Caviezel says he’ll always be disappointed to miss Passion follow-up; hasn’t talked with Gibson

A role he will miss

Caviezel said he will “always” feel disappointed that he was unable to return as Jesus in Gibson’s upcoming “Resurrection of the Christ.” He told Fox News Digital that he had not talked with Gibson about the follow-up. Caviezel said on Raymond Arroyo’s podcast that Gibson “really didn’t need me” for the new film, describing his part as smaller than his role in the original. He said the first film required him in every scene, while “Ghost Soldier” offered him the lead role.

Choosing Passion of the Christ

Before accepting the role in “The Passion of the Christ,” Caviezel said he considered turning it down. A friend urged him to think about whether he could move on after the opportunity, and Caviezel said his initials and age—JC and 33—stayed on his mind.

He said he felt prepared for the part and believed he could not live with refusing it. Caviezel described Jesus as controversial and said he wanted to engage with that subject through the film.

Military experience informs film

In “Ghost Soldier,” released Nov. 11, Caviezel plays a former Green Beret who resists a powerful corporation threatening his rural Wyoming community. He said his long relationship with Navy SEALs helped him understand the character and that the script felt authentic because writer Chris Papasadero is a Green Beret.

Caviezel previously played a SEAL trainee in Ridley Scott’s “G.I. Jane.” During “Ghost Soldier” filming, he spent time in 36-degree water and said he was very cold. He also recalled being extremely hypothermic for five and a half months while making “The Passion of the Christ.”

Aiming to honor veterans

Caviezel said he drew on lessons from “G.I. Jane” when filming scenes involving cold water. He asked SEAL consultants how they handled the cold, and said their guidance helped him on both films. He said he wanted veterans to be proud of his work and relied on their advice. Caviezel also said the characters in “Ghost Soldier” taught him about a “warrior spirit,” which he connected to his experience making “The Passion of the Christ.”