Mel Gibson has offered new details on how The Resurrection of the Christ will differ from his original classic. The two-part sequel was first announced over ten years ago, and fans won’t have to wait long to see it on the big screen. Unlike the first film, the sequel will expand beyond telling a story set on Earth.
Gibson had already teased a sequel akin to “an acid trip” in prior interviews. The film will pick up after Christ’s crucifixion, following the Biblical figure into hell and beyond. To depict that, Gibson has confirmed that the film will also have a significantly higher budget than the first installment.
What did Mel Gibson say about The Resurrection of the Christ
Speaking to Christian Post (via World of Reel), Gibson teased the different realms his upcoming sequel will visit. “You’re going to different realms, of course,” he said. “I mean, you’ll be in the firmament before the creation. You’ll be in the Hell of the just, and then you’ll be in the Hell of the damned. And so it jumps around a little bit. It doesn’t just stay on the planet here. It gets around.”
The filmmaker also teased that the film’s story will move beyond the Bible for inspiration. To do so, Gibson is taking inspiration from the Gospels. “If you look at the synoptic Gospels, and they are synoptic, which means they don’t tell you everything,” he said.
“And even John says, ‘Y’know, hey, there were many other things [Jesus] said and did which, if they were to be written down, couldn’t fill all the libraries of all the world,’ right? So there’s a lot of stuff that wasn’t written, and the Gospels are synoptic,” he added.
Fans who want to catch its first glimpse will have to attend the upcoming rerelease of the first film. The Passion of the Christ will be released in 4K with Dolby Atmos sound on September 10, 2026.
The two-part sequel is directed by Gibson from a screenplay co-written by him with Randall Wallace. Gibson is also producing the film with Bruce Davey. It will be executive produced by Cedar Hill and by Mike Ilitch Jr. Productions.
Jaakko Ohtonen will replace Jim Caviezel as Jesus in the sequel. He will be joined by Mariela Garriga, Pier Luigi Pasino, Kasia Smutniak, Gabriele Rollo, and more.
The Resurrection of the Christ Part One will be released on May 6, 2027, while Part Two will arrive a year later on May 25, 2028.