Mel Gibson’s ‘Resurrection of the Christ’ Gets Major Production Update
Mel Gibson’s long-awaited sequel to ‘The Passion of the Christ’ has wrapped principal photography after a seven-month shoot in Italy, and the first images from the production are spreading fast online.
Brazilian account Abrace a Tradição shared photos on X showing Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen in full costume as Jesus Christ, embracing cast and crew members after the final day of filming, with prosthetic nail wounds still visible on his hands in one of the widely shared images.
As filmagens de A Ressurreição de Cristo, sequência de A Paixão de Cristo dirigida por Mel Gibson, foram concluídas após 7 meses na Itália.
— Abrace a Tradição (@abracetradicao) May 2, 2026
O ator Jaakko Ohtonen assume o papel de Jesus, substituindo Jim Caviezel.
O filme entra agora na fase de pós-produção e será lançado em… pic.twitter.com/e9yvVP5YUm
Principal photography began on October 6, 2025, at Rome’s legendary Cinecittà Studios, the same location where Gibson filmed the original ‘Passion of the Christ’ over two decades ago, with additional scenes captured in southern Italian locations including Matera, Ginosa, Gravina in Puglia, Brindisi, and Craco. The entire 134-day shoot has now concluded, with a behind-the-scenes video celebrating the production wrap also surfacing online.
Ohtonen himself hinted that production is finished on Instagram, where the actor shared a photo sitting in front of dressing room doors with a nameplate reading “Jesus.” In the caption, he wrote, “It is accomplished.”
Ohtonen’s casting came after both Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci exited the production due to the cost of using de-aging CGI effects, leading Gibson to replace the entire original cast rather than rely on digital trickery. Ohtonen, a Finnish actor born in Oulu, is known for his work in ‘Vikings: Valhalla’ and ‘The Last Kingdom’, and holds a master’s degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Tampere.
The rest of the new ensemble includes Cuban actress Mariela Garriga as Mary Magdalene, Polish actress Kasia Smutniak as Mary the mother of Jesus, Italian actor Pier Luigi Pasino as Peter, Riccardo Scamarcio as Pontius Pilate, and Rupert Everett in a yet-undisclosed role. Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, who shot the original ‘Passion’, is also not returning, with Robrecht Heyvaert stepping in behind the camera.
Gibson co-wrote the screenplay with Randall Wallace, the writer of ‘Braveheart’, and has said he “never read anything like” the finished script, which is expected to explore supernatural and cosmic themes around the resurrection and the Harrowing of Hell. Reports also suggest the new films may be shot at least partially in English, a significant departure from the original, which was filmed entirely in Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin.
Lionsgate has confirmed a two-part theatrical release, with Part One arriving on Good Friday, March 26, 2027, and Part Two following exactly 40 days later on Ascension Day, May 6, 2027. With production now complete and post-production underway, the countdown to one of the most talked-about films in years has well and truly begun.
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