New report reveals massive budget behind Mel Gibson’s The Resurrection of Christ

Mel Gibson is going all in on his long-awaited return to biblical storytelling, and new reports suggest the scale is much bigger than many expected.

According to recent industry reports, The Resurrection of Christ will be made as two separate films with a combined budget of more than $250 million. Each part is said to cost around $125 million. The project is backed by Lionsgate, which plans to release both films in premium theaters, including IMAX.

·

The cast has been fully recast. Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen, known for The Last Kingdom, will play Jesus. Mariela Garriga takes on the role of Mary Magdalene. Other cast members include Kasia Smutniak as Mary, mother of Jesus, Pier Luigi Pasino as Peter, Riccardo Scamarcio as Pontius Pilate, and Rupert Everett in an undisclosed role.

Earlier reports confirmed that Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci would not return. By October, it was revealed that the entire original cast had been replaced due to scheduling issues and the high cost of using de-aging effects. Ohtonen’s casting sparked debate online, while Smutniak also faced criticism from some groups because of her past political views.

Filming began on October 6. Production is taking place mainly at Cinecittà Studios in Rome, with additional filming planned across several locations in Italy. The two films are being shot at the same time. Earlier announcements had listed the budget at $100 million, but newer reports now point to a much higher total cost for the full project.