The Passion Of The Christ 2: Cast, Story & Everything We Know
More than 20 years after the release of the acclaimed film that focused on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, it was announced that its long-awaited sequel will begin filming in 2025 and will cover the resurrection with Jim Caviezel once again in the role of Jesus Christ.
After two decades of waiting, the sequel to The Passion of the Christ is taking shape and is getting closer to becoming a reality. Mel Gibson, director of the hit 2004 film, shared details about the project in a recent interview on Joe Rogan's popular podcast.
The filmmaker confirmed that he plans to begin filming The Passion of the Christ 2 in early 2025 and describes the production as "very ambitious" as it will cover everything from the resurrection of Jesus to the death of the last apostle, with an emphasis on the faith of these characters. "All of these men preferred to die rather than deny their beliefs, and no one dies for a lie," he said.
In his interview with Joe Rogan, the 69-year-old creative revealed that the official title of the sequel will be The Resurrection of the Christ and shared that the script was a seven-year work in collaboration with his brother and screenwriter Randall Wallace, known for Braveheart.
"My brother, I and Randall got together for this. We had some good ideas, but also some crazy ones," the director explained. Gibson also described the plot as a psychedelic trip, and mentioned that it will include visual and narrative elements that will take the viewer to supernatural dimensions.
"I think to tell the story properly, you have to start with the fall of the angels, which means you're in another place, another realm. You have to go to hell. You have to go to Sheol," he said on the podcast. "It's not going to be easy and it's going to require a lot of planning, but I'm going to try because that's what has to be done, right? You have to face the challenge," he added.
The sequel will address a non-linear narrative composed of events from the past, present and future and spheres that transcend the human, which gives it an almost science fiction character, as the director mentioned in a previous interview with a Catholic portal in 2022.
The script, which went through at least six revisions, was finalized in April 2024. Randall Wallace, who co-wrote it, described the story as "huge" and with a philosophical and spiritual focus that contrasts with the first film, which focused on the crucifixion and the physical and emotional aspects of Jesus' final moments.
One of the most anticipated news for fans was the confirmation of Jim Caviezel's return to play Jesus again. However, Gibson clarified that CGI technology will be necessary to de-age the actor, given that more than 20 years have passed since the premiere of the original film and the story begins just three days after the crucifixion.
"I'm going to need some techniques," he said, referring to the digital process.
It's worth mentioning that Caviezel has been a vocal advocate for the project, calling early drafts of the script "impressive and momentous" in an interview in 2023. The actor also hinted at the possibility that the film might be so ambitious that it could be split into two parts, given the magnitude of the content it aims to cover.
"Mel showed me a few scenes and I was on the floor crying," the Sounds of Freedom star said of her experience reading the script.
Meanwhile, in September 2024, Gibson's visit to Malta was associated with the scouting of potential filming locations. However, other places such as Israel and Morocco are also being considered for the filming of The Passion of the Christ 2.
The original film, released in 2004, was a worldwide phenomenon that grossed more than $612 million on a budget of just $30 million. It also held the record as the highest-grossing R-rated film in the United States for two decades, until it was surpassed in 2024 by Deadpool & Wolverine.