In 2004, Hollywood maverick Mel Gibson released what was then the biggest Biblical film of all time, The Passion of the Christ.
In fact, The Passion is one of the highest grossing R-rated films of all time.
After 2023, however, that fact may no longer be true. According to industry rumors and news reports, its sequel may soon eclipse that record.
The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection is rumored to cover the three day period between Christ’s death and resurrection and will likely include depictions of hell, according to a recent preview by MovieWeb.
“It’s going to be the biggest film in world history,” starring actor Jim Caviezel reportedly said in a 2021 statement confirming the production was underway.
The first Passion of the Christ movie offered the most realistic and brutal depiction of Christ’s crucifixion to date. Many were skeptical that such an intense film would be well-received.
To the surprise of many, The Passion was a runaway success and went on to be a worldwide sensation, grossing over $600 million worldwide.
As early as 2016, rumors began to swirl that a sequel to The Passion was in the works. In September 2020, the film was reported to have gone through at least three drafts, with Caviezel set to reprise his role as Jesus Christ.
In September 2021, Caviezel roused fans by stating that he had received a copy of the script, and that the film will be Gibson’s “magnum opus.”
In November, an article published by the UK’s Daily Express showed what appeared to be the film’s first preview and reported that a book tie-in was expected to be released in June 2023.
Originally set for a release in 2022, the film may be postponed to 2023 because of the delays associated with COVID-19 pandemic. A movie poster at its IMDB page now lists the release date as February 2024.
Mel Gibson is no stranger to going against the grain of the Hollywood elite and it appears that at the age of 66, he is not planning on stopping anytime soon. From the looks of things, Gibson is going to be patient with this project and take his time, wanting to do things well.
