Entertainment
Mel Gibson selects Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen to play Jesus in the sequel to The Passion of the Christ.

Mel Gibson has recast the role of Jesus for his Passion of the Christ sequel. The original 2004 film, directed by Gibson, is being followed by a two-part continuation titled The Resurrection of the Christ. Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen will take over the role of Jesus from Jim Caviezel, while Mariela Garriga replaces Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene. Other key cast changes include Kasia Smutniak as Mary (replacing Maia Morgenstern), Pier Luigi Pasino as Peter, Riccardo Scamarcio as Pontius Pilate, and Rupert Everett in a small but significant role.
Set three days after Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday, the film’s source explained to Variety that a full recast was practical, avoiding costly CGI and digital de-aging effects. The two installments will release just 40 days apart, with the first on Good Friday, March 26, 2027, and the second on Ascension Day, May 6, 2027.
Gibson has been developing the sequel for many years and previously discussed the challenges of adapting such a vast story. In a 2022 appearance on EWTN's The World Over, he described the complexity of presenting a non-linear narrative that resonates with viewers while exploring past, future, and other realms.
He revealed he has two completed scripts, struggling to decide between them. One is “very structured” and conventional, while the other is more experimental, likened to an “acid trip” exploring otherworldly realms, including hell and the fall of angels. Gibson emphasized that the project is enormous and requires careful planning to convey its full impact.