Mel Gibson is in Italy preparing to shoot his “The Passion of the Christ” sequel that, just like the original, will make use of the ancient southern Italian town of Matera where he has been welcomed by the country’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli.
As previously announced, Gibson’s “The Resurrection of the Christ,” which is being produced by Gibson, Bruce Davey, and their Icon Productions banner with Lionsgate as the studio partner, is set to kick off production in August at Italy’s Cinecittà studios that will serve as the main hub for Gibson’s follow-up to his 2004 biblical blockbuster.
Giuli, a member of Italy’s right-wing government, on Thursday told Italian reporters that he met with Gibson, who is one of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “special ambassadors” to Hollywood, for “a nice souvenir photo with a handshake,” plus an exchange of pleasantries, “in an effort to encourage major Italian and international productions to continue to work in this prime location for world cinema that is Matera,” the minister added.
Matera, where Gibson in 2004 shot the bulk of “The Passion of the Christ” exteriors is a Unesco World Heritage site known for its prehistoric whitewashed caves which in recent years has attracted several other major Hollywood productions including portions of the 25th James Bond installment “No Time to Die” MGM’s 2016 “Ben Hur” redo and Warner Bros’s “Wonder Woman.”
Gibson has also been spotted scouting other ancient Southern Italian rural locations, including Ginosa, known for its churches that are carved into the rock, Gravina Laterza, and Altamura.
Jim Caviezel is expected to return to play Jesus in “The Resurrection” while Maia Morgenstern, who played Jesus’ mother in “The Passion,” and Francesco De Vito, who portrayed Peter, are also believed to be on board, according to IMDB.
