Lionsgate has officially joined forces with Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey’s Icon Productions to distribute The Resurrection of the Christ, the long-anticipated sequel to The Passion of the Christ. The announcement was made jointly by Gibson and Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, signaling a major milestone in the film’s development.
Originally released in 2004, The Passion of the Christ became a cultural phenomenon. Directed by Gibson and produced on a modest $30 million budget, the film earned over $83 million in its opening weekend and went on to gross more than $370 million in North America and over $610 million globally. Until recently, it held the record as the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time in the U.S.
The follow-up, The Resurrection of the Christ, has long been the subject of speculation, with Gibson confirming in past interviews that he had been developing the project for several years. Now, with Lionsgate officially on board, the film is poised to move forward in earnest.
“For many, many people across the globe, The Resurrection of the Christ is the most anticipated theatrical event in a generation,” Fogelson said in the official announcement. “It is also an awe-inspiring and spectacularly epic theatrical film that is going to leave moviegoers worldwide breathless. Mel is one of the greatest directors of our time, and this project is both deeply personal to him and the perfect showcase for his talents as a filmmaker. My relationship with Mel and Bruce dates back 30 years, and I am thrilled to be partnering with them once again on this landmark event for audiences.”
Gibson echoed the enthusiasm, emphasizing his trust in the studio’s approach to distribution: “Lionsgate’s brave, innovative spirit and nimble, can-do attitude have inspired me for a long time, and I couldn’t think of a more perfect distributor for The Resurrection of the Christ,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed working with Adam and the team several times over recent years. I know the clever ingenuity, passion, and ambition the entire team commits to their projects and I’m confident they will bring everything they can to the release of this movie.”
This partnership continues Gibson’s strong ties with Lionsgate, which previously released Hacksaw Ridge—a World War II drama that earned six Academy Award nominations—and the upcoming thriller Flight Risk, starring Mark Wahlberg. Lionsgate also manages distribution rights for Icon Productions’ catalog, including The Passion of the Christ.
Industry veterans Lauren Bixby, John Biondo, and Grace Clements handled the deal on behalf of Lionsgate. Representing the filmmakers were Bruce Davey and Vicki Christianson of Icon, Jim Osborne of IAG, and attorney Joel VanderKloot.
As anticipation builds, fans of the original film and faith-based cinema will no doubt be closely watching for further developments on The Resurrection of the Christ.
