Jim Caviezel not returning as Jesus in The Resurrection of the Christ, Digi Mart USA News: Actor Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson’s 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ,” recently expressed disappointment after not being cast to reprise the role in Gibson’s upcoming “The Resurrection of the Christ” films.
During an interview with Raymond Arroyo, Caviezel also recalled an encounter he said he had with the devil while filming “The Passion of the Christ.” After Arroyo noted that audiences had expected Caviezel to return as Jesus for nearly two decades, he asked the actor what happened.
“Well, honestly, I read the first and the second script,” Caviezel said. “And Jesus really is not—he really didn’t need me.
It’s a smaller role.”
Caviezel compared the role of Jesus in the upcoming films to his leading role in “The Passion of the Christ” and his work in other projects. “Good luck to the new guy, cuz it’ll be really hard,” he said.
“As I said earlier, it’s a hell of a lot harder to play Jesus than Superman.”
The actor expressed confidence in the lasting impact of his portrayal of Christ. “What we did on that movie, they can’t touch it,” Caviezel said.
“Nothing. When I’m dead and gone, that’s an annuity.
People are going to keep coming back and finding God. And I did my job and I did it well.”
When Arroyo suggested that returning to portray Jesus would have prevented Caviezel from working on his other films, the actor agreed. “No, I couldn’t have done it.
I couldn’t have done these films,” Caviezel said. “But did I want to do it?
Of course I did,” he said.
Caviezel stars in “Ghost Soldier” and Angel Studios’ “Zero A.D.,” both of which are scheduled to release in the final two months of the year.
