*Mel Gibson’s long-awaited sequel to “The Passion of the Christ” is finally taking shape, and the director has offered the world its first glimpse. Gibson has unveiled an early look at “The Resurrection of the Christ” while also announcing revised release dates for both installments of the two-part biblical epic.
The cameras stopped rolling after a 134-day shoot that took the production team through six Italian locations, spanning Rome, Matera, Bari, Brindisi, Ginosa, and Craco. Notably, the company wrapped its work before the originally projected timeline, according to Variety.
Part One will now open in theaters on May 6, 2027, pushed back from its original date of March 26, 2027. Part Two faces a more dramatic calendar shift, moving from May 6, 2027 all the way to May 25, 2028, a delay of over twelve months. Gibson’s camp has not addressed what prompted the timeline adjustments.
Gibson spoke passionately about what the project means to him personally. “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,” he said. “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.”
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Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, was equally effusive in his praise. “Mel is a true visionary with an artist’s eye for scale and a storyteller’s instinct for emotional truth,” he said. “Every image we’ve seen from set feels like a masterwork painting brought to life. There are very few directors who can operate at this level of epic spectacle while at the same time delivering such depth and conviction.”
The sequel picks up where the original left off, focusing on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen steps into the role originated by Jim Caviezel, while Cuban actress Mariela Garriga takes over the role of Mary Magdalene from Monica Bellucci. The ensemble also includes Pier Luigi Pasino, Kasia Smutniak, Riccardo Scamarcio, and Rupert Everett.
Industry sources place the budget for each installment at roughly $100 million, putting the total investment for both films at around $200 million. Lionsgate will distribute the films across North America, the United Kingdom, and Latin America, with a wide network of international partners handling release in markets spanning Europe, Africa, and Australia.
The 2004 original turned a $30 million investment into $610 million at the worldwide box office and landed Oscar nominations in three categories: Makeup, Cinematography, and Original Score.
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