More than two decades after The Passion of the Christ became a global box office phenomenon, Mel Gibson’s long-awaited follow-up, The Resurrection of the Christ, has been officially announced as a two-part cinematic event. Lionsgate, the studio behind the release, confirmed on Tuesday that the film will be split into two installments, with release dates strategically set for significant Christian holidays in 2027.
Part One is scheduled to premiere on Good Friday, March 26, 2027, with Part Two slated to open 40 days later on Ascension Day, Thursday, May 6, 2027. This unique release strategy sets up a major event for the faith-based audience and the broader film community, though the second installment will face stiff competition from Sony’s highly anticipated adaptation of The Legend of Zelda.
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The announcement marks a major step forward for one of the most talked-about sequels in Hollywood. Gibson’s original 2004 film, starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus, was a landmark cinematic event. Produced on a modest $30 million budget, the film, which graphically portrayed the final 12 hours of Christ’s life, became a cultural touchstone and a box office juggernaut. It opened to $83 million on its way to a domestic gross of over $370 million and a global total of more than $610 million, holding the record as the highest-grossing R-rated film in the U.S. for many years. It also earned three Academy Award nominations for Makeup, Cinematography, and Original Score.
While plot details for The Resurrection of the Christ are being kept under wraps, key figures from the original are expected to return. Jim Caviezel is anticipated to reprise his role as Jesus, with Monica Bellucci also expected to return. Gibson will once again direct and will produce the films alongside his Icon Productions partner Bruce Davey.
The project also continues Gibson’s long and successful association with Lionsgate. The studio distributed his Oscar-nominated WWII drama Hacksaw Ridge and the recent thriller Flight Risk. Lionsgate also handles the distribution for the Icon library, which includes the original The Passion of the Christ.
