MILAN, ITALY – October 15, 2025 – โขCasting announcements for theโค upcoming historical drama focusing onโ the livesโ of โคMary, Jesus, and Mary Magdalene are generating significantโ buzz following Milan Fashion โขWeek. Actress Kasia Smutniak, โphotographed at theโ Milan โWomenswearโข Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion Week on โSeptember 28, โฃ2025, by Luigi Iorio for GC Images, is confirmed to โportray Mary Magdalene โin the film.the production,currently untitled,aims for a historically grounded portrayal ofโฃ theseโ central figures,emphasizingโฃ their humanity and the socio-political context of 1st-century โJudea. Smutniak’s selection is notable โขgivenโฃ her multilingual abilities – fluent inโ Polish, โคItalian, English, โand Russian – which producers believe will โlend nuance to the โcharacter’s interactions and emotional depth. โThe film’sโ director has stated the intention to cast actors who can โconvey both โฃvulnerability and strength, reflecting the complexities of the biblicalโค narratives. Details regarding the actors cast as Jesus and Maryโ remain undisclosedโ asโ of today. Production is slated to beginโฃ in early 2026, with a projected release in late โ2026 or early 2027.
The Passion of the Christ
Jim Caviezel Steps Down from Mel Gibson’s Christ Sequel
Jim Caviezel Will Not Reprise Role ofโ Jesus โin Mel โGibsonS ‘Resurrection‘ Films
Jim Caviezel, whose โฃportrayal โofโค Jesus in โMel Gibson‘s 2004 blockbusterโ The Passionโ of the christ became a defining role of his career, will not star in โขGibson’sโฃ upcoming two-part sequel, The Resurrection of the Christ: โPart One and Part Two. the news,first โฃreported by the New York Post,marks โa notable shift for the highly anticipated films,which have been inโ development for โnearly a decade.
The decision impacts a project โalready steeped in history and expectation. The Passion of the christ grossed over โข$600 million worldwide, and its $370 million North Americanโข box โoffice made it the highest-grossing R-rated film domestically until recently.โ Gibson โself-financed the original film, a gamble that proved remarkably prosperous. The forthcoming films, set to debut on Good Friday, March 26, 2027, and Ascension Day, May 6, 2027, respectively, are being โฃproduced by Gibson and Iconโข Production partner Bruce Davey.
Caviezel, alsoโข known for his roles inโฃ Person of Interest, Angel Eyes, and โข Sound of Freedom, had indicated openness to returning to the role. During an April interview on theโข Big Creek podcast, he acknowledged the lengthy productionโ timeline, โคstating, “It takes a while to makeโ these thingsโฆAm โI scared? Yes, but if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t โฃwant to work with that actor becauseโ you’re โขnot ready.”
The โคPassion of the christ garnered significant attention upon its release, with The Hollywood Reporter’s 2004 review noting โits “near pornographic violence”โ and characterizing it โas “a โmedieval Passion Play with much better effects.” The recasting signalsโ a new creative direction for the Resurrection โขfilms as they move toward production.