Mel Gibson Begins Filming 'The Resurrection of the Christ'

LOS ANGELES — On August 1, 2025, Mel Gibson, the acclaimed director, producer, and actor, commenced production on The Resurrection of the Christ, the highly anticipated sequel to his 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. Manuela Cacciamani, CEO of Rome’s Cinecittà film studio, revealed the news in an interview with Il Sole 24 Ore. The announcement was swiftly corroborated by credible outlets such as Deadline, Variety, The Jerusalem Post, and Catholic News Agency.

Filming will primarily take place at Cinecittà, a historic Roman studio celebrated for its legacy in producing iconic biblical and historical epics of the 20th century. Additional shooting is planned in southern Italy, including Matera, Ginosa, Gravina-Laterza, and Altamura—locations familiar to audiences for their stunning backdrops in The Passion of the Christ.

The Resurrection aims to deliver both a visual spectacle and a profound return to the Gospel’s spiritual essence, according to Cinecittà’s statement.

The film reunites key cast members from the original, with Jim Caviezel reprising his role as Jesus Christ, Maia Morgenstern as the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Francesco De Vito as the Apostle Peter. To bridge the 21-year gap since the first film, Gibson will employ advanced computer graphics to digitally de-age the actors, ensuring visual continuity.

Unlike a straightforward continuation of The Passion, Gibson describes The Resurrection as a meditative exploration of the metaphysical and theological dimensions of Christ’s story. The film will delve into themes such as Christ’s descent into hell, the spiritual battle against dark forces, the fall of angels, and the enigmatic aspects of the Paschal Mystery. “This is not merely a story,” Gibson is quoted as saying, “but an effort to capture the hidden spiritual reality of Scripture and Church Tradition through cinema.”

The screenplay, developed over seven years, is a collaboration between Gibson, his brother Chris Gibson, and Randall Wallace, the writer behind Braveheart. The project is backed by Icon Productions and Lionsgate, with the latter handling global distribution—a testament to the industry’s confidence in Gibson’s vision.

Gibson has long described The Resurrection as the most significant project of his career, underscoring its personal and artistic importance.

Read also