Mel Gibson Announces English, Non‑Linear Two‑Part 'Resurrection of the Christ' Film

Filmmaker Mel Gibson announced that the long‑awaited sequel to his 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ” will be released as two parts under the working title “The Resurrection of the Christ.” He said both installments will feature English dialogue and employ a non‑linear narrative structure, differing from the original’s ancient‑language presentation and chronological storytelling.

Principal photography wrapped after 134 days of shooting across several Italian sites, including Rome, Matera, Bari, Ginosa, Craco and Brindisi, and the project is now in post‑production. Gibson noted that he filmed the two parts simultaneously in Rome, completing the shoot ahead of schedule. He worked with Braveheart screenwriter Randall Wallace and his brother Donal Gibson on the script over nearly a decade.

Gibson described the resurrection as a challenging subject, pointing out that 17 secular historians have recorded similar events and emphasizing the goal of making the story believable and understandable. He explained that the non‑linear approach was chosen to juxtapose the resurrection with other historical events, allowing viewers to grasp its significance like a jigsaw puzzle. He added that splitting the story into two films was already part of the original screenplay.