Mel Gibson calls Jesus’ resurrection almost impossible to comprehend” as he prepares sequel to The Passion of the Christ

More than 20 years after The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson explained why it took so long to bring Jesus’ resurrection to the screen. “The event itself is almost impossible to comprehend he said.

His two-part follow-up weaves together events from the Old and New Testaments to place the Resurrection within the progression of all of salvation history.”

Gibson said the screenplay draws on the four Gospels, other biblical writings, and the work of Christian mystics and theologians.

He confirmed that the films will depict Jesus descending to what he calls “the hell of the just,” which he described as a “waiting room” for the righteous awaiting deliverance.

The films will also revisit moments from the crucifixion and imagine encounters such as a young Saul of Tarsus being present when Jesus visits the temple as a child.

Asked what he hopes audiences take away, Gibson said, Mostly to inspire.

With Christ at the center, the films explore how people responded to the Resurrection, from those who rejected it or feared it to those who were inspired even to the point of death to proclaim it.”