Mel Gibson’s ‘Resurrection of the Christ’ Casts New Jesus and Mary Magdalene

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Mel Gibson is at last starting work on a sequel to his 2004 film, *The Passion of the Christ*.

A new film, titled *The Resurrection of the Christ*, has cast Jaakko Ohtonen, a Finnish actor known for his role in *The Last Kingdom*, as Jesus. He takes over the role from Jim Caviezel, who previously played Jesus in the original film.

Filming for the new movie started last week at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios, the same location where the original film was shot over two decades ago.

The first movie was a huge success, becoming one of the most profitable independent films of all time with over $610 million earned globally. Now, a new story will be told in two films, both planned for release in 2027.

Mariela Garriga, a Cuban actress known for her role in the *Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning* movies, has been cast as Mary Magdalene.

Kasia Smutniak, originally from Poland, will now play Mary, taking over from Maia Morgenstern. Italian actor Pier Luigi Pasino will portray Peter. Riccardo Scamarcio, who recently appeared in the film Modì directed by Johnny Depp, will play Pontius Pilate. Rupert Everett is also joining the cast in a significant, though smaller, role.

According to someone involved with the movie, the decision to recast ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’ came down to practicality. Because the story begins just three days after the crucifixion, digitally de-aging the original actors would have been incredibly expensive and complex.

Earlier this year, Jim Caviezel hinted he’d be open to reprising his role as Jesus. However, Ohtonen, age 36, will be taking on the part instead. He’s widely recognized for playing the Danish warrior Wolland in season five of the Netflix historical drama, *The Last Kingdom*.

Gibson, Bruce Davey, and their production company, Icon Productions, are making the film, with Lionsgate distributing it. Staying true to the first movie, the new films will aim for historical authenticity and feature dialogue in Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin.

Gibson called the scripts incredibly unique, saying he’d never encountered anything similar. The film will center around Jesus’ resurrection, but specific plot points are currently being kept under wraps.

The first part of *The Resurrection of the Christ*, titled *Part One*, will be in theaters on Good Friday, March 26, 2027. The second part will follow on May 6th, released on Ascension Day, 40 days later.

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2025-10-14 21:15