Gibson Restages a Biblical Epic with a Fresh Jesus
Filmmaker Mel Gibson is moving forward with his long‑anticipated follow‑up to The Passion of the Christ, officially titled The Resurrection of the Christ. In a major casting shake‑up, Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen has been cast as Jesus, replacing Jim Caviezel. The news comes as production pushes ahead at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios, where a largely recast ensemble is driving the project toward its two‑film split, slated for release in 2027.
A Recast Ensemble for a New Vision
Alongside Ohtonen’s Jesus, the film’s Mary Magdalene has changed hands from Monica Bellucci to Cuban actress Mariela Garriga, known for Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning appearances. Polish‑born Kasia Smutniak (Domina) steps in as Mary, while Pier Luigi Pasino (Netflix Italy’s The Law According to Lidia Poët) plays Peter. Riccardo Scamarcio, who recently led Modì, will portray Pontius Pilate. Rupert Everett has a smaller but pivotal role in the cast.
According to a source close to Variety, the wholesale recasting aligns with the film’s three‑day‑post‑crucifixion timeline, which would demand extensive CGI work — including de‑aging — if the original cast were kept. The production team reportedly concluded that a fresh ensemble would be more cost‑efficient and narratively cohesive for the Resurrection period the story depicts.
Two Films, Big Release Plan
The Resurrection of the Christ will unfold across two installments, with each part arriving in theaters in 2027. Gibson, alongside Icon Productions partners Bruce Davey and Lionsgate, aims to recreate the high‑stakes, religious‑drama spectacle that defined the original film decades ago, while offering a new interpretation of the crucifixion and the hours surrounding it.
Historically, The Passion of the Christ was noted for its multilingual authenticity, using Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin to immerse viewers in the era. Gibson has described the planned sequels as an “acid trip” and has indicated he and screenwriter Randall Wallace, who collaborated on Braveheart, have crafted material that is unlike anything the director has done before. Details about The Resurrection of the Christ storyline beyond the resurrection are being kept under wraps as production moves forward.
Production Notes and Locations
In addition to Cinecittà’s Studio 22, the project will film in Matera, the ancient city in southern Italy, and other historic southern Italian sites such as Ginosa, Gravina Laterza, and Altamura. Gibson has expressed a preference for capturing the film’s atmosphere through real locations that echo the era, a choice that aligns with the original film’s emphasis on historical realism through language and setting.
Industry Context
The Resurrection of the Christ marks a high‑profile return for Gibson to a project that has lingered in development for years. The original Passion became one of the most successful independent films of all time, grossing about $610 million worldwide. With a fresh cast and a two‑part structure, the new project aims to balance reverent storytelling with modern cinematic ambitions, drawing both longtime audiences and new viewers to its reimagined saga of faith, doubt, and renewal.
