Mel Gibson reveals first look at two-part sequel ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’

Hollywood director Mel Gibson has revealed the first look at his long-awaited sequel to the 2004 biblical drama The Passion of the Christ. The two-part film, titled The Resurrection of the Christ, is scheduled for release on May 6, 2027, and May 25, 2028.

Filming took place over 134 days across multiple locations in Italy, including Rome, Bari, Ginosa, Craco, Brindisi, Torre Guaceto, and Matera. Gibson described the project as “a major part of my life’s work” and said it demanded everything of him “as a filmmaker and as an artist.”

“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 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.”

The films will star Jaakko Ohtonen as Jesus, with Mariela Garriga, Pier Luigi Pasino, Kasia Smutniak, Riccardo Scamarcio, and Rupert Everett in supporting roles. Gibson reunited with many of his collaborators from the original film, working closely with Lionsgate executives including Adam Fogelson to bring his vision to the screen.

Both parts of the sequel will premiere on Ascension Day, a Christian holiday commemorating Jesus’ ascension into heaven.

The Passion of the Christ, starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene, became a global phenomenon on its release in 2004. The film grossed over $610 million worldwide and received Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Makeup. It remains the second-highest-grossing R-rated film in North America, behind 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine.

Gibson has previously explained that the sequel will explore more than the resurrection, presenting a non-linear narrative that examines the central event alongside historical, spiritual, and otherworldly contexts. “It’s a huge subject,” he told EWTN in 2022. “You have to juxtapose the central event with everything else in the past, the future, and in other realms. It’s ambitious, but necessary to tell the story fully.”