Following last week’s news that both Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci had dropped out, Mel Gibson’s two-part “The Resurrection of the Christ” has landed it two leads.
Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen (“The Last Kingdom”) has been cast in the role of Jesus while Cuban actress Mariela Garriga (“Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning”) has landed the role of Mary Magdalene.
Also joining the film are Polish-born actor Kasia Smutniak (“Domina”) will play Jesus’ mother Mary, replacing Maia Morgenstern from the original.
Italy’s Pier Luigi Pasino (“The Law According to Lidia Poët”) will take on the role of Peter, while Italy’s Riccardo Scamarcio (“Modi”) is playing Pontius Pilate.
Rupert Everett will appear an unspecified small but important role. Shooting kicked off last week at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios.
As recently as April, Caviezel had suggested he was ready to reprise his role, but with the film set three days after the events of “The Passion of the Christ,” it would require a lot of digital de-aging that would’ve skyrocketed the budget.
Randall Wallace penned the scripts for the films with both parts to release in 2027.
Source: Variety
