On Thursday, Lionsgate marked the end of filming on Mel Gibson’s The Resurrection of the Christ by releasing the first look at the long-awaited follow-up to 2004’s The Passion of the Christ.
Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen officially steps in as Jesus, taking over the role from original star Jim Caviezel. EW previously reported that Caviezel, 57, would have needed to be de-aged for the movie, which is set three days after Christ’s crucifixion on Good Friday, and so recasting was the easier option.
Additionally, the part of Mary Magdalene, originally portrayed by Monica Bellucci, is now being played by Mariela Garriga, the Cuban actress known for costarring in both Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
“I’m deeply grateful to my incredibly talented cast and crew for pouring their hearts into this production. Together, we created something powerful,” Gibson said in a statement. “This film represents a major part of my life’s work, and it has demanded everything of me as a filmmaker and as an artist. This is far more than a film to me. It’s a mission I’ve carried for over twenty years to tell what I believe is the most important story in human history. Reuniting with many of my original collaborators from The Passion of the Christ — true masters of their craft — allowed us to bring this story to the screen exactly as I envisioned it.
The Resurrection of the Christ will be released as two films: Part One opens in theaters on Ascension Day, May 6, 2027, and Part Two will follow on the next Ascension Day, May 25, 2028.