Lionsgate has been tapped because the studio partner for “The Resurrection of the Christ,” the long-anticipated follow-up to “The Passion of the Christ,” director Mel Gibson and Lionsgate announced Wednesday.
The film, a follow-up to Gibson’s 2004 biblical epic, shall be produced under Gibson and Bruce Davey’s Icon Productions banner. It marks a continuation of Gibson’s longstanding relationship with Lionsgate, which also distributed his Oscar-nominated “Hacksaw Ridge” and the thriller “Flight Risk” starring Mark Wahlberg.
“For many, many individuals across the globe, ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’ is probably the most anticipated theatrical event in a generation. It can also be an awe-inspiring and spectacularly epic theatrical film that’s going to depart moviegoers worldwide breathless,” said Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group in a press release. “Mel is certainly one of the best directors of our time, and this project is each deeply personal to him and the right showcase for his talents as a filmmaker.”
Gibson praised Lionsgate’s approach to filmmaking and expressed confidence of their ability to bring the project to theaters.
“Lionsgate’s brave, modern spirit and nimble, can-do attitude have inspired me for a very long time, and I could not consider a more perfect distributor for ‘The Resurrection of the Christ,’” Gibson added in an announcement. “I’ve enjoyed working with Adam and the team several times over recent years. I do know the clever ingenuity, passion, and ambition all the team commits to their projects and I’m confident they are going to bring every little thing they will to the discharge of this movie.”
Gibson has reportedly set an August start-of-shoot date for the follow-up to his 2004 biblical epic. Filming will happen at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios — the identical lot where the unique 2004 film was shot, while production will happen within the Italian town of Matera, together with several other old-world locations, including Ginosa, Gravina Laterza and Altamura.
Jim Caviezel is ready to return as Jesus, together with Maia Morgenstern (Mary) and Francesco De Vito (Peter).
In a January interview on the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, Gibson described the forthcoming film as “an acid trip,” adding that he’s “never read anything like” the script. Gibson also said he would use de-aging techniques which might be “so good now” for Caviezel, who’s now 56.
Caviezel also recently revealed he’s turning to C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters for spiritual preparation as he prepares to reprise the role of Jesus.
The actor said he’s approaching “Resurrection” with more perspective than he had 20 years ago, adding: “I got too far over my skis on the last one. This time, I actually need to remain within the moment. I need to enjoy this one.”
“If I wasn’t [scared], I would not need to work with that actor,” he said. “This is a war …The world didn’t like ‘The Passion,’ and that is a superb thing. So we did a superb job.”
“The Passion of the Christ,” released in 2004, was a box office phenomenon, grossing $370 million domestically and greater than $610 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. Until last yr, it held the title of the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time in North America.
“There was lots of opposition to it,” Gibson told Rogan of the primary film. “I feel if you happen to ever hit on that subject material, you are going to get people going because, after all, it’s an enormous subject material.
“The idea was that we’re all answerable for this, that His sacrifice was for all mankind, and that for all our ills and all of the things in our fallen nature,” he added. “It was a redemption, so you realize, and I think that.”
“Every single certainly one of those guys died reasonably than deny their belief,” said Gibson, insisting that “no person dies for a lie.” The resurrection, nevertheless, stays probably the most difficult a part of the story for a lot of to just accept, because it “requires probably the most faith and probably the most belief.”
Gibson added, “Who gets back up three days later after he gets murdered in public? … Buddha didn’t try this.”
In a 2022 interview with The Christian Post, Gibson revealed he’s drawn to stories that highlight redemption and the necessity for a Savior.
“I’ve been taught from a young age that we’re flawed, and also you’re going to make mistakes,” he reflected. “We’re broken, and we’d like help. Usually, one of the best option to get assistance is to ask for it. And well, who can we ask? We’re asking something higher than us. And the minute you acknowledge that there’s something higher than you, you would possibly get something that resembles humility, which is admittedly the important thing to the entire thing.”
