We already know The Passion of the Christ sequel is happening. Mel Gibson told Joe Rogan the upcoming Resurrection of the Christ will be an “acid trip.” We know it’s aiming for a 2026 release, and we know they’re filming in Rome this August. We know the 56-year-old Jim Caviezel will be digitally de-aged to look more like a 33-year-old Jesus.
Caviezel is now breaking his silence about returning to the role of Jesus 20 years later—and if you were hoping for something low-key, buckle up.
In a sprawling new interview on The Aroyo Grande Show, Caviezel delivered the kind of quotes that are somehow both deeply earnest and totally unhinged—in the way only Jim Caviezel can. Among the revelations: he’s still processing the trauma of the first film, he’s prepping for the new one like it’s a holy war, and he claims Jesus told him, “I don’t have anybody else” for the role.
Let’s dive in.
The First Film Nearly Killed Him—Literally
Caviezel recounted the punishing conditions on the original set, from dislocated shoulders and hypothermia to getting struck by lightning while filming the crucifixion scene. Yes, really.
“I got shot right out of my body,” he said, describing an out-of-body experience. “I watched them trying to revive me… and then they brought me back, and then I felt the most pain.”
By the end of the shoot, he had fluid in his lungs, full-body infections, and eventually needed two heart surgeries. “It was enough to kill me,” he said. “My heart shut off.”
And yet, when Gibson pitched him on returning for the sequel, Caviezel didn’t hesitate. “You want me to play Jesus, don’t you?” he asked Gibson. “I’m in.”
Yes, He’s Still Going All-In
This time around, Caviezel isn’t getting scourged or hoisted on a cross—but don’t expect him to tone it down.
“I’m not going to play Jesus,” he said. “I need Him to play me.”
Caviezel says he’s already begun fasting and meditating through the rosary. He plans to receive the Eucharist daily during filming.
He’s also re-reading The Screwtape Letters to understand the “thoughts of evil.” And he’s preparing spiritually like he’s entering battle: “I’m not a sheep,” he said. “I’m a converted wolf.”
“You May Never Work in This Town Again”
Caviezel also said that when he first agreed to The Passion, Gibson warned him the role might tank his career.
“If you do this movie,” Gibson said, “you may never work in this town again.”
Caviezel went for it anyway. “I didn’t even know what transubstantiation was back then,” he admitted. “But I do now.”
In fact, he says he begged Jesus to come through him during the performance. “I asked him, ‘Will you present yourself to the world?’” Caviezel said. “And he said, ‘I don’t have anybody else.’”
“I Want to Enjoy This One”
Caviezel says he’s approaching The Resurrection with a little more perspective. He’s hoping to enjoy it this time. “I got too far over my skis on the last one,” he said. “This time, I really want to stay in the moment.”
Even still, he admits he’s scared. “If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t want to work with that actor,” he said. “This is a war.”
For what it’s worth, Caviezel says he’s not worried about the film’s reception. “The world didn’t like The Passion, and that’s a good thing,” he said. “So we did a good job.”
One thing’s clear: Resurrection of the Christ is shaping up to be just as intense—if not more—as its predecessor. And Caviezel? He’s not just ready. He’s resurrected.
