Jesus Christ Will Return: Mel Gibson Set to Revive Jim Caviezel’s Hollywood Career With Sequel After the Original Made Him a Pariah

SUMMARY

• Jim Caviezel’s Hollywood career stalled after his role in The Passion of the Christ, but the sequel offers him a shot at redemption.
• Mel Gibson’s The Resurrection of Christ, set to begin production in 2026, could reconnect Caviezel with mainstream audiences.
• The sequel's success could solidify Caviezel's place as a leading figure in faith-based cinema while bridging the gap with mainstream Hollywood.

Jim Caviezel’s career is one of Hollywood’s most interesting stories. Once a rising star with great performances, Caviezel’s life took a dramatic turn after playing the role of Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson’s controversial 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ. 

Jim Caviezel as Jesus in The Passion of the Christ | Credits: 20th Century Studios

Now, nearly two decades later, Gibson is preparing a sequel. This offers Caviezel a chance to revive a career that has been halted by setbacks and controversy. Will the sequel be able to redeem Caviezel and bring him back into the spotlight? Only time will tell. 

What happened to Jim Caviezel?

Jim Caviezel in a still from The Prisoner | Credits: ITV

Before The Passion of the Christ, Jim Caviezel had carved out a solid career in Hollywood. His performances in The Thin Red Line, Frequency, and The Count of Monte Cristo earned him critical acclaim and a growing fan base. 

It seemed like he was destined for a long and prosperous career in Hollywood. Although Caviezel’s performance as Jesus Christ was widely praised, the role came at a cost.

Caviezel found himself ostracized in Hollywood. Major roles in high-profile movies became scarce. Instead, he took on parts in smaller, faith-based movies, such as Paul, Apostle of Christ, and Sound of Freedom. Fans vowed to boycott the latter movie. While these projects resonated with Christian audiences, they didn’t do enough to make him a household name. 

After working on The Passion of the Christ, Caviezel became more outspoken about his extremely conservative beliefs. He even publicly supported controversial political figures and causes, often making headlines for his provocative statements. 

Hollywood’s hesitance to hire Caviezel may also stem from his rejection of specific roles. He didn’t want to be part of violent movies for entertainment, and he avoided explicit love scenes. With the upcoming opportunity of the sequel, will Jim Caviezel be offered the opportunity and can he make the most of it to revive his career?

Mel Gibson is working on The Passion of the Christ 2 aka The Resurrection of Christ

A still from The Passion of the Christ | Credits: 20th Century Studios

The Passion of the Christ was a global phenomenon, grossing over $600 million worldwide, according to IMDb. Despite its financial success, critics accused it of anti-Semitism and excessive violence, while religious audiences lauded its unflinching depiction of Christ’s suffering. 

Recently, Mel Gibson was interviewed on Joe Rogan’s podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. There he gave an update about the much-anticipated sequel to The Passion of the Christ which is going to be titled, The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection.

He said that the movie would start production in 2026 already having scouted potential shooting locations in Malta and various ancient towns in the Southern Italian region of Puglia.

The sequel would provide a great opportunity for Jim Caviezel to reintroduce himself to Hollywood. With its potential to reach both devout Christian viewers and mainstream audiences, it could serve as a pivotal moment in redefining his career. Caviezel’s performance and the film’s reception among the fans will undoubtedly shape the next chapter of his professional journey.

Written by Ojas Goel

Articles Published: 12

Ojas Goel is not a writer by profession but one by heart. His love for Marvel, DC, Star Wars, LOTR, Game of Thrones, and the intriguing world of anime is unmatched. This burning passion urged him to voice his opinions on the such topics and remain connected to the developments that follow. He particularly resonates with Tyrion Lannister as he likes the way he thinks and gets out of tricky situations. Ojas is a BCA graduate and loves to dive into the tech intricacies in his free time.