Originally published in Relevant Magazine
After 20 years, Mel Gibson is finally resurrecting The Passion of the Christ — but this time, there’s a new face of Jesus.
Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen, best known for Netflix’s The Last Kingdom, will take on the role in Gibson’s long-delayed sequel The Resurrection of the Christ. He replaces 57-year-old Jim Caviezel, whose intense portrayal of Jesus in the 2004 film helped make it one of the highest-grossing independent movies ever, earning more than $610-million (R10.5-billion) worldwide.
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Joining Ohtonen is Mariela Garriga (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning), who will replace Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene, Kasia Smutniak (Domina), Riccardo Scamarcio (Modì) and Rupert Everett.
Sources told Variety the all-new cast was less about creative direction and more about practicality — de-aging the original actors after two decades “would have been very costly.” Gibson’s not one to shy away from spectacle, but apparently CGI resurrection didn’t make the budget cut.
The story picks up three days after the crucifixion and will unfold across two films: Part One arrives Good Friday, March 26 2027, followed by Part Two two months later on Ascension Day, May 6. Gibson, who co-wrote the script with Braveheart screenwriter Randall Wallace, has described the film as “an acid trip” — an, uh, interesting way to describe one of the most important events in human history.
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