First Look at Jaakko Ohtonen as Jesus in Mel Gibson’s ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’

Tena Milakovic
Mel Gibson Passion of the Christ
Share:

Mel Gibson has officially wrapped principal photography on ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’, his eagerly awaited sequel to ‘The Passion of the Christ’, and the initial images from the set are already creating significant excitement online.

Shared by Art Hits Hard on X, one image features Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen, who portrays Jesus in the film, embracing crew members after the final shooting day in Italy, showcasing visible nail holes on his hand from the makeup effects.

Filming concluded on April 30, following the start of principal photography at Rome’s renowned Cinecittà Studios on October 6, 2025, the same site where Gibson filmed the original ‘Passion of the Christ’ over twenty years ago. Additional scenes were shot in various southern Italian locations including Matera, Ginosa, Gravina in Puglia, Torre Guaceto, Brindisi, and Craco.

The entire cast from the original film has been replaced. Ohtonen, a 36-year-old Finnish actor known for his role as the warrior Wolland in Netflix’s ‘The Last Kingdom’, takes on the role of Jesus previously played by Jim Caviezel. Cuban actress Mariela Garriga steps in for Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene, Polish actress Kasia Smutniak portrays Mary, the mother of Jesus, Riccardo Scamarcio plays Pontius Pilate, and Rupert Everett joins the cast as Abraham.

Gibson co-wrote the screenplay with Randall Wallace, the writer behind ‘Braveheart’, describing the project as an “acid trip,” noting he had never encountered scripts quite like this one. The narrative is expected to focus on the resurrection itself, although detailed plot specifics remain closely guarded.

The film is planned as a two-part release. Part One is scheduled to premiere on Good Friday, March 26, 2027, with Part Two following exactly 40 days later on Ascension Day, May 6, 2027, a timing choice that reflects the religious themes woven throughout the production.

The combined budget for both parts is estimated at $250 million, making it Gibson’s most expensive project to date, with each segment costing between $100 and $125 million. Lionsgate is partnering with Gibson on the project, with Gibson and Bruce Davey producing through their Icon Productions banner.

The original ‘Passion of the Christ’, released in 2004 and filmed in Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin, grossed $610 million worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing independent films in history. The expectations set by that film are incredibly high, and with production now complete, a new cast, and a release date aligned with the Christian calendar, the anticipation for 2027 is immense.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!

Share: