Mel Gibson wants to produce limited series on Great Siege of Malta

quote:

---

“I'm also working on a TV limited series about the Siege of Malta, which is an incredible story, and there's only one place to film that, I mean, in Malta. Because that's where it happened, at these fortresses where 700 knights defended Malta against an onslaught from the Turkish and Suleiman sent 40,000 men and ships and, wow, the knights won. So, it's a pretty crazy, great story,” he told Movieweb.

---

quote:

---

The Great Siege of 1565

The Ottoman Empire, under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, sought to capture the island of Malta, which was strategically located in the Mediterranean. Defending Malta were the Knights of St. John, an elite military order, alongside the Maltese. The siege, which lasted from May to September, saw brutal fighting, with the Ottomans using overwhelming force and numbers. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the defenders held firm, using their fortress city of Birgu and the stronghold of Fort St. Elmo to great effect.

Ultimately, the Ottomans were forced to withdraw after suffering heavy losses, marking a turning point in the Mediterranean struggle between Christian and Muslim forces. The victory bolstered European morale and solidified the Knights’ reputation as defenders of Christendom.

---