Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jul 20

Randall Wallace Reveals Mel Gibson's 2016 'Satan' Warning on 2-Part Resurrection Sequel

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jul 20

Randall Wallace Reveals Mel Gibson's 2016 'Satan' Warning on 2-Part Resurrection Sequel

Q: Why was star Jim Caviezel replaced for what Mel Gibson calls 'the most important story in human history'?

Jim Caviezel was replaced mainly because the sequel is being made more than two decades after 2004’s *The Passion of the Christ*, and filmmakers decided that making him convincingly look like the same Jesus would be too expensive and technically difficult. Reports tied to the production say Mel Gibson’s team considered digital de-aging, but the cost was judged too high for a two-part film with a combined budget already reported at about $250 million. There were also concerns that heavy CGI rejuvenation could look artificial and distract audiences from a story Gibson has called “the most important story in human history.” Scheduling conflicts were also cited as a factor in the recasting. As a result, Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen was cast as Jesus in *The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One* and *Part Two*. The decision reflects the scale and timing of the project rather than a public dispute. Gibson, Randall Wallace and Donal Gibson spent six to eight years developing the screenplay, and the sequel’s scope is far larger than the original film, extending beyond the Resurrection into what Gibson has described as spiritual and metaphysical realms. With the original cast now much older and the production aiming for a seamless visual continuity, recasting was ultimately seen as the more practical option.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 20

Randall Wallace said Mel Gibson warned him in 2016 that “Satan’s going to come after you” when Wallace proposed turning Jesus’ resurrection into a feature-length sequel to The Passion of the Christ.
Wallace told Raymond Arroyo's podcast the warning came as the pair discussed making the film for faith rather than money or revenge, a conversation he said launched their writing partnership.
Gibson, Wallace and Donal Gibson then spent roughly six to eight years refining the screenplay, with the sequel ultimately split into two films after production was completed in May.
The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One is set for May 6, 2027, and Part Two for May 25, 2028, following the original 2004 film's more than $610 million worldwide gross on a reported $30 million budget.
Wallace said the new films will show elements audiences have “never seen before” while aiming for what he called an orthodox telling of the resurrection story.