Mel Gibson’s ‘Resurrection of the Christ’ Unveils First Look at Jesus as It Pushes Release Date

The Hollywood Reporter ^ | May 21, 2026 | Aaron Couch

[nickcarraway]

Jaakko Ohtonen replaced Jim Caviezel for the sequel to 'The Passion of the Christ,' which releases its first part in March 2027, followed by a second part in 2028.

Lionsgate is shifting its plans for its two-part sequel to The Resurrection of Christ. The studio is pushing part one back a few months from March 26, 2027, to May 6, 2027. And the second part, previously set for May 6, 2027, is now moving back a year to May 25, 2028.

With the news comes the first-look photo of Jaakko Ohtonen as Jesus Christ, stepping into the sandals worn by Jim Caviezel in The Passion of the Christ, the Gibson-directed religious blockbuster released in 2004. It earned more than $610 million globally and stands as the top-grossing indie movie of all time.

“This is far more than a film to me. It’s a mission I’ve carried for over 20 years to tell what I believe is the most important story in human history,” said Gibson in a statement.

As part of its date shifts, Lionsgate has slotted the Johnny Depp starrer Daydrinker for March 26, 2027. The film was the first Hollywood movie to cast Depp in the years following his acrimonious divorce from Amber Heard. He has since been tapped to star in a Scrooge movie at Paramount.

Daydrinker centers on a private yacht bartender (Madelyn Cline) who meets a mysterious guest (Depp), with the duo becoming entangled with a criminal figure (Penélope Cruz). The Amazing Spider-Man filmmaker Marc Webb is behind the project, which has a script from Zach Dean.

---

TOPICS: Religion; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: christian; jesus; melgibson

[nickcarraway]

[Ciaphas Cain]

Much of this movie is going to be about the three days when Jesus was physically dead. What he was doing during that time. Gibson has described the movie as being on an “acid trip”. It’s going to be fascinating to see what he’s got in store for us.

[jerod]

Hold on... Where are all the black people, especially the one playing Mother Mary and why isn’t Jesus being played by a woman who transitioned to a man without having that ‘manly thing’ ???

Oh... That’s the odyssey movie... My bad.

Thankfully Christopher Nolan didn’t give us his take on the history of Jesus Christ. That would be a whopper!

[Orosius]

Thanks be to God that Mel Gibson doesn’t give a crap about winning an Oscar.

[Drew68]

It’s going to be fascinating to see what he’s got in store for us.

The film is being mocked on-line with the "Jesus is coming and boy is he pissed" meme.

But perhaps we should not underestimate Mel Gibson.

He seems to wink at us, lean into this meme stuff, and then knock it outta the park with the final product.

Honestly, I have yet to be disappointed by a single Mel Gibson film.

[proust]

Disappointed to hear that part 2 has been pushed back. I won’t second guess Mel, he knows what he’s doing.

[Liz]