The New Chapter of “The Passion of the Christ”

There’s talk of a sequel to “The Passion of the Christ,” although the original actors are not expected to reprise their roles.

Director Mel Gibson is preparing to shoot “The Resurrection of Christ” in Rome, but sources indicate a new cast will be involved. Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus, and Monica Bellucci, who portrayed Mary Magdalene, won’t be returning.

Reports suggest that meetings with potential actors are currently underway in Rome. One insider mentioned that they’ve had to navigate quite a bit regarding the original cast, with a lot of digital and scheduling considerations coming into play.

It’s been a complicated process, with pre-production dragging on for several months. Gibson’s sequel to the 2004 film has faced hurdles due to past controversies surrounding him.

His history of scandals, including incidents of drunk driving and some distressing comments, led to a significant fallout within the industry. Notably, he was dropped by talent agency WME after controversial audio featuring him made headlines.

Interestingly, the original film was a massive success, earning over $610 million globally on a relatively modest budget of $30 million.

The more subdued Gibson saw a resurgence in 2016 with an Oscar nomination for directing “Hacksaw Ridge.” If this sequel gets off the ground, it could mark a possible return to form for him.

Reports from August revealed that the long-awaited sequel is set to be divided into two parts, with both parts scheduled for a 2027 release.

A request for comment from Gibson’s spokesperson went unanswered.