Mel Gibson on the Edge Again: Masterpiece or Failure? I’m Both Afraid and Excited for 'Resurrection of the Christ'

I’ll say it straight: I’m both nervous and wildly curious about Mel Gibson’s long-awaited sequel to The Passion of the Christ. Now officially split into two parts and landing in cinemas via Lionsgate in 2027, this isn't just another biblical drama — it’s a cinematic event decades in the making, surrounded by as much awe as controversy.

Part One is due on Good Friday (March 26), and Part Two follows precisely 40 days later on Ascension Day (May 6). Biblical symbolism? Very much intentional. But don’t be fooled — this isn’t your typical Sunday school story.

The original 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ, was a cultural earthquake. On one hand, it shattered box office records for an R-rated and independent film, raking in over $610 million globally on a $30 million budget.

It was nominated for Oscars. It changed the conversation around faith-based cinema. But it also sparked a firestorm. Critics accused it of extreme violence, alleged antisemitic overtones, and theological interpretation that divided both scholars and believers.

And let’s not forget: Gibson himself was a lightning rod of controversy in the years that followed.

Yet here we are, 20 years later, and the man is back — not with one film, but two. The title The Resurrection of the Christ already hints at a more mystical, perhaps even surreal tone. And Gibson calling it "an acid trip"? I mean, what is he cooking?

I’ve read the early buzz about the screenplay — co-written with Randall Wallace (of Braveheart fame) — and if even half of it is true, this isn’t going to be a quiet, meditative take on the resurrection.

Expect visions, mythic storytelling, and probably a fair bit of theological debate. Jim Caviezel returns as Jesus, Monica Bellucci is likely to reprise her role as Mary Magdalene, and given the first film’s visual brutality, we can probably assume this one won’t be pulling punches either.