Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Jesus did rise again and that may very well be the case when it comes to his appearance on the big screen. Director Mel Gibson has been hinting about a sequel to THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST since 2016 and now the film's writer, Randall Wallace, is confirming that talks of a sequel are indeed still happening.

During a chat with "Movieweb.com", Wallace was discussing the release of the 25th-anniversary Blu-ray steelbook edition of BRAVEHEART when he was asked about the status of THE PASSION sequel. While Wallace didn't give away specific details, he said enough to indicate that the film is something that they all talk about on a regular basis:

"It's something we talk about a lot. My major in college was religion, and I did a year seminary afterward. My major focus of study was the resurrection. That is the Mount Everest of movies and we are in discussions about it a lot. It's a highly-charged one, so we keep our cards close to our chest."

The Passion of the Christ 2 Talk Has Been a Long Time Coming

Gibson began discussing the prospect of a sequel back in 2016 when he was promoting his directorial comeback HACKSAW RIDGE, which saw him returning to helm a film after a decade long absence. Gibson slipped out of notoriety for his film work and became more known for questionable personal decisions after a DUI arrest and now-infamous anti-semitic rant. HACKSAW RIDGE provided Gibson with a bit of redemption because the film put the focus back on his talent and culminated in Oscar nominations for Best Director and Best Picture among others.

It would make sense that Gibson would talk about a PASSION sequel during that time because the theme was all about rising again, much like what was transpiring with his career. Gibson has said the sequel would be titled THE RESURRECTION, given that it will follow Jesus' resurrection following his crucifixion but beyond that, not much else has been revealed until this revelation that a sequel is still in the cards. From a business standpoint, a sequel feels like a no-brainer, even if it has been some time since the release of the first film. Released in 2004, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST grossed a staggering $611 million at the global box office, working from a budget of just $30 million. Until DEADPOOL was released in 2016, this made it the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all-time. 

There is no official word of a sequel just yet although actor Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus Christ in the first film, said back in 2018 that a sequel would be the "biggest film ever." so I would expect a return from him as well. This is an idea that has clearly been in the works and doesn't seem 100% motivated by money so a return to this subject matter could prove to be an enticing endeavor if these talks become a reality.

Do YOU want to see a sequel to THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST?