Los Angeles [US], May 22 : After a long wait, actor-filmmaker Mel Gibson has unveiled the first look at 'The Resurrection of the Christ', his much-delayed follow-up to 2004's 'The Passion of the Christ'.
According to Variety, filming on the two-part epic has officially wrapped, with the production concluding ahead of schedule. The shooting took place for 134 days across Italy in Rome, Bari, Ginosa, Craco, Brindisi, and Matera.
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While dropping a sneak peek of 'The Resurrection of the Christ', Gibson revealed that the two movies have been delayed. 'Part One' has been postponed, with plans to debut on May 6, 2027, instead of March 26.
On the other hand, 'Part 2' was bumped a year, changing from May 6, 2027, to May 25, 2028. Both films will be released on Ascension Day, a Christian holiday that celebrates the ascension of Jesus into heaven.
Speaking about the same, Gibson described the project as "powerful."
"I'm deeply grateful to my incredibly talented cast and crew for pouring their hearts into this production. Together, we created something powerful. This film represents a major part of my life's work, and it has demanded everything of me as a filmmaker and as an artist. 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," he said, as quoted by Variety.
Notably, 'The Resurrection of the Christ' is a follow-up to 'The Passion of the Christ'. It follows Jim Caviezel as Jesus of Nazareth and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene in the final 12 hours before the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
The actor-filmmaker described the sequels as an "acid trip", adding that he never read anything like these.
As the title suggests, the upcoming film is likely to focus on Jesus Christ's resurrection. Actors Jaakko Ohtonen and Mariela Garriga will be seen as Jesus and Mary Magdalene alongside others like Pier Luigi Pasino, Kasia Smutniak, Riccardo Scamarcio and Rupert Everett.