Despite receiving polarizing reviews upon its release, Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ remains one of the most enduring cult classics of modern cinema. Now, more than 20 years later, the actor-turned-director is ready to take the story forward with the highly anticipated sequel, titled The Resurrection of the Christ. For months, it was being indicated that an update on casting was just around the corner, and on Tuesday, October 14, it was announced that the filmmaker had finally found his leading cast, marking a major step forward in bringing the movie to life.
According to a report in Variety, Gibson has found a new Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene for the upcoming film. The report stated that Jakko Ohtonen will be portraying Jesus in the forthcoming project, while Mariela Garriga has been cast as Mary Magdalene. The actors mentioned above replace Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci, who played the roles of Jesus and Mary in the original film that was released in 2004.
It has already been established that the Resurrection of the Christ will be divided into two parts, both scheduled to be released in 2027. The filming for the title has already begun, and the team is currently shooting at Cinecittà Studios in Rome, the same location that served as the backdrop for The Passion of the Christ.
As far as the actors are concerned, Ohtonen is a Finnish actor who is known for playing roles in historical drama shows such as The Last Kingdom and Vikings: Valhalla. Meanwhile, the Cuban actress, Mariela Garriga, has appeared in projects like Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, NCIS, and NCIS: Los Angeles.
By casting these fresh faces, Gibson made it clear that he didn’t want any big names to be playing the lead characters and wanted to make this film look like a grounded continuation of the original story rather than a star-studded spectacle.
The Passion of the Christ generated considerable buzz at the time of its release and received polarizing reviews. Some called it a holy experience, while others called it antisemitic. However, the film remained an unstoppable force at the box office, grossing over $612 million globally. With these figures, the movie still holds the record for being the highest-grossing independent film of all time. It would be interesting to see how Gibson takes the story forward and what kind of reaction it garners.
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