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Big changes for a long-awaited sequel
Mel Gibson’s follow-up to his controversial 2004 hit The Passion of the Christ has finally moved into production — but not without turbulence. The two-part project, titled The Resurrection of the Christ, is slated for theatrical release in 2027, yet recent reports reveal a significant casting upheaval: James Caviezel, who played Jesus in the original, and Monica Bellucci, who portrayed Mary Magdalene, will not return for the Lionsgate-backed sequel.
What we know so far
According to industry reporting, Caviezel had been attached to the project since 2018 but has now departed. Bellucci’s exit has also been confirmed. Neither the studio nor Gibson has announced replacements, and details about the new casting direction remain under wraps. Production is expected to start soon in Rome, with Part One — The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One — scheduled for March 26, 2027, and Part Two following on May 6, 2027.
Gibson returns to the director’s chair and has suggested the project will push beyond a simple historical retelling. He has said two distinct screenplays were written for the venture; one, he described, is a “surreal journey” that transports viewers into otherworldly realms — a creative tone that promises to separate this sequel from conventional biblical epics.
Context: a bold sequel to an unexpected blockbuster
The original film was polarizing but undeniably successful. Released in 2004 on a roughly $30 million budget, The Passion of the Christ earned more than $612 million worldwide and held the record for the highest-grossing R-rated film in the United States for nearly two decades. That commercial success — paired with sharp debates about its depiction of religious history — made any follow-up a subject of intense interest and scrutiny.
Splitting The Resurrection of the Christ into two parts follows a trend in contemporary cinema where large-scale narratives are expanded into multiple films to preserve scope and boost box office potential. It also mirrors other filmmakers’ decisions to tackle spiritual or mythic material in more experimental ways, reminiscent of Terrence Malick’s meditative religious films or Darren Aronofsky’s biblical reimaginings.
Industry and fan reaction
Fans on social platforms reacted with surprise and speculation; some interpret the casting exits as evidence of creative differences, scheduling conflicts, or a strategic recasting to align with Gibson’s more surreal approach. Industry insiders note that high-profile exits can delay momentum and complicate international marketing, especially for a film with religious subject matter where lead casting often drives both controversy and ticket sales.
Trivia: The original cast included Maia Morgenstern as the Virgin Mary, Francesco De Vito as Peter, and Luca Lionello as Judas — names that helped anchor the film’s intense, character-driven narrative.
"Mel Gibson’s return to this material naturally raises questions about tone and audience," says film historian Anna Kovacs. "If Gibson truly leans into a surreal, visionary style, the film could redefine how modern cinema approaches sacred texts — but it also risks alienating viewers expecting a straightforward historical drama."
What to watch for next
Keep an eye on casting announcements and early production stills from Rome. The sequel’s dual-release strategy suggests a broad, ambitious canvas: part intimate, part spectacle. Whether Gibson will balance reverence and artistic risk remains the film’s most intriguing unknown.
The Resurrection of the Christ arrives as both a business play and an artistic gambit — one that will test how contemporary audiences receive faith-based storytelling presented through an auteur’s experimental lens.
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