Mel Gibson, in a recent interview with Joe Rogan, shared exciting news about his plans for the long-awaited sequel to The Passion of the Christ. According to Gibson, production for the sequel, titled The Resurrection of the Christ, is slated to begin sometime in 2025. This film will continue the story from the crucifixion of Jesus, focusing on His resurrection.
Gibson explained the complexity of the project, calling the script an “acid trip,” and shared that it took him and his brother, along with screenwriter Randall Wallace (known for Braveheart), seven years to develop it. “There’s a lot required because it’s an acid trip. I’ve never read anything like it,” Gibson said, revealing that the film will delve deep into spiritual and theological realms. One of the film’s most ambitious aspects, according to Gibson, is that it will explore themes such as the fall of the angels and the journey into Hell. “To really tell the story properly, you have to really start with the fall of the angels, which means you’re in another place, you’re in another realm. You need to go to hell. You need to go to Sheol,” he noted, according to Relevant and Christian Post.
In addition to returning to direct, Gibson confirmed that Jim Caviezel would reprise his role as Jesus. Given the more than two-decade gap since the first film, Gibson acknowledged that they may need to employ CGI de-aging techniques on Caviezel to maintain continuity, according to Relevant.
The sequel will be incredibly ambitious, according to Gibson. The narrative will cover the events from Jesus’ death to the final apostle’s death, creating a sweeping arc from the fall of the angels to the eventual resurrection. Gibson expressed both excitement and trepidation about the scope of the project, admitting, “It’s going to require a lot of planning, and I’m not wholly sure I can pull it off… But I’ll take a crack at it because that’s what you got to do, right, walk up to the plate,” according to Christian Post.
Fans of the original film, which was a major box office success and deeply impactful for many Christians, are eagerly awaiting what promises to be another powerful portrayal of Christ’s victory over death.
