A first look has been released for Mel Gibson’s sequel to The Passion of the Christ, depicting Jesus, played by Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen. This comes as the release dates for project’s two films have been pushed back.

Per Deadline, The Resurrection of the Christ Part One was initially set to be released on March 26, 2027, which is Good Friday, and Part Two was to be released on Ascension Day, 40 days later, on May 6, 2027. Now, the first part will be released May 6, with the second part coming to theaters over a year later, on May 25, 2028, which is that year’s Ascension Day as well as Memorial Day Weekend.

The outlet said that Lionsgate, the studio distribution the film, felt the dates that were originally set for the release of the two parts was two close together given the scale of the productions. 

Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said, “Mel is a true visionary with an artist’s eye for scale and a storyteller’s instinct for emotional truth. Every image we’ve seen from set feels like a masterwork painting brought to life. There are very few directors who can operate at this level of epic spectacle while at the same time delivering such depth and conviction. Mel has crafted a film of extraordinary ambition that audiences worldwide have been waiting to experience for over 20 years.”

Gibson said in a statement, “I’m deeply grateful to my incredibly talented cast and crew for pouring their hearts into this production. Together, we created something powerful. This film represents a major part of my life’s work, and it has demanded everything of me as a filmmaker and as an artist. This is far more than a film to me. It’s a mission I’ve carried for over twenty years to tell what I believe is the most important story in human history.”

He added, “Reuniting with many of my original collaborators from The Passion of the Christ — true masters of their craft — allowed us to bring this story to the screen exactly as I envisioned it, with the tremendous support of my longtime partners, Adam and the team at Lionsgate.”

Per Radio Times, filming for Part One has concluded after 134 days in Italy, with sites including Rome, Bari, Ginosa, Craco, Brindisi, and Materoa. The film will also star Mariela Garriga, Pier Luigi Pasino, Kasia Smutniak, Riccardo Scamarcio and Rupert Everett.

The Passion of the Christ, released in 2004 and having just a $30 million production budget, brought in $83 million on opening weekend, and grossed $370 million in North America and over $610 million worldwide. Until recently, the film was the highest-grossing R-rated film domestically.