Mel Gibson's Epic Resurrection: Gelato with Friars, Guns, and God

Mel Gibson BioSnap a weekly updated Biography. Over the past few days, Mel Gibson has stayed remarkably busy on both the Hollywood and international stage—and, as usual, his every move is drawing headlines from both entertainment reporters and gossip pages. After 2025 kicked off with Gibson directing Flight Risk, his latest notable appearance was in Rome, where he was spotted indulging in gelato with two local friars after dinner at Settimio All’Arancio, a family-run Italian restaurant. According to Hello! Magazine, photos popped up on social media that show Gibson, now 69, deep in conversation with the friars during an evening stroll—a scene that was both genial and somewhat surreal, especially given Gibson’s recent high-profile religious film projects. On Instagram, fans in Rome exchanged snaps of the star obliging selfies and appearing to be in a good mood, according to user Francesco Zavattari’s repost. While in Italy, the Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Gibson is gearing up to begin production in August at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios for The Resurrection of the Christ, the much-anticipated sequel to his 2004 blockbuster The Passion of the Christ. Manuela Cacciamani, CEO of Cinecittà Studios, told Il Sole 24 Ore that the film will require extensive stage construction and will be shot entirely at the legendary studio. According to producer Cacciamani, Gibson’s vision for the sequel is highly ambitious, aiming to cover everything from “the fall of the angels to the death of the last apostle,” and requiring Jim Caviezel—who will reprise his role as Jesus—to be de-aged with CGI. Gibson himself teased the project’s scope on Joe Rogan’s podcast, admitting, “It’s not going to be easy…super ambitious. But I’ll take a crack at it.” Film fans are already speculating whether this could be another cultural lightning rod, much like the original Passion. Back in Hollywood, Lionsgate has confirmed a major partnership with Gibson’s Icon Productions to handle distribution for The Resurrection of the Christ, according to outlets like Bang Showbiz. The deal renews a long-standing working relationship between Gibson and the studio, which previously handled Hacksaw Ridge and is also managing the Icon library, including the original Passion. Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, described the upcoming sequel as “the most anticipated theatrical event in a generation.” This is more than just another sequel—it’s a potential crowning achievement for Gibson’s later career, especially as the original Passion remains one of the most successful independent films ever made. On the business front, Gibson’s recent thriller Flight Risk, starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Gibson himself, closed its theatrical run just shy of the $50 million mark—a respectable but not spectacular showing, according to Collider. While the film underperformed at the box office, it has found new life on streaming platforms like Starz, where it’s currently topping the chart This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.