A press release via Lionsgate has announced the theatrical re-release of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” in a 4K-remastered version with Dolby Atmos sound, from September 10 through September 17.
If you purchase tickets for the re-release, you’ll get a sneak peek at “The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One,” which the studio describes as Gibson’s “most ambitious filmmaking achievement” and the “largest faith film ever brought to the screen.”
I don’t know if I want to re-live the torture porn of the original ‘Christ’ on the big screen again, and I vividly remember the experience of watching it, in a packed house, back in 2004. An experience I’ll never forget.
Gibson isn’t scared of showing violence in the movies he directs, and the Bible isn’t tame on the gore either, with the film making us very aware of that, recounting Jesus’ final days of suffering before his ultimate crucifixion. There are only three sentences in the Bible that mention the flogging of Jesus, and yet Gibson dedicates more than 10 minutes of screentime to Jesus getting whipped, skin shredded, until he collapses.
The crucifixion scene isn’t any better, as Gibson clearly wants the audience to feel Jesus’ pain and suffering as much as possible. Yet Gibson has been on record stating that he believes that the Bible describes a far more horrific crucifixion than the movie. The film is shocking, extreme, and tries to make you feel the “enormity of the sacrifice.”
Now, I’m not sure if “The Resurrection of the Christ,” divided into two parts, will be as graphic, but it does tackle Jesus’ descent into hell, his battle with angels and demons, and Gibson has described the film as an “acid trip.” When it comes to Gibson, expect the unexpected.
Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci will not be returning in ‘Resurrection.’ In their place, relatively lesser-known talents take the reins: Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen plays Jesus, Cuban actress Mariela Garriga is Mary, Polish-born Kasia Smutniak portrays Mary, Italy’s Pier Luigi Pasino is Peter, and Riccardo Scamarcio takes on Pontius Pilate. Rupert Everett remains a mysterious addition.
Lionsgate has dated “The Resurrection of the Christ” as a two-part release. Part One is set to open on May 6, 2027, and “Part Two” scheduled for May 25, 2028. Nothing says summer movie season quite like Jesus’ descent into hell.
Who's "they," exactly? The Illuminati? The Deep State? Hard to say. The film premiered at Italy's Matera Film Festival on November 10. No reviews have trickled in yet.