Actor Jim Caviezel is set to reprise his iconic role as Jesus Christ in the upcoming sequel to Mel Gibson's controversial film, The Passion of the Christ. Titled The Resurrection of the Christ, the film aims for a 2026 release and will begin filming in Rome this August. Caviezel, now 56 years old, will be digitally de-aged to portray a younger Jesus, reflecting the age at which the biblical figure was crucified.
In a recent interview on The Arroyo Grande Show, Caviezel opened up about his harrowing experiences while filming the original Passion of the Christ, revealing that he faced life-threatening conditions on set. From dislocated shoulders to hypothermia, he even recounted a near-fatal incident where he was struck by lightning. "I got shot right out of my body," he said, describing the surreal moment when he experienced an out-of-body sensation. "I watched them trying to revive me… and then they brought me back, and then I felt the most pain." Following the shoot, he battled severe health issues, including fluid in his lungs and multiple infections, leading to two heart surgeries. "It was enough to kill me," he remarked. "My heart shut off."
Despite these challenges, Caviezel expressed an unwavering commitment to returning for the sequel. When Gibson approached him with the idea, Caviezel didn't hesitate, saying, "You want me to play Jesus, don’t you? I’m in." This time, however, he’s taking a different approach to preparation. He plans to fast, meditate, and receive the Eucharist daily during filming, treating the process as a spiritual battle. "I’m not a sheep," he stated. "I’m a converted wolf."
Throughout the interview, Caviezel reflected on the weight of the role and the expectations surrounding it. He recalled Gibson's warning before filming the original, stating, "If you do this movie, you may never work in this town again." Despite the potential fallout, Caviezel felt compelled to take on the role, admitting, "I didn’t even know what transubstantiation was back then. But I do now." He emphasized his desire to channel Jesus during his performance, saying, "I asked him, ‘Will you present yourself to the world?’ And he said, ‘I don’t have anybody else.’"
As he prepares for The Resurrection of the Christ, Caviezel aims to enjoy the experience more than he did during the first film. "I got too far over my skis on the last one," he said. "This time, I really want to stay in the moment." Yet, he admits to feeling fear about the project, stating, "If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t want to work with that actor. This is a war." Caviezel is not overly concerned about the film's reception, noting, "The world didn’t like The Passion, and that’s a good thing. So we did a good job."
The ambitious sequel has been described by Gibson as a project that will explore complex themes beyond a linear narrative. In an interview with Raymond Arroyo, Gibson explained, "It’s a huge subject, and it’s not a linear narrative. You have to juxtapose the central event that I’m trying to tell with everything else around it in the future, in the past, and in other realms, and that’s kind of getting a little sci-fi out there." Filming in Rome is expected to be a challenging endeavor, with Gibson acknowledging the need for meticulous planning. "It’s not going to be easy, and I’m not wholly sure I can pull it off; to tell you the truth, it’s super ambitious. But I’ll take a crack at it because that’s what you’ve got to do, right, walk up to the plate, right?"
As excitement builds for The Resurrection of the Christ, Caviezel's return as Jesus promises to be just as intense as the original film. With a blend of personal dedication and spiritual preparation, he is ready to take on the monumental task once more. "This time, I’m not just going to play Jesus," he asserted. "I need Him to play me." As the film gears up for production, fans of the original are left wondering what this sequel will bring and how it will resonate with audiences around the world.
