Jim Caviezel (left) and Mel Gibson on the set of 'The Passion of the Christ.' Courtesy of Everett Collection Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Jim Caviezel will not return to play Jesus Christ for director Mel Gibson's forthcoming follow-ups to the smash hit The Passion of the Christ, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Lionsgate is set to release the two-film project The Resurrection of the Christ theatrically in 2027, with the production aiming to begin soon in Rome. Key roles will be recast for the new movies, as Caviezel will not reprise the titular part of Jesus, while Monica Bellucci also won't return as Mary Magdalene. Telling the story of Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, The Passion of the Christ was a box office sensation when it hit theaters Feb. 25, 2004, surpassing $600 million globally. Until last year, the movie's $370 million box office sum in North America made it the highest-grossing R-rated title of all time domestically. Gibson's gamble to produce and self-finance the movie clearly paid off. Related Stories Movies Gerard Butler Dodges More Earth-Killing Meteors in 'Greenland 2: Migration' Trailer Business Lionsgate Lays Off 50 Staffers in Latest Belt-Tightening Effort After having been in the works for nearly a decade, The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One hits theaters March 26, 2027, which is Good Friday. Forty days later, Part Two will debut May 6, 2027, in honor of Ascension Day. Gibson is producing the films with Icon Production partner Bruce Davey. Newmarket Releasing/courtesy Everett Collection The lead role in The Passion of the Christ has been a career-defining one for Caviezel. He is also known for starring on the CBS series Person of Interest and in such films as Angel Eyes and Sound of Freedom. During an April interview on the Arroyo Grande podcast, Caviezel appeared to be ready to star in Resurrection. "I want to enjoy this one more than I did the other one," Caviezel said in comparing the new project to the 2004 feature. "On the other one, I was concerned that it was not in Aramaic. I said, 'We're not doing this.' Well, that was a different world. But I really do trust what [Gibson] adds." In its 2004 review of The Passion of the Christ, THR noted the film's "near pornographic violence" and deemed it "a medieval Passion Play with much better effects." New York Post was first to report on the roles being recast. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Will Arnett 'Is This Thing On?' Review: Will Arnett and Laura Dern Are a Delight in Bradley Cooper's Warmhearted Flipside to 'Marriage Story' united kingdom George Clooney, Adam Sandler Laud 'Jay Kelly' Co-Star Jim Broadbent at London Film Fest Premiere: "So Happy We Can Say We Did a Movie With Him" Heat Vision New 'Jumanji' Movie to Begin Shooting in November, Brittany O'Grady Joins Returning Cast (Exclusive) Ryan Reynolds Colin Hanks on John Candy's Comic Genius, Ryan Reynolds and How Bad Guy Roles "Can Be Liberating" Heat Vision 'Eddington' Filmmaker Ari Aster Talks Script-to-Screen Changes, Including the Real-Life Big Tech CEO Role He Scrapped The Strangers 'Vicious' Review: Dakota Fanning Delivers in a Paramount+ Horror Flick That Can't Quite Get on Her Level Will Arnett 'Is This Thing On?' Review: Will Arnett and Laura Dern Are a Delight in Bradley Cooper's Warmhearted Flipside to 'Marriage Story' united kingdom George Clooney, Adam Sandler Laud 'Jay Kelly' Co-Star Jim Broadbent at London Film Fest Premiere: "So Happy We Can Say We Did a Movie With Him" Heat Vision New 'Jumanji' Movie to Begin Shooting in November, Brittany O'Grady Joins Returning Cast (Exclusive) Ryan Reynolds Colin Hanks on John Candy's Comic Genius, Ryan Reynolds and How Bad Guy Roles "Can Be Liberating" Heat Vision 'Eddington' Filmmaker Ari Aster Talks Script-to-Screen Changes, Including the Real-Life Big Tech CEO Role He Scrapped The Strangers 'Vicious' Review: Dakota Fanning Delivers in a Paramount+ Horror Flick That Can't Quite Get on Her Level