Exclusive: Meet the New Jesus and Mary Magdalene in Mel Gibson’s ‘Resurrection of the Christ’ – Jaakko Ohtonen and Mariela Garriga Take Center Stage!

Mel Gibson is back with a sequel to “The Passion of the Christ,” titled “The Resurrection of the Christ.” This long-anticipated film features Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen as Jesus, stepping in for Jim Caviezel.

Filming has begun at Cinecittà Studios in Rome, where the original film was shot over two decades ago. “The Passion of the Christ” became a blockbuster, earning $610 million globally. This new story will unfold over two films, with the first part set to hit theaters on March 26, 2027, coinciding with Good Friday.

A fresh cast will tell this impactful story. Cuban actress Mariela Garriga takes on the role of Mary Magdalene, previously held by Monica Bellucci. Kasia Smutniak will portray Mary, with Pier Luigi Pasino as Peter and Riccardo Scamarcio as Pontius Pilate. It’s noteworthy that Rupert Everett will also have a small but significant role.

The decision to recast stems from the timeline of the story, which occurs just three days after Christ’s crucifixion. An insider mentioned that using CGI to digitally age actors would have been expensive and complicated.

Jim Caviezel expressed a desire to reprise his role as Jesus earlier this year, but Ohtonen, known for his recent work in “The Last Kingdom,” has taken over.

Gibson is producing with Bruce Davey under their Icon Productions banner, alongside Lionsgate, which will distribute the films. The original film focused on the last 12 hours of Jesus before his crucifixion, using Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin to enhance authenticity. Gibson describes the new scripts as unique, crafted in collaboration with screenwriter Randall Wallace, and hints that they diverge from traditional storytelling.

In addition to Cinecittà, filming will take place in the historic town of Matera and other rural areas in southern Italy.

As anticipation builds, discussions around the film have sparked considerable interest on social media. Fans are eager to see how Gibson will portray this significant chapter in Christian history, with many expressing excitement about the recasting and new direction.

For further insights on the impact of religious-themed films and their evolution, you can refer to The Pew Research Center for related studies on viewer perspectives and trends in religious media.

Source link

Mel Gibson,The Resurrection of the Christ