Jim Caviezel will not return to play Jesus Christ in director Mel Gibson’s upcoming sequel. The Passion of Christ, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed.
Lionsgate set to release two-film project The Resurrection of Christ in theaters in 2027, with production expected to begin soon in Rome. Key roles will be reshuffled for the new films, as Caviezel will not reprise the lead role of Jesus, while Monica Bellucci will also not return as Mary Magdalene.
Telling the story of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, The Passion of Christ was a box office sensation when it hit theaters on February 25, 2004, grossing $600 million worldwide. Until last year, the film’s $370 million box office haul in North America made it the highest-grossing R-rated title of all time domestically. Gibson’s gamble to produce and self-finance the film clearly paid off.
After being in the works for almost a decade, The resurrection of Christ: part one releases in theaters on March 26, 2027, i.e. Good Friday. Forty days later, Part two will debut on May 6, 2027, in honor of Ascension Day. Gibson is producing the films with Icon Production partner Bruce Davey.
Newmarket release/courtesy Everett Collection
The main role in The Passion of Christ was decisive for Caviezel’s career. He is also known for starring in the CBS series Person of interest and in films like Angel eyes And The sound of freedom.
During an interview in April on the Big stream podcast, Caviezel seemed ready to star in Resurrection. “I want to enjoy this one more than the other one,” Caviezel said, comparing the new project to the 2004 feature. “On the other one, I was afraid it wasn’t in Aramaic. I said, ‘We’re not doing that.’ Well, it was a different world. But I really trust what [Gibson] adds.
In his 2004 review of The Passion of Christ, THR noted the film’s “near-pornographic violence” and considered it “a medieval passion play with much better effects.”
New York Post was the first to report on the roles being recast.
