Mel Gibson is one director who has continued to succeed despite controversy after controversy. From his homophobic comments to leaked tapes of him screaming racist remarks, to physical abuse allegations by his then-girlfriend, Gibson did not really witness a fall from grace. He attracted bigger controversy with the Passion of the Christ, a deeply controversial film that was criticized for inaccurate history, extreme violence, and anti-Semitic themes.
Now, the actor is set to carry the biblical story in its sequel, which will be released next year. Jim Caviezel, who was made Hollywood’s Pariah after starring as Jesus, is set to return to his godly role after more than two decades. But again, it remains unknown if Monica Bellucci returning as Magdalene or not.
Hard To Be Able To Crack The Sequel’s Shocking Moments
In a previous interview, Passion of the Christ’s Jesus, Jim Caviezel was the one who opened up about Mel Gibson‘s most controversial movie’s sequel, The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection. The actor, who turned into Hollywood’s Pariah after his role as Jesus in the $612 million film, stated:
“There are things that I cannot say that will shock the audience. But “it’s great. Stay tuned. “Braveheart, that’s a film that took a long time to be able to crack. The same thing for Passion. And the same thing for this. [Mel’s] finally got it. So that is coming.”
While the actor remained hush-hush about the shocks Gibson has been planning, it’s fair to assume that the director is all set for a series of controversies, considering the fate of the original movie’s screenplay, at the hands of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
Gibson, on the other hand, openly declared that his film was anit-Semitism free. He said back then, “To be anti-Semitic is to be un-Christian, and I’m not.” In reality, it was Gibson who said during his DUI arrest that the Jews are “responsible for all the wars in the world.”
Jim Caviezel Found Success After Mel Gibson’s Controversial Film
Jim Caviezel, who is expected to return as Jesus in Mel Gibson’s sequel, was one of the most beneficial actors in the project. After starring as Jesus in Passion of the Christ (2014), Caviezel bagged projects like Outlander, The Prisoner, and Person of Interest. Not only this, but the actor also starred in another biblical epic, Paul, Apostle of Christ.
As for Mel Gibson’s upcoming film, things have been kept under wrap since Caviezel’s interview. It is reported that Maia Morgenstern is reprising her role as Mary, while the ever-charming, Monica Belluci’s return as Magdalene still remains unclear.
While that “shock” as mentioned by Mel Gibson’s lead star remains unknown, the director certainly needs to be careful with his approach, considering the kind of criticism that came alongside the success of the first film. For instance, the American Jewish Committee stated:
“We’ve got a film that’s really white robes versus black robes,” and the black robes belong to the traditional scapegoat in history, the Jewish people and the Jewish religion, and that’s what makes me angry and very disappointed in this film.”
Mel Gibson’s sequel, The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection is set to be released around February 2024.
Source: Newsweek
