The Resurrection of the Christ

[Walts Ghost]

'Braveheart' screenwriter Randall Wallace says he is writing a follow-up to the Biblical blockbuster that will focus on the resurrection of Jesus.
Mel Gibson and writer Randall Wallace are working on a sequel to The Passion of the Christ that will tell the story of the resurrection of Jesus, Wallace tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Wallace, nominated for an Oscar for scripting Gibson's 1995 best picture winner Braveheart, on Thursday (reluctantly) confirmed rumors that he has begun to write a script for a story about the resurrection, telling THR that the project is becoming too difficult to keep under wraps.

Wallace, who most recently directed and co-wrote the 2014 faith-based drama Heaven Is for Real, says he and Gibson began to get serious about a sequel to The Passion, the most successful independent film of all time, while making Hacksaw Ridge, which Gibson directed and Wallace co-wrote. Hacksaw Ridge opens in November and is about World War II Army medic Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Wallace was a religion major at Duke University and says the resurrection was a specialty of his. "I always wanted to tell this story," he says. "The Passion is the beginning and there's a lot more story to tell."

A rep for Gibson declined to comment on the filmmaker-actor's involvement in a Passion sequel.

The Passion, Gibson's story of the persecution and crucifixion of Jesus, was released in 2004 by the independent Newmarket Films and earned a whopping $612 million worldwide on a $30 million production budget. Since then, many in Hollywood have presumed a sequel would some day be made, but Gibson has moved on to other projects.

Rumors swirled anew last month when Gibson was a surprise guest at Liberty University's graduation ceremony to do an advance screening of Hacksaw Ridge and was asked about a Passion follow-up. He expressed interest in making a sequel but was not specific about his involvement. Wallace says demand in the Christian community influenced he and Gibson's willingness to do another film.

"The evangelical community considers The Passion the biggest movie ever out of Hollywood, and they kept telling us that they think a sequel will be even bigger," Wallace says.

No studio or financial backing has been lined up for the project, which is still in the early script stage. But Wallace indicates there are several financiers interested in investing. "It's too early to talk money," he adds. "This is such a huge and sacred subject."

In February, Sony released Risen, which tells the story of the resurrection, though Gibson wasn't involved. The movie made $46 million worldwide on a $20 million budget.

http://thr.cm/scmf/OrMCe04Lcp0lOEExf...Wl2C3Kd/qis4ZZ

[Ray Jackson]

Would appear to be his only option at this point.

Apparently no one in Hollywood wants to work with him anymore.

I hope he calls it The Passion of The Christ 2.

...that'd be so awesome.

[Markgway]

The Passion of The Christ 2: The Resurrection

[Will.]

Just another ill-advised sequel.

[Moviefan2k4]

I'd be in favor of a second film, so long as Gibson and James Caviezel both returned. Ideally, I'd also want the actors who played the Apostles to return as well, except for Judas of course. The title could be kept very simple: The Resurrection of the Christ. The story could be similar to Risen, albeit from the believers' point of view. I'd also like to see Gibson depict Thomas' dilemma, since he's often labeled as the weakest Apostle in spite of the details.

[The Debts]

Gibson, if you're going to go back and make more movies again, just bring back that failed Viking project you were going to do with Leonardo DiCaprio. The world would be a much better place if you did that.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by Will.

Just another ill-advised sequel.

Not really, considering there's more to do...you know, like The Resurrection...

[42041]

My biblical knowledge is a bit rusty - I'm curious what the dramatic hook in a post-crucifixion story would be.

[Will.]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

Not really, considering there's more to do...you know, like The Resurrection...

Except the resurrection was depicted in the first movie, wasn't it? But I suppose they could go into more depth.

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by 42041

My biblical knowledge is a bit rusty - I'm curious what the dramatic hook in a post-crucifixion story would be.

According to Scripture, Jesus spent the next 40 days after His resurrection, appearing to more than 500 people. Meanwhile, the Sanhedrin started preparing their tale of the Apostles stealing Jesus' body, knowing full well it was impossible due to the construction methods and the sleeping Roman guards on duty.

[Creed]

Well then. I loved the first and my family will get sad during the beating scenes. Watched it a lot.

[Moviefan2k4]

From a narrative standpoint, they'd have to do much more extrapolation for a sequel. The Gospels don't say much about the specifics of that 40-day period, aside from the schemes of the Sanhedrin and Jesus ascending from the Mount of Olives. Some accounts do say that His resurrection was so powerful, other people actually rose as well and appeared through the area, demonstrating a kind of "ripple effect" caused by such an epic display of God's power. Also, the conflict of Thomas is told, since the other ten Apostles saw Jesus first, only to spend the next eight days getting on Thomas' nerves. He finally got fed up, saying this in a nutshell..."Unless I can see Him for myself, and place my hands in His wounds, I will not believe." Shortly afterward, Jesus appeared again while Thomas was present, and echoed his own words back to him. Scripture never says whether Thomas went through with it, but his next words are recorded as "My Lord, and my God."

[mikesncc1701]

Family Guy- Passion of the Christ 2 - YouTube

[kylor]

Starring Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan in a time-warp fight against Nazis sent back in time to kill Jesus of Nazareth, played by Chuck Norris as he struggles against the combined forces of 300 slow motion Romans and Nazis one-punching them with holes in his palms. There will be blood, there will be retribution, but most of all, there will be a big HOLY. THIS - is Passion of the Christ 2: That's One Big Holy!

[Will.]

Originally Posted by kylor

Starring Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan in a time-warp fight against Nazis sent back in time to kill Jesus of Nazareth, played by Chuck Norris as he struggles against the combined forces of 300 slow motion Romans and Nazis one-punching them with holes in his palms. There will be blood, there will be retribution, but most of all, there will be a big HOLY.

Sold

[The Mad Kiwi]

I consider The Passion of the Christ to be the greatest film ever made, but I have mixed feelings about this news. On one hand, I thought the level of artistry and craft presented in The Passion was so astounding that I've always wanted to see more of the Gospel presented. On the other hand, we just got the quite good Risen movie, and that movie had to tell the story from a fictional character's perspective because the full Resurrection account only lends itself to probably 30 minutes' worth of material.

I'd much rather see Mel do a prequel and present to us Christ's ministry up through Palm Sunday. Not only does it lend itself to more dramatic weight, but it snuggles itself in the middle of what I call the unofficial Christ series: The Nativity Story, The Young Messiah, my theoretical Mission of the Christ, The Passion of the Christ, and Risen.

That said, if they incorporate flashbacks into this like The Passion did, then we can have something that feels more complete. Perhaps with each appearance of Christ, the person He's shown Himself to gets a flashback of when they first met Him. Let's see how this plays out.

[MattJ1991]

My gut reaction is that this is a horrible idea, but I think ill give Gibson the benefit of the doubt on this one. I dont think hes directed a bad movie yet.

[aiman04]

Are they considering a cinematic universe?

[sandman slim]

Jesus 2: Electric Bugaloo

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by The Mad Kiwi

That said, if they incorporate flashbacks into this like The Passion did, then we can have something that feels more complete. Perhaps with each appearance of Christ, the person He's shown Himself to gets a flashback of when they first met Him. Let's see how this plays out.

That would be a great technique, like having each of the Apostles recall Jesus first appearing to them. We could see Matthew as a tax collector, or James and John as fishermen with their father Zebedee. In the case of Thomas, we could see the moment where he's braver than the others a few days before Palm Sunday, telling them "let's go back to Jersusalem and die with Him."