The Replacements or Coming Soon: Mel Gibson’s ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’, by Brad Miner

About this time next year, Mel Gibson will release the 2-part sequel to The Passion of the Christ. Better late than never, some will say, although not, perhaps, Jim Caviezel, who so memorably played Jesus, and who has, over the two decades since, spoken with excitement of the ever-imminent production of The Resurrection of the Christ.

But Mr. Caviezel is out, having been replaced by Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen.

Ever since certain new technologies began appearing, speculation had been that Mr. Gibson would employ AI “de-aging” (as was used in the final Indiana Jones film to make the 80-year-old Harrison Ford appear 40). This in order to make the original actors of Passion, who at next year’s premieres (March 26 and May 7) will be a quarter-century older, appear as they did in 2002 while filming the Passion. But the de-aging was recently deemed both too expensive and, likely, too distracting to be effective. It’s the “uncanny valley” effect. …

Continue reading >>>>>>>>>>