Filmmaker Mel Gibson is preparing to take audiences beyond the crucifixion and into the supernatural world surrounding the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in his upcoming two-part film project.
More than two decades after The Passion of the Christ reached cinemas, Gibson is working on The Resurrection of the Christ, a story he says is so vast that it could not be adequately told in a single film.
A story too big for one film
Gibson recently told CBN that adapting the Resurrection has been an exceptionally challenging task because of the scale and mystery of the biblical event.
The project will therefore span two films, allowing the story to explore the Resurrection and its impact on Christ’s disciples and other people around Him. The films are currently projected for release in May 2027 and May 2028.
The screenplay draws from the four Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, writings of St Paul and St Peter, and traditions associated with historical Christian writers and Church figures.
Gibson said he intends to remain faithful to Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions while using the film to explore aspects of the period that Scripture does not describe in detail.
Heaven, hell and the world beyond
The filmmaker also plans to portray supernatural elements connected with the Resurrection, including heaven and hell.
Gibson has previously described the challenge of depicting these realities without making them appear artificial or overly simplistic. He has said the story may require audiences to enter realms beyond the ordinary physical world.
Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen will portray Jesus in the new films, replacing Jim Caviezel, who played Christ in the 2004 film. Gibson said Ohtonen brings a combination of humanity and peacefulness to the role.
For Gibson, the central story remains the Resurrection and the transformation it brought to those who witnessed it — a moment he believes continues to shape Christian faith around the world.