Mel to attend Mexican 'Apocalypto' debut

In this promotional handout photo released by Icon Distribution, Inc., director Mel Gibson appears on the set of his epic drama 'Apocalypto.'(AP Photo/Icon Distribution, Andrew Cooper/SMPS-File)

MEXICO CITY - Mel Gibson will travel to Mexico next week for the Mexican premiere of his new movie "Apocalypto," about ancient Mayans, his publicist, Alan Nierob said Thursday.

"Apocalypto" tells the story of the Mayan people?- who built a civilization in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras?- and is in a Mayan language. Gibson employed Mayans for the film and has said he wants to make the Mayan language "cool" again and encourage young people "to speak it with pride."

However, the movie also depicts Mayans as being extremely violent and carrying out beheadings and human sacrifices. Some Mayans descendants in Mexico and Guatemala say the portrayal is derogatory, showing them as being savage.

"Apocalypto" has broken box-office records for foreign-language films in its opening weekends in several countries, including Britain. It has also earned a Golden Globe nomination for best foreign-language film.