Jim Caviezel, who delivered one of the most physically and emotionally gruelling performances of his career in The Passion of the Christ, will not return for Mel Gibson’s sequel: The Resurrection of the Christ (via The Hollywood Reporter)
Here’s an overview of the film:
His portrayal of Jesus Christ remains one of the most haunting depictions of suffering and faith in cinema. It will move you to tears, regardless of your beliefs. However, there might be more than one reason why his exit could be a good thing. So, let’s look at other details about The Resurrection of Christ, followed by the bright side of Caviezel’s absence.
Everything We Know About Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ Sequel
When Jim Caviezel appeared on the Arroyo Grande podcast in April 2025, he was on board to star in The Resurrection of the Christ
We know little about his departure from the movie, but another co-star also followed suit, and that’s Monica Bellucci, who played Mary Magdalene in The Passion of the Christ. Despite these main actors not being a part of the movie, they’ve gone ahead with the production and might begin filming in Rome soon, since they’ve been working on The Resurrection of the Christ for nearly a decade (via THR).
It will be released in two parts in 2027, with Part One slated for March 25, 2027 (Good Friday), and Part Two arriving on May 6, 2027 (Ascension Day), which mirrors Christ’s timeline of resurrection and ascension.
Jim Caviezel Not Returning for Mel Gibson’s Sequel Could Work in Its Favor
While Jim Caviezel’s absence might disappoint people who have a genuine love for the original, it could actually serve The Resurrection of the Christ well. More than twenty years have passed since the original film, and while Caviezel was 33 (which is also believed to be Jesus’ age during those events) at the time of The Passion of the Christ, he is now 57 years old.
And given that the biblical resurrection only takes place three days after Jesus’ crucifixion, maintaining visual continuity would have been a challenge. So, by recasting, Gibson not only has the chance to bring a fresh face, but possibly, an ethnically accurate Jesus Christ.
So, which actor would you want to see portraying Christ in the sequel?
The Passion of the Christ is available to watch on Netflix (USA).
