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Everything We Know About Passion Of The Christ 2
Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ 2 is indeed happening, but the sequel looks set to be a lot more controversial. In 2004, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ took the world by storm. The film was of particular appeal to American evangelicals, and it was successful in many international markets as well, with Christians across the world embracing the R-rated epic. Principally inspired by the Gospel of John, The Passion of the Christ also incorporated a number of Catholic traditions and even the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824). Its release became particularly controversial, however, due to charges of antisemitism - not helped by Gibson's own personal controversies.
Since 2004, Gibson has openly talked about the possibility of doing a sequel that continues the narrative. The Passion of the Christ was undeniably one of the most important Biblical epics ever made by Hollywood, so it's not really a surprise to see Gibson finally attempt to turn this into something of a loose franchise - especially at a time when franchises tend to have more drawing power than individual actors and directors. But it remains to be seen whether Gibson can pull off another hit, appealing to the same evangelical audience who responded so positively to the first movie.
Is Passion Of The Christ 2 Really Happening?
After years of rumors, there have been reports The Passion of the Christ 2 is due to begin filming in spring 2023. Star Jim Caviezel confirmed the script had been completed in September 2020, and claimed it would be "the biggest film in world history." Gibson has worked with his frequent collaborator Randall Wallace on the script, with Wallace acknowledging interest in the sequel. "I always wanted to tell this story," Wallace confirmed back in 2016. "The Passion is the beginning and there's a lot more story to tell... The evangelical community considers The Passion the biggest movie ever out of Hollywood, and they kept telling us that they think a sequel will be even bigger."
Passion Of The Christ 2 Will Be About Jesus' Resurrection
The sequel will be called The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection, which at first glance seems like a logical approach; Christians believe Jesus died and rose from the dead, and The Passion of the Christ ended with the briefest glimpse of the resurrected Jesus. Over the years, however, there have been consistent reports the resurrection itself will not be the main focus; rather, that the film will focus on the three days between Jesus' death and resurrection, where many Christians believe Jesus descended into Hell.
What Else We Know About Passion Of The Christ 2's Story
The Passion of the Christ had many scenes that weren't drawn from the Bible, drawn from Catholic visionaries such as Mary of Jesus of Ágreda (1602-1665) and Anne Catherine Emmerich. The latter is particularly important, in that she had a vision of the event known by Catholic theologians as the "Harrowing of Hell," in which Jesus descended into Hell and tore down its walls, declaring war on the Devil and his kingdom. It's important to note such events are only alluded to in a few verses in the Bible, meaning this particular idea has generated a great deal of debate among Christians. If Gibson does indeed focus on the Harrowing of Hell, he may well find it much more difficult uniting evangelicals behind him this time.
Will Jim Caviezel Play Jesus Again In Passion Of The Christ: Resurrection?
Jim Caviezel is expected to return in The Passion of the Christ 2. The first film was one of his highest-profile movies, and he's subsequently gone on to appear in a wide range of films and TV shows, including the likes of Outlander, The Prisoner, and Person of Interest. He's clearly been kept in the loop on discussions about The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection, openly speaking about the script as far back as 2020.
Passion Of The Christ: Resurrection Release Date Prediction
The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection is due to start production in spring 2023, but no firm release date has been locked in. Still, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Gibson aim for Easter 2024, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first film's release. Hopefully it won't be long before there's more news about The Passion of the Christ 2.
