Passion Of The Christ 2 Finally Happening
The Passion of the Christ 2 may be one of the oddest Hollywood sequels of all time, but it’s going forward nonetheless with preproduction in full swing. It will be a follow-up to the 2004 biblical epic that took the box office by storm. The film’s creators have only become more controversial since the original came out, and the sequel is sure to be at least as divisive as the original.
The Returning Talent
The creative talent behind the original will be returning for The Passion of the Christ 2. Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus Christ in the original will return to the role 20 years later along with Francesco De Vito who played the apostle Peter. Mel Gibson will also be returning as director, continuing to work with writer Randall Wallace.
Though still in pre-production, Mel Gibson is already working on The Passion of the Christ 2. He’s currently in Malta with a production crew to scout for filming locations, with Morocco and Israel being reported as other locations being considered. While the sequel is finally approaching the filming stage of development, it’s been in the works for years as a passion project for Gibson.
Plot Details
Plot details for The Passion of the Christ 2 are mostly unknown at this point, but Mel Gibson has discussed the broad strokes of the movie in the past. In an interview with the National Catholic Register, he claimed that the movie will take place “in the past and in other realms.” While the past could simply mean exploring more of Christ’s life before his crucifixion, his comment about taking place in other realms could be an allusion to the Harrowing of Hell, the theologically divisive story of Christ’s time in Hell.
Passion Of The Christ Was A Hit In Theaters
The Passion of the Christ 2 will look to recreate the box office success of the original, which won big at the box office despite its poor critical response. Earning over $612 million at the box office on a $30 million budget, it was one of the most financially successful movies of 2004. With strong support from various Christian groups, it managed to overcome its many negative reviews, earning 49 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Controversies
Of course, The Passion of the Christ 2 will have to escape the shadow of its controversial director, whose reputation is much worse now than it was in 2004. Multiple recordings of Mel Gibson going on racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic rants have been released since the original movie, tanking his reputation. His involvement is sure to add to the movie’s controversies, regardless of the film’s content.
The star of The Passion of the Christ 2 has also become a controversial figure, for some of his political affiliations. Since 2021, there has been allegations of Jim Caviezel’s support for the right-wing QAnon group. He also caused controversy when he supported Donald Trump’s presidential bid by comparing him to the Biblical King David.
More To Come
After years of Mel Gibson discussing the possibility, it seems that more than 20 years after the original, The Passion of the Christ 2 is really happening. Even in an era when long-delayed sequels and reboots are common, a biblical epic receiving a sequel is drawing attention. With few details and no release date, the movie is already stirring up controversy and fascination.
Source: Italpress
