Screenwriter Randall Wallace has revealed that Mel Gibson issued a stark spiritual warning before they began co-writing The Resurrection of the Christ, the long-awaited sequel to The Passion of the Christ. The film, split into two parts, is scheduled for release in 2027 and 2028.
For context, Wallace—a frequent collaborator of Gibson’s on films like Braveheart and Hacksaw Ridge—approached the director in 2016 with the idea of adapting the Resurrection story. Gibson, who had previously considered the concept, ultimately agreed but cautioned that the project would invite spiritual opposition.
Gibson’s Warning and the Film’s Origins
During a recent interview on Raymond Arroyo’s podcast, Wallace recounted Gibson’s response to his proposal: “If we do this, it can’t be for the money, and it can’t be to get back at people that have hated us or wronged us.” Gibson then added, “Satan’s going to come after you.” Wallace, a Baptist, joked in reply, “Satan doesn’t really care about Baptists. It’s really good when Satan can get a Catholic.”
The conversation marked the start of their partnership on the screenplay, which Gibson, Wallace, and Donal Gibson spent six to eight years refining. The first film, The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One, will premiere on Ascension Day, May 6, 2027, with Part Two following on May 25, 2028.
What to Expect from the Sequel
Gibson has described the project as a “mission” and a major part of his life’s work, stating the story was brought to screen “exactly as I envisioned it.” Wallace teased that the film will include elements “nobody’s ever seen,” while remaining the “most orthodox” and consistent portrayal of the Resurrection’s mystery.
The original The Passion of the Christ (2004) grossed over $610 million worldwide and earned three Academy Award nominations. Its sequel aims to build on that legacy with Gibson’s signature spiritual vision.
