(Image Source: Newmarket Films)
Last week, news broke that Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci, who portrayed Jesus and Mary Magdalene in Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," would not return for the sequel, "The Resurrection Of The Christ." Today, the new actors stepping into these pivotal roles have been quickly announced.
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Variety exclusively reports that Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen (pictured left), known for his role in the series "Vikings: Valhalla," is confirmed to take over as Jesus. Cuban actress Mariela Garriga (pictured right), who played Ethan Hunt's ill-fated former lover in "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning," will portray Mary.
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In addition to Jesus and Mary, the role of Mary (presumably Mary, mother of Jesus) will now be played by Polish actress Kasia Smutniak, replacing Romanian actress Maia Morgenstern. Other new cast members include Italian actor Pier Luigi Pasino as Peter, and Italian actor Riccardo Scamarcio (pictured above) as Pontius Pilate. Sources close to Variety indicate that the nearly two-decade gap between films meant the original cast's age difference was too significant. Bringing them back would have required costly CG de-aging technology, which the production could not afford.
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"The Resurrection Of The Christ" is slated for a two-part release. The first installment is scheduled to premiere on March 26, 2027, coinciding with Good Friday, with the second part following 40 days later on May 6, 2027, for Ascension Day. Production is currently underway, with Gibson once again penning the script alongside veteran writer-director Randall Wallace, who previously collaborated with Gibson on "We Were Soldiers" and "Braveheart."
via： Variety