Mel Gibson’s’ Resurrection of the Christ’ Will Be Two-Part Epic, Hits Theaters March and May 2027

Mel Gibson’s sequel to “The Passion of the Christ” begins filming next month in Rome, and now we have a twist that further details the filmmaker’s mad ambitions for this project.

Lionsgate has announced that “The Resurrection of the Christ” will be released in two parts. Part One is set to open on March 26, 2027 (Good Friday) with Part Two following exactly 40 days later, Thursday, May 6, 2027 (Ascension Day).

This is Gibson’s long-awaited follow-up to his controversial and wildly successful 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ,” which grossed $612M on a scant $30M budget making it one the most successful independently-financed movies ever. Up until recently, it was also the highest grossing R-rated movie of all time.

Gibson has continuously delayed shooting ‘Resurrection.’ The film was originally supposed to shoot in 2023, then 2024, and now, 2025. I guess the third time’s the charm. The sequel to Gibson’s 2004 mega-blockbuster has been ruminating in development for almost two decades.

One key factor that kept delaying ‘Resurrection’ was the question of which version of the screenplay would be used for the film. Since 2016, Gibson has been hard at work on the script with his brother, Donal, and “Braveheart” screenwriter Randall Wallace. There have been at least six drafts written.

The story would focus on the twenty-four hours encompassing Jesus’ passion and the events that occurred three days between his crucifixion and resurrection. Gibson has described ‘Resurrection’ as an “acid trip” with Jesus going into “other realms.”

Although “Passion of the Christ” divided critics more than twenty years ago, it was an eye-opening account of the last days of Jesus. ‘Passion’ was gripping, and almost played like a horror film.

Gibson as a director has never shied away from brutality: “Braveheart” and, his best film, “Apocalypto,” are two of the most violent movies I’ve ever seen. He’s coming off this year’s “Flight Risk,” which earned him some of the worst reviews of his career. Regardless, ‘Resurrection’ will no doubt be a more personal artistic statement for him.