The religious epic “Passion of the Christ” debuted to audiences nearly 14 years ago, smashing box office records to become the highest-grossing film ever in North America at $370.8 million.
Now that a sequel to the hit film is in the works, with Mel Gibson returning in the director’s chair, the film’s star, Jim Caviezel, promises that it will be “the biggest film in history.”
Speaking with USA Today, Jim Caviezel promised that the film will deliver the goods and audiences will be more than just pleased.
“There are things that I cannot say that will shock the audience,” he said. “It’s great. Stay tuned.”
The film will focus on the resurrection of Christ up until His ascension into heaven. Caviezel said he felt encouraged by Gibson’s vision for the project.
“I won’t tell you how he’s going to go about it,” Caviezel said of Gibson. “But I’ll tell you this much, the film he’s going to do is going to be the biggest film in history. It’s that good.”
In 2016, as rumors of a sequel began circulating, Gibson told USA Today that the challenge would be to make something cinematic and that is simultaneously fresh without being heretical.
“The Resurrection. Big subject.” Gibson said. “We’re trying to craft this in a way that’s cinematically compelling and enlightening so that it shines new light, if possible, without creating some weird thing.”
Jim Caviezel has become an outspoken Christian in recent years. Just last month, he urged believers to preach Christianity to a “pagan world.”
“I want you to go out into this pagan world, I want you to have the courage to step into this pagan world and shamelessly express your faith in public,” he told audiences at the Fellowship of Catholic University Students SLS Leadership Conference. “The world needs proud warriors animated by their faith.”