Mel Gibson’s Much-Awaited ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’ Gets a Sad Update, Sets a Delayed 2027 Release Date

Published 05/22/2026, 9:44 AM EDT

Credits: Elise Lockwood/Lionsgate

Mel Gibson’s long-awaited release, The Resurrection of the Christ, got delayed and will be released in 2027. Gibson is finally moving forward with his highly anticipated sequel to the 2004 global phenomenon The Passion of the Christ. The original masterpiece grossed over 610 million dollars worldwide and detailed the final hours of Jesus. This upcoming chapter will expand the biblical narrative into a multi-part epic saga.

The extensive production timeline has forced the studio to push back its initial launch schedule.

New release date of The Resurrection of the Christ

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The highly anticipated religious epic, The Resurrection of the Christ, has shifted its initial premiere from Good Friday to Ascension Day on May 6, 2027. Lionsgate announced that the second instalment will arrive a year later on May 25, 2028. This strategic adjustment ensures that both feature films align perfectly with major holidays.

A stunning promotional image shared on social media confirmed the new timeline while unveiling a fresh cinematic vision. The first-look picture features actor Jaakko Ohtonen portraying Jesus Christ as he stands atop a hill. He is surrounded by devoted disciples who are bowing in deep reverence around him.

Mel Gibson returns to direct this massive project alongside his Icon Productions partner Bruce Davey. The original blockbuster secured three Academy Award nominations and remains a benchmark for religious cinema. This two-part sequel has been in active development for nearly a decade to ensure maximum historical scale.

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An exceptional international ensemble has been gathered to bring these iconic biblical figures to life.

Cast and characters steering the biblical epic- The Resurrection of the Christ

The production features a meticulously selected group of global actors to portray the historical figures. The studio has assembled a diverse team of performers to capture the intense emotional weight of the resurrection narrative. This fresh lineup replaces previous cast members to deliver a completely new interpretation.

The central figures in the upcoming narrative includes:

Jaakko Ohtonen as Jesus

Kasia Smutniak as Mother Mary

Mariela Garriga as Mary Magdalene

Riccardo Scamarcio as Pontius Pilate

Pier Luigi Pasino as Peter

Eduardo Scarpetta as Paul

Lorenzo Richelmy as King David

Lorenzo James Henrie as Judas Thaddeus

Sara Serraiocco as Mary Heli

Andrea Scarduzio as Petronius

Gabriele Rollo as John

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Additional confirmed cast members include prominent actors Rupert Everett, Phoenix Laroche, and Margherita Remotti. These performers will round out the massive ensemble as key historical and spiritual personalities.  Mel Gibson’s ambitious two-part sequel is poised to redefine religious cinema for a new generation of viewers worldwide in 2027 and 2028.

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What do you think about the delayed release date of The Resurrection of the Christ's both parts? Let us know in the comments.

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Soma Mitra

1326 articles

Soma is a journalist at Netflix Junkie. With a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication, she brings production experience from documentary films like Chandua: Stories on Fabric. Covering the true crime and docu-drama beat, she turns psychological thrillers into sharp, audience-aware storytelling.

Edited By: Itti Mahajan

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