Mel Gibson to make sequel to controversial Passion of the Christ film

Actor, producer and film director Mel Gibson is set to direct a sequel to the controversial film "The Passion of the Christ" based on a script by Randall Wallace. Randall Wallace, who wrote the screenplay for Mel Gibson's "Braveheart," announced the news that he is currently working on a script for the sequel to "The Passion of the Christ."

"I always wanted to tell this story," Mr. Wallace told The Hollywood Reporter. "The tragedy is only the beginning, it's a long story."

In the previous film, the screenwriter narrated the harrowing story and difficult details of the last 12 hours of Christ's life.

The Passion of the Christ, released twelve years ago, became the highest-grossing independent film in cinema history, grossing $612 million worldwide.

But Mel Gibson was criticized by Jewish groups and circles who believed the film contained anti-Semitic themes.

Two years later, in 2006, Mel Gibson himself was accused of anti-Semitism. He was arrested for drunk driving and is said to have shouted anti-Semitic slurs at a police officer during his arrest.

Randall Wallace wrote the screenplay for Mel Gibson's directorial debut, Braveheart, in 1995. The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Wallace and Gibson collaborated this year on the film Hacksaw Ridge.

Mr. Wallace said the two talked about the next installment of The Passion of the Christ during the making of the new film.

Mel Gibson returns to directing after a 10-year hiatus with "Hacksaw Blade." The last film Gibson directed was 2006's Apocalypto.

The film, which is set to be released in November, stars Andrew Garfield as Dr. Desmond Doss, an army doctor during World War II.

Source: BBC