First Look & Release Date Change For Mel Gibson’s THE RESURRECTION OF THE CHRIST
It has been announced that Lionsgate is changing the planned release schedule for its two-part sequel to Mel Gibson’s The Passion Of The Christ.
Part One of The Resurrection Of The Christ was scheduled to open on March 26, 2027 – but this has now been switched to May 6, 2027. Meanwhile, the second part, which was previously set to hit screens just 40 days later on May 6, 2027 – has now been bumped back a year to May 25, 2028.
This makes much better sense. Opening the two movies so close together was a bold and ambitious decision, but a year between them helps build anticipation for the second film. I wouldn’t be too surprised if the massive success of Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic, Michael had something to do with that (a sequel to that is also in the works).
Mel Gibson has just finished principal photography on The Resurrection Of The Christ – after shooting for an epic 134 days throughout Italy (in Rome, Bari, Ginosa, Craco, Brindisi and Matera).
It was originally thought that Jim Caviezel would once again play Jesus Christ, de-aged by digital effects (it has been 20 years since the original) and Monica Belluci was expected to return as Mary Magdalene. However, Gibson ditched those plans due to budget issues and Jaakko Ohtonen will now take on the role of Jesus, while Mariela Garriga will play Mary Magdalene. Pier Luigi Pasino, Kasia Smutniak, Riccardo Scamarcio and Rupert Everett will also star.
The first image of Jaakko Ohtonen as Jesus has also been released – check it out above!
In a statement, Gibson said:
“I’m deeply grateful to my incredibly talented cast and crew for pouring their hearts into this production. Together, we created something powerful. This film represents a major part of my life’s work, and it has demanded everything of me as a filmmaker and as an artist. This is far more than a film to me. It’s a mission I’ve carried for over twenty years to tell what I believe is the most important story in human history. Reuniting with many of my original collaborators from The Passion of the Christ — true masters of their craft — allowed us to bring this story to the screen exactly as I envisioned it, with the tremendous support of my longtime partners, Adam and the team at Lionsgate.”
Lionsgate chair, Adam Fogelson said:
“Every image we’ve seen from set feels like a masterwork painting brought to life. There are very few directors who can operate at this level of epic spectacle while at the same time delivering such depth and conviction. Mel has crafted a film of extraordinary ambition that audiences worldwide have been waiting to experience for over 20 years.”
Read the Movies In Focus review of The Passion Of The Christ
