Mel Gibson's new film The Passion, about the final 12 hours of the life of Jesus, is having trouble finding major studio distribution, according to the Internet Movie Database.

The film, directed by Gibson, has wrapped shooting, with Jim Caviezal (The Count of Monte Cristo) playing Jesus. The film has been surrounded by controversy, as some Jewish organizations, specifically the Anti-Defamation League, have accused the film of depicting anti-Semitism. However, both the Catholic League and the Vatican have defended the film.

Catholic League president William Donahue issued a statement saying Gibson should ignore the attacks by the ADL.

"The movie is not anti-Semitic and does not need to be changed," Donahue told the press. "Revisionist history is dishonest history and must be resisted."

The ADL has opposed the film since reading the first draft of the script, which Gibson says did not represent the final cut of the film.

Now, after financing and completing the film under his own company, Icon Productions, Gibson is in the midst of finding a major Hollywood studio willing to distribute the film. Although independent studios have made offers, major companies are shying away from the project. Some believe this may be caused by the criticism of Universal Studios following its distribution of the controversial Martin Scorsese film, The Last Temptation of Christ.

The original distributor for The Passion was 20th Century Fox, which has since backed out.

Even before any film companies had seen the movie, several distribution companies were interested, including Newmarket, Paramount Classics, Sony Classics and Lions Gate. The controversy with the ADL, plus the fact that the screenplay was in Aramaic and Latin without subtitles, may have influenced film companies not to distribute the film.

Paul Lauer is a spokesman for Icon Productions.

"Mel abhors anti-Semitism," Lauer said in a statement on the film's official Web site. "In no way does his faith endorse hatred or bigotry or anti-Semitism or blame the Jews for the death of Christ."