Mel Gibson’s sequel to his 2004 religious blockbuster,Resurrection of the Christ, already faces a big challenge ahead of its anticipated 2026 theatrical release. Gibson, a 2-time Oscar winner who had an impressive critical run as a director before his action thriller misfireFlight Riskflopped at the 2025 box officeearlier this year, has hinted that hissequel toThe Passion of the Christmay end up being a two-part featurefilm endeavor.The Passion of the Christearned roughly $612 millionat the worldwide box office against a budget of $30 million, making it the fifth highest-grossing movie of 2004.
Jim Caviezel, who will star as Herod in the highly anticipated religious epicZero A.D.that is expected to be released in December 2025, is also expected to reprise his role as Jesus inResurrection of the Christ. Additionally, actors Maia Morgenstern and Francesco De Vito, who played Mary and Peter inThe Passion of the Christ, respectively, are also expected to reprise their roles inResurrection. While maintaining key cast members, particularly the lead actor, is one of the crucial factors in ensuring the success of a movie sequel,the more than 20-year gap between the two films raises some obvious concerns.
Resurrection Of The Christ Is Expected To Bring Back Jim Caviezel As Jesus With De-Aging CGI
Gibson Will Use The Same De-Aging Tech Used In Scorsese’s The Irishman
During a recent interview onThe Joe Rogan Experiencein January 2025,Gibson confirmed that he plans to bring Caviezel back to play JesusinResurrection of the Christ. He also noted during that interview that he would have to use “a few techniques” that are available nowadays to be able to pull that off, pointing at technologies like CGI and de-aging effects that have become more prominent and convincing in film and television. Some recent projects, such as Apple TV+‘sLady in the Lake, have achieved extremely, almost eerily, lifelike portrayals of actors such as Natalie Portman.
With the potential return of not only Caviezel but also Maia Morgenstern and Francesco De Vito, it looks likeGibson andResurrection of the Christwill be forced to rely heavily on de-aging technology. While de-aging technology can be distracting in some cases, audiences will likely become more used to it over time as it improves with increasingly astounding results, which is the hope forResurrection of the Christ. According toCollider,Resurrection of the Christwill use the same de-aging technology used in Martin Scorsese’s 2019 filmThe Irishman, which was mostly well-received.
De-Aging Jesus Is A Challenge For The Passion Of The Christ 2
It Will Have To Avoid Becoming A Distraction That Will Ruin The Film
While de-aging CGI has come a long wayand can be very impressive, it’s still difficult to get right, especially in motion. It will likely also represent a significant cost in what Gibson plans as a very ambitious movie, considering thatThe Irishman’sbudget was $160 million.
The Passion of the Christdid not have to deal with de-aging concerns, so there’s a chance it may be more challenging (or expensive) than Gibson anticipates.
Given that Caviezel will have to be de-aged for most, if not all, of the entire movie, which takes place three days after the events ofThe Passion of the Christ,the success of the de-aging technology will essentially be linked to the success of the sequel.The Passion of the Christdid not have to deal with de-aging concerns, so there’s a chance it may be more challenging (or expensive) than Gibson anticipates.
Resurrection Of The Christ Will Likely Still Be A Big Hit
Caviezel’s Last Faith-Based Movie Was A Surprise Box Office Hit
Despite these newfound challenges,Resurrection of the Christwill still likely pull in a strong box office performancebased on how well its predecessor did. It will be interesting to see just how big it can be. It might not achieve the same level asThe Passion of the Christ’srecord-breaking performance, especially if Gibson goes through with his ambitious plan to makeResurrectiona two-part feature. Gibson may learn from Kevin Costner’s overly zealous approach to his two-partHorizonfranchise. That said, recent faith-based blockbusters, such asSound of Freedom(starring Caviezel) andThe Chosen, have performed quite well, which is promising forResurrection of the Christ.
The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection - Chapter 1
Cast
Set after the events of the crucifixion, a figure central to Christianity returns, confronting his disciples and followers with his resurrection. As they grapple with their doubts and fears, the narrative delves into themes of faith, redemption, and the profound impact of his teachings and miraculous return on his community.
