Randall Wallace, a longtime collaborator of Mel Gibson, has revealed that Gibson issued a stark spiritual warning before they began writing "The Resurrection of the Christ," the sequel to Gibson's 2004 film "The Passion of the Christ."
Wallace recounted the warning during an appearance on Raymond Arroyo's podcast, "Arroyo Grande." He explained that he approached Gibson with the idea of developing a feature-length film about the Resurrection after working together on "Hacksaw Ridge" in 2016. Gibson, Wallace said, believed that tackling the Resurrection story could invite spiritual conflict.
"If we do this, it can't be for the money, and it can't be to get back at people that have hated us or wronged us or been unhappy with us," Wallace recalled Gibson saying. "Then he said, 'You know, Satan's going to come after you.'"
Wallace, who also co-wrote "Braveheart" and "We Were Soldiers" with Gibson, shared that he and Gibson, along with Gibson's brother Donal, spent approximately six to eight years refining the screenplay for "The Resurrection of the Christ." Gibson announced in May that production on the two-part film had been completed. "The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One" is slated for release on May 6, 2027, and "The Resurrection of the Christ: Part Two" is scheduled for May 25, 2028.
In a press release, Gibson stated that the film was brought to the screen "exactly as I envisioned it" and that it represents a significant part of his life's work. He described the project as a mission to tell "what I believe is the most important story in human history."
"The Passion of the Christ," which depicted the final 12 hours of Jesus's life, was a commercial success, grossing over $610 million worldwide. Despite its graphic content, it earned three Academy Award nominations.