Jim Caviezel is not going to return to play Jesus Christ for director Mel Gibson‘s forthcoming follow-ups to the smash hit The Ardour of the Christ, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
Lionsgate is ready to launch the two-film venture The Resurrection of the Christ theatrically in 2027, with the manufacturing aiming to start quickly in Rome. Key roles will probably be recast for the brand new films, as Caviezel is not going to reprise the titular a part of Jesus, whereas Monica Bellucci additionally gained’t return as Mary Magdalene.
Telling the story of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, The Ardour of the Christ was a field workplace sensation when it hit theaters Feb. 25, 2004, surpassing $600 million globally. Till final 12 months, the film’s $370 million field workplace sum in North America made it the highest-grossing R-rated title of all time domestically. Gibson’s gamble to provide and self-finance the film clearly paid off.
After having been within the works for almost a decade, The Resurrection of the Christ: Half One hits theaters March 26, 2027, which is Good Friday. Forty days later, Half Two will debut Could 6, 2027, in honor of Ascension Day. Gibson is producing the movies with Icon Manufacturing companion Bruce Davey.
Newmarket Releasing/courtesy Everett Assortment
The lead function in The Ardour of the Christ has been a career-defining one for Caviezel. He’s additionally recognized for starring on the CBS sequence Individual of Curiosity and in such movies as Angel Eyes and Sound of Freedom.
Throughout an April interview on the Arroyo Grande podcast, Caviezel gave the impression to be able to star in Resurrection. “It takes some time to make this stuff, however it takes the proper time, and solely God is aware of that,” Caviezel stated concerning the prolonged hole between the 2004 function and the forthcoming one. “Am I scared? Sure, but when I wasn’t, I wouldn’t wish to work with that actor since you’re not prepared.”
In its 2004 assessment of The Ardour of the Christ, THR famous the movie’s “close to pornographic violence” and deemed it “a medieval Ardour Play with significantly better results.”
New York Put up was first to report on the roles being recast.
