Mel Gibson has unveiled the first look at ‘The Resurrection of the Christ,’ the long-awaited sequel to his 2004 blockbuster ‘The Passion of the Christ.’ The two-part biblical epic has completed principal photography after a 134-day shoot across multiple locations in Italy. However, the release schedule has been revised, with both films now arriving later than originally planned.
Revised Release Dates for ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’
According to Variety, production wrapped ahead of schedule after filming in Rome, Bari, Ginosa, Craco, Brindisi, and Matera. Gibson confirmed that the release plan has changed. ‘Part One’ has been moved from March 26, 2027, to May 6, 2027. ‘Part Two’ has shifted from May 6, 2027, to May 25, 2028. Both films are now set to open on Ascension Day, the Christian holiday commemorating Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven.
“I’m deeply grateful to my incredibly talented cast and crew for pouring their hearts into this production. Together, we created something powerful,” Gibson said. “This film represents a major part of my life’s work, and it has demanded everything of me as a filmmaker and as an artist. This is far more than a film to me. It’s a mission I’ve carried for over 20 years to tell what I believe is the most important story in human history.”
Mel Gibson Returns to ‘The Passion of the Christ’ Story
‘The Resurrection of the Christ’ continues the narrative of ‘The Passion of the Christ,’ which starred Jim Caviezel as Jesus of Nazareth and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene. The 2004 film focused on the final 12 hours before the crucifixion. The new two-part project will center on the resurrection. Gibson co-wrote the screenplay with Randall Wallace and has described the scripts as an “acid trip,” stating he “never read anything like” them.
New cast members include Jaakko Ohtonen as Jesus and Mariela Garriga as Mary Magdalene, taking over from Caviezel and Bellucci. The ensemble also features Pier Luigi Pasino, Kasia Smutniak, Riccardo Scamarcio, and Rupert Everett.
Box Office and Distribution
‘The Passion of the Christ’ grossed USD 610 million worldwide against a USD 30 million production budget. It held the domestic R-rated box office record with USD 370 million until Disney’s ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ surpassed it with USD 636 million domestically in 2024.
Lionsgate will distribute the films in North America, the United Kingdom, and Latin America through IDC. The studio has also secured international partners across Germany, France, Spain, Benelux, Scandinavia, South Africa, Poland, Eastern Europe, Switzerland, Portugal, the Baltics, Australia, and New Zealand.
Adam Fogelson, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair, praised Gibson, calling him “a true visionary with an artist’s eye for scale and a storyteller’s instinct for emotional truth.”
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