English, not Aramaic: Mel Gibson confirms language for The Resurrection of the Christ
Mel Gibson has confirmed his two-part sequel The Resurrection of the Christ won’t repeat The Passion’s Aramaic experiment, and the language he’s chosen may raise eyebrows.
If there was ever a film project with a complicated legacy to follow, it might just be Mel Gibson's very ambitious sequel(s) to The Passion of the Christ. Over at Fan Expo Boston, Gibson dropped a few proper updates about his latest religious epic — and, as usual, it's managed to raise a few eyebrows.
Resurrection, but in English
The new project, The Resurrection of the Christ, is not just one film but two — and here's a detail that'll probably throw fans of the original: this time, you're not getting your Aramaic subtitles out. Instead, Gibson's going fully English with both entries. That marks a massive shift from the original's linguistic authenticity (or, depending on your taste, its 'historical cosplay').
The main reason, according to Gibson — who took the stage for a live chat at Fan Expo — is entirely practical. He doesn't reckon the audience will be keen on deciphering all the layered theology in a language they don't speak. Here's Gibson's argument for the language switch, shared while explaining how he developed the scripts with his old Braveheart collaborator, Randall Wallace:
Gibson told the crowd: 'They’re both in English because the subject matter and just the theological download you have to go through is so complex that I don’t think people would like to have to read it in subtitles in a foreign language. You want to be able to digest it straight away. So I tailored the material to fit the audience, and I think having it in the vernacular would be better for it.'
That's about as direct as you're ever going to get from a director when it comes to subtitles.
What else is changing?
Besides the language, there's a rather significant casting change: Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in the original, won't be returning. Instead, the role is now going to Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen. Whether that bit of news riles up devotees or gives the film a fresh direction, we'll see.
A two-parter with cosmic ambition
Release dates are set in stone (at least for now): Part One arrives in cinemas 7th May 2027, and Part Two lands 25th May 2028. The sequels aren't just picking up where the first bloodbath left off. They're taking what sounds like a pretty wild, almost surreal approach — think non-linear storytelling, heavy on the visual effects, and a good chunk set in hell itself, with Jesus apparently wandering among fallen angels and demons. Subtle, this is not.
Reflecting on the structure of the films, Gibson explained: 'It had it in the script, but it had a natural breaking point. There’s Part One and Part Two, and they’re distinct. I think they stand alone as individual pieces, but they do complete one another. So that’s good.'
Notably, the scripts have been baking for more than a decade, with Gibson's brother Donal even credited with helping shape the story. So, whatever ends up on screen, this hasn't been a rush job. There's clearly a lot riding on it — both in terms of ambition and, presumably, controversy.
The Resurrection of the Christ Part One releases 7 May 2027, with Part Two due out just over a year later.
The question now is whether fans of Gibson's original vision (or, let's be honest, his flair for chaos) are ready to digest the resurrection story in the Queen's English — and with a Finnish messiah leading the way.