Mel Gibson Planning 'Passion of the Christ' Sequel

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. “Braveheart” screenwriter Randall Wallace says he is writing a follow-up to the biblical blockbuster that will focus on the resurrection of Jesus, reports the Hollywood Reporter.

Mel Gibson and writer Randall Wallace are working on a sequel toThe Passion of the Christthat will tell the story of the resurrection of Jesus, Wallace tellsThe Hollywood Reporter.

Wallace, nominated for an Academy Award for scripting Gibson's 1995 best picture Oscar winnerBraveheart, on Thursday (reluctantly) confirmed rumors that he has begun to write a script for a story about the resurrection, tellingTHRthat the project is becoming too difficult to keep under wraps.

Wallace, who most recently directed and co-wrote the 2014 faith-based dramaHeaven Is for Real, says he and Gibson began to get serious about a sequel toThe Passion, the most successful independent film of all time, while makingHacksaw Ridge, which Gibson directed and Wallace co-wrote.Hacksaw Ridgeopens in November and centers on World War II Army medic Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Wallace was a religion major at Duke University and says the resurrection was a specialty of his. "I always wanted to tell this story," he says. "The Passionis the beginning and there's a lot more story to tell."

A rep for Gibson declined to comment on the filmmaker-actor's involvement in aPassionsequel.

The Passion, Gibson's story of the persecution andcrucifixionof Jesus, was released in 2004 by the independent Newmarket Films and earned a whopping $612 million worldwide on a $30 million production budget. Since then, many in Hollywood have presumed a sequel would someday be made, but Gibson has moved on to other projects.

Rumors swirled anew last month when Gibson was a surprise guest at Liberty University's graduation ceremony to do an advance screening ofHacksaw Ridgeand was asked about aPassionfollow-up. He expressed interest in making a sequel but was not specific about his involvement. Wallace says demand in the Christian community influenced his and Gibson's willingness to do another film.

"The evangelical community considersThe Passionthe biggest movie ever out of Hollywood, and they kept telling us that they think a sequel will be even bigger," Wallace says.

No studio or financial backing has been lined up for the project, which is still in the early script stage. But Wallace indicates there are several financiers interested in investing. "It's too early to talk money," he adds. "This is such a huge and sacred subject."

In February, Sony releasedRisen, which tells the story of the resurrection, though Gibson wasn't involved. The movie made $46 million worldwide on a $20 million budget.