After many delays, Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ: Resurrection” still hasn’t been shot. I’ve been tracking Gibson’s ‘Passion’ sequel for a while now, and my sources kept telling me that nothing was set in stone. In November, the screenplay was still being worked on.
One key factor that has to be taken into consideration is which screenplay will be used. Gibson has been hard at work on the script with “Braveheart” screenwriter Randall Wallace since 2016 — there have already been six drafts written. However, I was told that there were two particular drafts — both very different from each other — being taken in consideration as the official shooting script.
The latest update we have comes from Wallace himself. In an interview with OMRI, he’s confirming the screenplay is finished, that Jim Caviezel is, obviously, going to star as Jesus, and is even hinting that production could begin very shortly.
I ran into Mel just a couple of nights ago, we were talking about “when is this going to happen” and I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag too early, but I think it’s coming very soon.
A shoot in Mexico and Rome is being eyed with locations having already been rented out, but we were in this same position in January 2023, and that resulted in Gibson, unsatisfied by the script, getting cold feet and calling for more rewrites.
Gibson has hinted that the sequel, split into two parts, would be more philosophical and poetic than a the more linear and straightforward original. In fact, he described it as an “acid trip” with Jesus going “into other realms.” That’s why the plot of this sequel is being dubbed by many as the story of “Jesus’ decent into hell.”
‘Resurrection’ would focus on the twenty-four hours encompassing Jesus’ passion and the events that occurred three days between his crucifixion and resurrection.
Although “Passion of the Christ” divided critics, practically twenty years ago to this day, it was an eye-opening account of the last days of Jesus. The film was gripping, and as terrifying as any horror movie can be. Gibson as a director has never been known to shy away from gruesome violence in his movies: “The Passion of the Christ” “Braveheart” and, his best work, “Apocalypto,” are three of the most violent movies I’ve ever seen.
Gibson recently shot “Flight Risk,” starring Mark Wahlberg, which should be released later this year. The trailer premiered a few weeks ago at CinemaCon.
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