It’s been more than two decades since The Passion of the Christ dominated cinemas with its depiction of the life and times of Jesus Christ, and soon, the long-awaited sequel, The Resurrection of the Christ, will arrive in theaters. Mel Gibson began shooting the follow-up last year, and today, we’ve got a new behind-the-scenes video to celebrate the production’s end. On Friday afternoon, a Mel Gibson fan account on Instagram shared a video of the Resurrection cast and crew celebrating the film’s wrap, complete with a congratulatory speech from Jaako Ohtenen, who plays Jesus in the two-part sequel.
The film will actually consist of two parts, with Part One set for release on March 26, 2027 (Good Friday), and Part Two will follow on May 6, 2027 (Ascension Day). Jim Caviezel was initially expected to return as Jesus, with digital trickery to de-age him, but as production began, it was revealed that the role had been recast. Jaakko Ohtonen (Vikings: Valhalla) will star as Jesus alongside Mariela Garriga (Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning) as Mary Magdalene.
Gibson has previously described the sequels as “an acid trip,” adding that he’s “never read anything like” the script, which he wrote with Randall Wallace. The sequels may make one significant change from the first movie, as it’s been rumored that Gibson will be shooting the film in English, at least in part. The cast of the original movie spoke Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin. If true, this would be a disappointment (to me at least), as the more traditionally accurate languages did lend to a more immersive experience.
Although controversial upon release, with many criticizing the graphic violence, The Passion of the Christ was a huge success in 2004, grossing over $612 million worldwide. In fact, it held the record as the highest-grossing R-rated movie in the U.S. until it was finally dethroned by Deadpool & Wolverine.
Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ caused quite a stir upon release, with everyone from devout followers to protestors showing up for the film’s controversial release. At the end of the day, many celebrate the film for its depiction of Christ’s journey, though some parts are difficult to watch. It will be interesting to see if The Resurrection of the Christ kicks up as much sand as the original and whether or not the continued story will resonate as much with fans of the 2004 biblical drama.