Mel Gibson reveals details of filming "The Resurrection of the Christ"

Director Mel Gibson. Photo: screenshot/YouTube/@Verite Vision

Director Mel Gibson has completed the principal photography on the sequel to "The Passion of the Christ," which will be a two-part follow-up to the 2004 hit, reports the Christian Post.

The new film has been titled "The Resurrection of the Christ" and will focus on the theological meanings of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Hell, and Sheol (the dwelling place of the souls of the dead in the Old Testament). Filming took place in Rome, and, unlike the first part, the film will be in English to make it easier for audiences to engage with the complex theological ideas. According to the creators, the narrative unfolds in a non-linear fashion.

Gibson emphasized that the fact of the Resurrection is confirmed not only by the texts of the Bible, but also by the testimonies of seventeen secular historians. "This is far more than a film to me. It's a mission I've carried for over twenty years to tell what I believe is the most important story in human history," the director stated.

The director said that, although dividing the story into parts was already built into the original screenplay, he believes each film will stand on its own.

"There’s 'Part One' and 'Part Two,' and they’re distinct," he said. "I think they stand alone as individual pieces, but they do complete one another. So that’s good."

The release date for Part One is scheduled for May 6, 2027, while Part Two will arrive on May 25, 2028.

As the UOJ reported, Lionsgate studio announced that work on the film was completed ahead of schedule. Filming lasted 134 days and took place in various regions of Italy – Rome, Matera, Bari, Ginosa, Craco, and Brindisi.

Part One of "The Passion of the Christ," released in 2004, generated widespread resonance among Christian audiences and became one of the highest-grossing religious dramas in the history of cinema.

Read also