First Shots of Mel Gibson and His Beaver

Yes, that is a stuffed beaver puppet Mel Gibson is cuddling in the shot you see above.   It comes to us today courtesy of Splash News who has a whole series of images from the early filming on ‘The Beaver.’

Directed by Jodie Foster, the film centers on a depressed CEO of a toy company who finds a ratty, old beaver puppet.   He begins using the puppet as a sort of avatar, wearing it constantly and communicating through it.

While the premise and the shots of the early filming would make you think this is going to be a slapstick-lovers dream, evidently the screenplay is very endearing.   This could be a return to form for Gibson, who hasn’t been in a starring since 2002′s ‘Signs.’

‘The Beaver’ is set for release in 2011.