“The Passion of the Christ” Sequel: What We Know So Far 

Mel Gibson is finally making a sequel to The Passion of the Christ, and just trust us, it’s going to be anything but dull. The follow-up to the 2004 blockbuster, officially titled The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection, isn’t just about Jesus’ return.

A scene from The Passion of the Christ (Credits: 20th Century Studios)

It’s taking a plunge into hell, fallen angels, and some seriously ambitious storytelling. Oh, and Gibson himself called it an “acid trip.” The first movie was a cultural phenomenon, especially in the U.S., where it became a hit with evangelical audiences.

It also raked in over $600 million globally, making it one of the most successful religious films ever. But it didn’t come without controversy—accusations of antisemitism and criticism of its violent depiction of Jesus’ final hours stirred a lot of debate.

Now, nearly 20 years later, Gibson is back to continue the story. And instead of playing it safe, he’s going all out. Here’s everything we know about this mind-blowing sequel.

The Passion of the Christ 2 will depict hell and fallen angels 

Jim Caviezel and Mel Gibson on the set of The Passion of the Christ (Credits: 20th Century Studios)

If you thought The Passion of the Christ was intense, wait until you hear what Mel Gibson has planned for the sequel. This time it isn’t just about Jesus rising from the dead—it’s about what went down in the three days before his resurrection. And it’s not only on Earth.

Gibson is taking us to hell. Yes, literally. Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, Gibson shared some inside scoop about the sequel’s storyline.

He’s teaming up with his brother, Donal Gibson, and Braveheart writer Randall Wallace to tell the story of what happened after Jesus’ death. The movie will reportedly cover events from the fall of the angels to the death of the last apostle.

And I think in order to really tell the story properly you have to really start with the fall of the angels, which means you’re in another place, you’re in another realm. You need to go to hell. You need to go to Sheol. 

For those unfamiliar, Sheol is a biblical term often associated with the afterlife or a waiting place for souls. So, yeah, it’s an epic tale that spans realms and explores the supernatural.

Gibson also hinted that the movie will be visually and emotionally intense. Think fire, brimstone, and maybe even a few CGI demons. The idea is to show what was happening in the spiritual world during those three days, giving us a perspective we’ve never seen before in a biblical film.

Jim Caviezel is retuning as Jesus (with a CGI glow-up) in Passion of the Christ sequel

Jim Caviezel in The Passion of the Christ (Credits: 20th Century Studios)

Remember Jim Caviezel, the actor who played Jesus in the first film? He’s coming back for the sequel. But the actor will be de-aged using CGI because the sequel takes place just three days after the events of the first movie. And it’s been nearly two decades since Caviezel first donned the crown of thorns.

Mel Gibson confirmed this during his chat with Joe Rogan, saying the technology for de-aging is “so good now.” If you’ve seen movies like The Irishman or Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, you know what he’s talking about. Hollywood has gotten pretty good at making actors look like their younger selves.

But this isn’t just about making Caviezel look the part. Gibson clearly believes Caviezel is the right man for the job, despite the time gap. And honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else stepping into those sandals.

De-aging aside, Caviezel has a big task ahead. Playing Jesus is no small feat, and the sequel’s storyline sounds even more intense than the first film. Between battling fallen angels and navigating hellish realms, Caviezel’s Jesus is in for a wild ride.

Mel Gibson to begin filming The Passion of the Christ 2 in 2026

Jim Caviezel in The Passion of the Christ (Credits: 20th Century Studios)

So, when can we expect this cinematic tipsy-turvy experience to hit theaters? Not anytime soon. Gibson revealed that filming is set to begin in 2026. Why the long wait?

“I’m hoping next year sometime. There’s a lot required because it’s an acid trip. I’ve never read anything like it,” Gibson explained. Translation: This movie is going to be visually and narratively complex. From the VFX-heavy scenes in hell to the expansive timeline covering centuries of biblical history, it’s clear that this project needs time to come together.

The script, written by Gibson, his brother Donal, and Randall Wallace, has been in development since at least 2016. That’s nearly a decade of planning and writing. And with Gibson’s reputation for meticulous filmmaking, it’s no surprise that he’s taking his time to get everything just right. As the filmmaker said on JRE.

“You got to have his origin. I have ideas about how to do that and how to evoke things about to depict that. I’ve been thinking about that for a long time. It’s going to require a lot of planning. I’m not sure I can pull it off. It’s super ambitious, but I’m going to take a crack at it … It’s about trying to find a way in that’s not cheesy or obvious. It’s almost like a magic trick. [The story] goes from the fall of the angels to the death of the last apostle.”

But let’s be honest—2026 feels like an eternity away. By the time this movie hits theaters, we’ll probably be knee-deep in reboots and superhero sequels. Still, Gibson seems confident that the wait will be worth it. And given the ambition behind this project, it’s hard not to be intrigued.