{"id":49327,"date":"2026-02-23T10:56:54","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T15:56:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=49327"},"modified":"2026-02-23T10:56:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T15:56:54","slug":"mel-gibson-seeks-counsel-from-excommunicated-archbishop-on-resurrection-of-the-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2026\/02\/mel-gibson-seeks-counsel-from-excommunicated-archbishop-on-resurrection-of-the-christ.html","title":{"rendered":"Mel Gibson Seeks Counsel From Excommunicated Archbishop on &#8216;Resurrection of the Christ&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_49330\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-49330\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-media.beliefnet.com\/sites\/87\/2026\/02\/Mel-Gibson_credit-CarloMVigano-X.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-49330\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-media.beliefnet.com\/sites\/87\/2026\/02\/Mel-Gibson_credit-CarloMVigano-X.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-49330\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">CarloMVigano \/ X<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As Mel Gibson moves forward with his long-awaited sequel to <em>The Passion of the Christ<\/em>, reports that he is consulting with excommunicated Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigan\u00f2 have stirred debate across both Catholic and Christian communities. The filmmaker&#8217;s upcoming epic, <em>The Resurrection of the Christ<\/em>, is currently filming in Italy, and Italian press sources say Vigan\u00f2 has been present on set and offering input during production.<\/p>\n<p>Vigan\u00f2, the Vatican&#8217;s former ambassador to the United States, was formally excommunicated in 2024 after refusing to recognize papal authority and rejecting the Second Vatican Council. He has also drawn attention for harsh public attacks on Pope Francis, including statements labeling him a &#8220;false prophet&#8221; and &#8220;servant of Satan.&#8221; Despite his excommunicated status, he retains the title of archbishop and remains influential among some traditionalist Catholics.<\/p>\n<p>Gibson has previously defended Vigan\u00f2, and the two appear to share theological concerns about modern trends within the Church. Their collaboration on a film centered on Christ&#8217;s resurrection\u2014arguably Christianity&#8217;s most central event\u2014has raised questions about how doctrinal perspectives might shape the portrayal of the Gospel story. For many believers, the involvement of a controversial church figure alongside a filmmaker already known for strong traditional views ensures the project will be closely scrutinized.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"zxx\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QEFao5b6RA\">pic.twitter.com\/QEFao5b6RA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Arcivescovo Carlo Maria Vigan\u00f2 (@CarloMVigano) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CarloMVigano\/status\/2023687976958722079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Production on <em>The Resurrection of the Christ<\/em> began in October at Rome&#8217;s Cinecitt\u00e0 Studios, the same historic location where Gibson filmed <em>The Passion of the Christ<\/em> more than two decades ago. Exterior scenes are also being shot in southern Italy, including the ancient city of Matera, whose stark stone landscapes helped give the original film its haunting realism. The sequel will feature an entirely recast ensemble, with Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen portraying Jesus, Cuban actress Mariela Garriga as Mary Magdalene and Polish actress Kasia Smutniak as Mary, the mother of Jesus.<\/p>\n<p>The original <em>Passion<\/em> became one of the most successful independent films ever made, earning more than $600 million worldwide and leaving a lasting imprint on Christian cinema. Gibson has described the new project as far more expansive, reportedly planned as two films scheduled for release in 2027. Written with <em>Braveheart<\/em> screenwriter Randall Wallace, the story is expected to explore events surrounding Christ&#8217;s resurrection, though specific plot details remain closely guarded.<\/p>\n<p>For Christians watching developments, the news creates a complex picture: a filmmaker whose earlier work powerfully depicted Christ&#8217;s suffering now crafting a resurrection narrative with guidance from a divisive church leader. Regardless of controversy, anticipation remains high among believers eager to see the central hope of the Gospel\u2014the triumph of Christ over death\u2014brought to the screen on a grand scale once again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Mel Gibson moves forward with his long-awaited sequel to The Passion of the Christ, reports that he is consulting with excommunicated Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigan\u00f2 have stirred debate across both Catholic and Christian communities. The filmmaker&#8217;s upcoming epic, The Resurrection of the Christ, is currently filming in Italy, and Italian press sources say Vigan\u00f2&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":49330,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-television"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Mel Gibson Seeks Counsel From Excommunicated Archbishop on &#039;Resurrection of the Christ&#039;<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Mel Gibson consults excommunicated Archbishop Vigan\u00f2 on Resurrection of the Christ, stirring debate as filming of Passion sequel continues.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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