| The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One | |
|---|---|
 Teaser poster | |
| Directed by | Mel Gibson |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Story by |
|
| Based on | Canonical Gospels |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Lionsgate |
Release date |
|
| Country | United States |
| Languages |
|
| Budget | $100 million[1] |
The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One is an upcoming Americanepicbiblicaldrama film directed byMel Gibson from a script he co-wrote withRandall Wallace, and based on the story he wrote with his brotherDonal Gibson and Wallace. Gibson also serves as producer alongsideBruce Davey.[2] It is the second installment ina trilogy, and the sequel toThe Passion of the Christ (2004). The film features a new cast, starringJaakko Ohtonen asJesus andMariela Garriga asMary Magdalene.
In June 2016, writerRandall Wallace stated that he andMel Gibson had begun work on asequel toThe Passion of the Christ (2004) which will focus on theresurrection of Jesus and the events surrounding the resurrection.[3] In 2018,Jim Caviezel said that Gibson had sent him the third draft of the screenplay, announcing his intentions to reprise his role asJesus Christ.[4][5] In 2020, Caviezel said that it would be titledThe Passion of the Christ: Resurrection and predicted "It's going to be the biggest film in world history".[6]
In July 2023, Gibson stated the sequel was "coming soon", and that he had two versions of the script that he was working on, saying "one of them is a very structured and very strong script and kind of more what one should expect and the other is like an acid trip".[7] In September 2024, while promotingMonster Summer (2024), Gibson addressed concerns on how he would make believable that only three days have passed in-universe in the film given that more than 20 years have passed since the original film was made. Gibson originally planned to usede-aging technology to solve the issue, as Caviezel and other actors such asMaia Morgenstern asMary,Monica Bellucci asMary Magdalene, andFrancesco De Vito asSaint Peter would either have to be de-aged or recast, whileJohn the Apostle would have to be recast becauseChristo Jivkov died in 2023.[8] In January 2025, Gibson revealed that the title of the film wasThe Resurrection of the Christ.[9] In April 2025, Caviezel said that he would reprise his role as Jesus in the sequel and would be de-aged with the same modern technology employed inThe Irishman (2019) because he needed to look three days older than how old he was in the original film, a preparation for which Caviezel said he was asking Jesus to work through him. Gibson has teased the film as an "acid trip", as it explores Christ's time exploring Hell, dealing withfallen angels and theHarrowing of Hell.[10]
By October 2025, when the film was inpre-production however, it was reported that Caviezel and Bellucci had exited the film, with their roles being recast.[11][12][13] Days later, it was announced that the entire cast of the original movie would be replaced due to scheduling conflicts and the cost of usingde-agingCGIspecial effects. Finnish actorJaakko Ohtonen was cast as Jesus, replacing Caviezel;[14][15]Mariela Garriga as Mary Magdalene, replacing Bellucci;[14]Kasia Smutniak asMary (mother of Jesus), replacingMaia Morgenstern;[14] Pier Luigi Pasino asPeter, replacingFrancesco De Vito;[14] andRiccardo Scamarcio asPontius Pilate, replacingHristo Naumov Shopov;[14] whileRupert Everett was cast in an undisclosed role. Ohtonen's casting in place of Caviezel sparked criticism in relation to what was seen as the further lightening of Jesus' skin color with the new actor;[16][17] separately, Smutniak's support for the2020–21 Strajk Kobiet protests against Poland's criminalization of almost all abortions meant that some Polish conservatives criticized her being cast as the Virgin Mary and began a campaign calling on Gibson to find a different actress for the role.[18][19][20]
Principal photography began on October 6, 2025. The film will be shot entirely atCinecittà Studios inRome; and will be completedsimultaneously with its sequel.[21][22] It was previously reported to begin in early 2025.[9] Production continued with the movie'snew cast at Cinecittà Studios, while additional photography will take place mainly inGravina in Puglia, and alsoMatera,Ginosa, Torre Guaceto,Brindisi andCraco.[14] In October 2025, the movie's production budget was announced to be $100 million.[1]
In April 2025, the film was originally reported to be released "sometime" in 2026.[10] In May 2025,Lionsgate acquired distribution rights to the film.[23]
The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 26, 2027.[24]
A sequel, titledThe Resurrection of the Christ: Part Two, is set for May 6, 2027.[24]
