In this month's faith & family media news, sequels are in the air, and a landmark film gets a fresh release.
The Passion of the Christ Returns to Theaters
In last month's edition, I revealed the release schedule for The Resurrection of the Christ, Mel Gibson's long-awaited, two-part sequel to his blockbuster 2004 film The Passion of the Christ.
It was:
Studio Lionsgate has moved the release dates of The Resurrection of the Christ, with Part One now coming out on May 6, 2027, and Part Two on May 25, 2028 (again Ascension Thursday, that date being a movable holiday; also, the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend).
Now, the first film -- rejected by studios and bankrolled by Gibson himself -- is coming back to theaters this fall.
From FoxNews.com:
Lionsgate and Fathom Entertainment announced Wednesday that the 2004 film, which depicted the final 12 hours of Jesus' life leading up to his crucifixion, will return to the big screen from Sept. 10 through Sept. 17. The movie has been remastered in 4K and Dolby Atmos sound.
Audiences will also get an exclusive sneak peek of the sequel to "The Passion," "The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One" ...
The release of The Passion of the Christ will be a Fathom screening event. We're told that tickets will be available online on July 24. Click here to sign up for an official notification.
Kevin Grayson, president, Worldwide Distribution for the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group (a partner on the sequel), said,
The Passion of the Christ remains one of the most extraordinary theatrical experiences ever created. For millions of people, it was far more than a film — it became a powerful shared cultural and faith experience. Bringing it back to theatres in a stunning new restoration allows longtime audiences to experience it in an entirely new way while inviting a new generation to discover it in theatres for the very first time.
This also marks the beginning of the journey toward The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One, one of the most ambitious and anticipated faith films ever brought to the screen. With breathtaking scale, remarkable visual ambition, and a theatrical experience designed for the biggest screen possible, we’re thrilled for audiences to experience these monumental films as intended at the theatre.
This all takes place well before the Nov. 15 Prime Video premiere of season six of The Chosen, which also focuses on Jesus' final hours. That show's season finale, featuring its depiction of the Crucifixion -- shot in the same Italian location as The Passion's -- will be released as a standalone theatrical event in Spring 2027.
The exact date for that hasn't been announced, but it's rumored to be around Easter, which would put it before The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One comes to theaters in May.
From Young Washington to Middle-Aged Washington in 1776
Depicted in his 20s and at the beginning of his military career in the current hit film Young Washington, George Washington is best known for commanding the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War -- and later, for becoming the first president of the newly formed United States of America.
Young Washington (which earned about $20.8M in its opening weekend) is the first of at least two films (and possibly three) tracking the life of the Founding Father. Jon Erwin, who directed and co-wrote Young Washington, has announced that he's hard at work on a sequel, called 1776 (when Washington was 44).
Partnered on both films are faith-forward studio Wonder Project (House of David) and distributor Angel Studios (Animal Farm). Young Washington was light on faith content, but that may have had to do with it being so early in its subject's life. We'll have to see how 1776 depicts the relationship of a 40-something general with God.
No word yet whether British actor William Franklyn-Miller will reprise his role from Young Washington -- but you can still see him in theaters.
Image: (L-R) Angel Studios (Young Washington)/Fathom Entertainment (The Passion of the Christ)
Kate O’Hare, a longtime entertainment journalist, is Social Media Content Manager and Blog Editor at Family Theater Productions.
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