The Passion of the Christ 2, filming has begun in Rome but Mel Gibson changes the cast

Over twenty years after the release of ‘The Passion of the Christ’, in Rome at the Cinecittà studios Filming has begun on the sequel ‘The Resurrection of Christ’. ‘Variety’ reports it. Mel Gibson decided to completely change the cast and also chose several Italian faces.

Jesus will be played by Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen who replaces original protagonist Jim Caviezel. The Cuban actress plays Mary Magdalene Mariela Garrigarole played by Monica Bellucci in the first film. The cast also includes Italian actors Kasia Smutniak (replacing Maia Morgenstern as Maria), Pier Luigi Pasino was chosen to play Pietro e Riccardo Scamarcio for Pontius Pilate. Among the actors too Rupert Everettwho will appear in a small but significant role not yet revealed. As ‘Variety’ reports, filming began last week.

The film will be divided into two parts, expected in cinemas in 2027. Because of the time frame in which ‘The Resurrection of Christ’ takes place – three days after Christ’s crucifixion on Good Friday – “it made sense to completely recast”. To keep the original actors “they would have had to use digital effects, such as rejuvenation techniques and the like, which would have been very expensive”, says a source close to the production, as reported by the American magazine.