Mel Gibson Shares First Image & May 2027 Release Date for 'The Resurrection of the Christ'

In 2004, Mel Gibson moved into the director’s chair for the third time in his career for the brutal R-rated biblical drama, The Passion of the Christ, which he also co-produced. Led by Jim Caviezel as the titular Jesus Christ, the film centers on the final 12 hours of the major religious figure’s life. The story highlights his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, his trial before the Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilate, his scourging by the Romans, and his death by crucifixion. Gibson’s film became not only the most successful faith-based movie in history but also the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time after its release (it now ranks 10th on that list, above 2011’s The Hangover Part III and behind 2017’s Logan).

This project first entered the early stages of development as far back as 2016, with Gibson explaining in 2023 that his follow-up effort would not be long in coming. Following that announcement, reports revealed that the entire cast of the first movie would be recast due to the extensive costs that would have gone into de-aging the original stars, as the sequel takes place only three days after the original film. Filming then ran from October 2025 until April 2026 in Rome, with Gibson and the crew shooting this film and its 2028 sequel simultaneously. Now, with a year still left until the first movie is brought to theaters, Gibson has an exciting new update for those waiting for its release.

Lionsgate Films released the first look at director Mel Gibson’s The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One, a direct sequel to his 2004 movie The Passion of the Christ. This image shows Jaakko Ohtonen as Jesus Christ, taking over the role from original star Jim Caviezel. Donning a set of white robes with a long shawl, Jesus stands in front of a horde of followers on the top of a green hill, but no plot details can be discerned from the new image. Additionally, Lionsgate confirmed that the sequel will be delayed from its original release date, now coming to theaters on May 6, 2027. The next movie, The Resurrection of the Christ: Part Two, will then debut on May 25, 2028.

While Gibson has largely been out of the spotlight due to several off-screen controversies in the last 15 years, this will be his second directorial effort in the last decade after 2025’s Flight Risk. Before that movie, his last director credit was on 2016’s Hacksaw Ridge, which was nominated for six Academy Awards and won two of them (Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing).

Although The Resurrection of the Christ is already facing backlash for some of its production decisions, the original movie used controversy to its advantage and managed to become a major hit at the box office. How it performs in the current religious climate remains to be seen, especially considering Gibson’s checkered past, but he hopes to bring a thrilling new Jesus-centric story to the forefront and make it another “must-see” outing.

The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One will debut in theaters on May 6, 2027.