerns when he witnessed irrational behavior on the part of Gibson that allegedly included anti-Jewish remarks and death threats against his estranged lover and mother of one of his children. When Warner Brothers received the first draft of the screenplay from Eszterhas, the studio rejected it out of hand- a severe blow to a man who had once been the hottest screenwriter in Hollywood. After the rejection, Eszterhas went public with accusations against Gibson, saying the Oscar winner never had any intention of bringing the story to the screen and had only hoped to prove he was not anti-Semitic by pretending to develop the project. Eszterhas also called Gibson an unstable person who might be capable of carrying out his threats to hurt is enemies. Gibson responded by saying that, although he used heated rhetoric, most of Eszterhas' accusations are baseless and says he is only trying to divert attention from having his script rejected by Warner Brothers. The screenwriter then granted an interview to the Wrap in which he says he has Gibson's comments on tape. Got all that? Click here for first report on the Wrap. Click here for Eszterhas interview.