It’s been over twenty years since the release of The Passion of the Christ, but Mel Gibson has finally returned with the long-awaited sequel, The Resurrection of the Christ. Gibson began shooting the follow-up last year, and some behind-the-scenes photos have emerged on social media, with Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò visiting the set. They’re not too exciting, but they do show Gibson hard at work.
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 rumoured 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.
The original had a budget of just $30 million, which made its success all the more impressive. But the sequels have a much higher price tag, with both films reportedly costing upwards of $250 million. The films can certainly expect support from the religious crowd, but will it be enough to elevate them to biblical blockbuster status?