‘The Resurrection of Christ’ Writer Reveals Mel Gibson’s Warning for Writing Sequel to ‘Passion’

The two longtime collaborators didn't take the project lightly, weighing both its spiritual significance and its risks before committing pen to paper. Their conversation reportedly touched on everything from motive to mortality.

Randall Wallace, Mel Gibson's longtime collaborator, has revealed the ominous warning he received from the actor and filmmaker ahead of writing the two-part sequel to 2004's "The Passion of the Christ."

Randall worked alongside Mel and his brother Donal Gibson on "The Resurrection of the Christ" screenplay. The film, currently in post-production, picks up after the events of "Passion" and is slated for release in 2027.

Before writing the script, Randall said Mel cautioned him that Satan would come after him for suggesting they tackle the project. He shared the exchange while appearing on Raymond Arroyo's podcast "Arroyo Grande," in an episode released Wednesday, July 15.

"Having studied the Resurrection and being so consumed by it, I thought about it many times," Randall, who previously teamed up with Mel for 1995's "Braveheart," 2002's "We Were Soldiers" and 2016's "Hacksaw Ridge," shared.

"I didn't have anything to do with The Passion of the Christ. When we were promoting Hacksaw Ridge, we were sitting there talking about our lives," he continued. "I said, 'Look, you know, the story that you really need to tell is the Resurrection.'"

"There was this long pause, and he said something profoundly beautiful," he recalled. "He said, 'If we do this, it can't be for the money, and it can't be to get back at people that have hated us or wronged us or been unhappy with us.' And I said, 'Amen to that.'"

"Then he said, 'You know, Satan's going to come after you,'" Randall continued. He then lightheartedly recounted, "I said, 'Well, you know, Satan doesn't really care about Baptists.' It's really good when Satan can get a Catholic. We're a dime a dozen."

"Of course, I was being facetious, but I was also thinking…" Randall said, to which Raymond interjected "What if he's right?"

"Well, yeah," Randall agreed. "We had a beautiful conversation about grace." The discussion then shifted to how the idea first came together, with Randall noting he was the one who approached Mel about doing a sequel.

"This is not to say that over the years, he hadn't thought many times about the Resurrection," he shared. "In fact, in the original 'The Passion of the Christ,' the original cut didn't have the resurrection scene. He was getting feedback from people saying, 'We really want to see that.'"

According to Randall, the pair started with his own draft, which they later broke down and reworked together.

Lionsgate unveiled the first footage from "Resurrection" back in May, after filming wrapped across several Italian locations, including Rome, Bari, Ginosa, Craco, Brindisi's Torre Guaceto and Matera.

"This film represents a major part of my life's work, and it has demanded everything of me as a filmmaker and as an artist. This is far more than a film to me," he continued. "It's a mission I've carried for over 20 years to tell what I believe is the most important story in human history."

The cast of the upcoming film includes Jaakko Ohtonen, Mariela Garriga, Pier Luigi Pasino, Kasia Smutniak, Riccardo Scamarcio and Rupert Everett.

Part One was originally scheduled to hit theaters in March 2026, but the release has since shifted to May 6, 2027, with Part Two following on May 25, 2028.