EXCLUSIVE: Mel Gibson’s two-part feature The Resurrection Of The Christ is likely to be the biggest-budget project on sale at next month’s American Film Market.
We’re hearing from sources that each film could come with a budget in the $100M region, making it a combined $200M prospect. Those are rare numbers these days in the independent market.
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It means that Lionsgate will have had the big-ticket project at back to back markets after the indie major took the latest Hunger Games movie to Cannes.
The Resurrection Of The Christ, which is currently filming in Rome, Italy, is being lined up for release in 2027, the first part hitting on Good Friday (March 26), and part two following 40 days later on Ascension Day.
There is a shroud of secrecy over the scripts themselves. In an unusual move for an independent film in production, buyers aren’t being afforded the opportunity to read the scripts ahead of AFM. It’s not even clear whether they’ll be able to do so during AFM, despite the expected big territory asks. Buyers may have to take a leap of faith with Mel.
Expectations are for the films to pick up after Christ’s crucifixion, which closed the previous iteration. Christ’s resurrection came three days later, according to the Bible. Don’t expect a straightforward rendition, however. Gibson has spoken before about his vision for the film being “an acid trip” and “super ambitious”, including the fall of the angels and Christ descending into hell as part of his spiritual journey.
Sources close to the project have confirmed to us that it will include battles between angels and demons and forces of ‘good and evil’ in other realms, which probably goes some way to explaining the big budget.
Given its complexity, Gibson has previously suggested that dialogue will likely be in English instead of Aramaic and Hebrew (like the original) so as not to overwhelm viewers.
Some buyers we spoke to this week expressed disappointment that original stars Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci won’t be back. While not a household name, Caviezel was a bigger star in 2004 than his replacement in Resurrection, the relatively unknown Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen. Ohtonen (The Last Kingdom) is taking on the role of Jesus, while Mary Magdalene, the role portrayed by Bellucci in Passion, is being played by Cuban actress Mariela Garriga (Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning), and Polish-born actor Kasia Smutniak (Domina) is playing Mary. Peter is being played by Italy’s Pier Luigi Pasino, and Pontius Pilate will be played by Italy’s Riccardo Scamarcio (John Wick: Chapter 2). Rupert Everett also has an undisclosed role.
Despite disappointment over Caviezel, the buyers we spoke to were undimmed by the prospect of steep asking prices or potential controversy around the material. “This one sells itself,” one buyer suggested to us. “It’s gold in terms of the material. Just look how well the first one did. We’re expecting it to be very competitive. People are ready to write big checks.”
Gibson the director is seemingly viewed by many buyers as a different proposition to Gibson the actor. Most of the films Gibson has directed have hit at the box office, some have also come in for awards and critical acclaim. Hacksaw Ridge, Apocalypto, Passion Of The Christ and Braveheart all drew significant audiences. His directorial debut The Man Without A Face and 2025 action film Flight Risk saw smaller returns but both still took double their budgets in theatrical receipts alone.
The Passion of the Christ made a staggering $610M global off an estimated $30M budget. It took $370M in the U.S. — despite being a subtitled film — and remained the highest grossing R-rated film in the domestic market for 20 years.
The film also met with a large amount of controversy: the Anti Defamation League branded it anti-semitic, while others denounced the film’s graphic violence and some its historical accuracy. Fox, which had a first-look deal with Gibson’s Icon, had passed on it at the time, and there were restrictions put on the film’s release in some overseas territories.
Given the times and the political temperature, The Resurrection Of The Christ is likely to be another lightning rod for debate. Gibson’s own controversial track record is also likely to resurface, given this material.
Gibson wrote the follow-up films alongside Braveheart screenwriter Randall Wallace. Producers are Gibson, Bruce Davey and their Icon Productions banner, with Lionsgate the studio partner handling domestic distribution and international sales.
Gibson, Lionsgate and producers declined to comment.
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
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