Mel Gibson has officially revealed the first look of his much-awaited biblical epic The Resurrection of Christ, the sequel to the 2004 blockbuster The Passion of the Christ.
According to reports, production on the ambitious project has wrapped after 134 days of filming across multiple locations in Italy, including Rome, Bari, Ginosa, Craco, Brindisi and Matera. Studio Lionsgate also confirmed that the sequel will be released in two parts.
While the first installment was initially planned for a March 2026 release, it has now been pushed to May 6, 2027. The second part is scheduled to arrive on May 25, 2028. Both films are expected to release on Ascension Day, the Christian holiday commemorating the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven.
Speaking about the project, Gibson expressed deep gratitude towards his cast and crew, calling the film one of the most important works of his career. He shared that the project represents over two decades of passion and dedication.
The filmmaker also revealed that reuniting with several collaborators from The Passion of the Christ helped him bring his vision to life exactly the way he had imagined. The upcoming films feature actors including Jaakko Ohtonen, Mariela Garriga, Pier Luigi Pasino, Kasia Smutniak, Riccardo Scamarcio and Rupert Everett.
Released in 2004, The Passion of the Christ starred Jim Caviezel as Jesus Christ and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene. The film became a massive global success and earned Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Original Score and Best Makeup.
The original movie grossed more than USD 610 million worldwide and remains one of the highest-grossing R-rated films in North America, second only to Deadpool & Wolverine.
Earlier, Gibson had hinted that the sequel would not follow a simple linear narrative. Instead, he described the film as a larger and more complex exploration that would move across timelines, spiritual realms and futuristic elements, giving the story a unique cinematic approach.
