Beyond the Passion

IMAGINE what it would be like to go out in public and be universally recognized as the “actor who played Jesus.” This is the week-to-week experience of Jim Caviezel, who was cast in the role for Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ (2004), the highest grossing independent film of all time. Caviezel’s life was radically altered by his involvement in this film. Through the experience he underwent a dramatic spiritual transformation, but he also believes that it led to him being effectively blackballed by Hollywood. In 2018 he told People magazine, “As soon as I did the Passion, other [film offers] stopped coming in.”

Caviezel does not regret the decision, however, saying in the same interview, “I’m a big boy, and I’m not going to play a victim.” This resistance to criticism shows up in other areas of his life as well. As a devout Catholic, Caviezel has fought to end embryonic stem-cell research, and has also been an outspoken advocate for the victims of human trafficking. While some voices have criticized him for being politically too far to the right, Caviezel has refused to remain silent, even though staying quiet might have benefited his acting career. In many ways, his outspokenness in real life can be traced back to his playing the person of Christ in the movie for which he is most famous. Allow me to explain.

Behind the scenes

The Passion of the Christ ended up being a hugely influential film, grossing over $612 million worldwide in its initial box office run. When Mel Gibson first approached Caviezel about starring in the movie, however, it was not obvious that the rising, 30-something actor would accept the role. From the very beginning, Caviezel sensed that the film could prove to be a cultural lightning-rod, an intuition that he shared with the director. According to Caviezel, his initial casting conversation with Gibson lasted over three hours. Even though Caviezel accepted the part right then and there, on the following day Gibson reached out to him to make sure that he wanted the role, warning Caviezel that he may never work in Hollywood again if he accepted it. Caviezel was undeterred though, telling the director, “Each one of us has our own cross to carry – we either pick it up and carry it or we get crushed under the weight of it.” In the intervening hours between the in-person meeting and the phone call, Caviezel had become convinced that playing Christ in this film was part of his calling in life. Over the phone, Caviezel shared with Gibson that overnight he had thought about being 33 years old and having the initials J.C., both of which he interpreted as signs of God’s will in this decision.

Real suffering

The actual filming of The Passion had several dramatic occurrences, and in later interviews Caviezel described the process as torturous. The filming took place in Italy during the winter. Besides the extreme cold to which he was exposed, Caviezel was on one occasion struck by lightning and, on another, dislocated his shoulder. While filming the scourging at the pillar scene, Caviezel suffered a serious flesh wound to his back after one of the actors playing a Roman soldier missed the wooden board which had been provided to protect him. The real wound was vivid enough that one of the makeup artists used it as a model for rendering other scourge wounds. Finally, the cross that was used in the film weighed over 150 pounds and, thus, was legitimately difficult to carry. In one take, Caviezel fell under the weight of the cross and proceeded to bite his tongue. Following this injury, his own blood was streaming out of his mouth – a visual that Gibson chose to keep in the final cut of the movie. Any one of these events on its own would have been unsettling. Taken as a whole, Caviezel naturally wondered if he was under some sort of spiritual attack on account of the movie’s subject matter.

No regrets

Despite the personal trials that he endured during filming, Caviezel never regretted his decision to accept the role of Christ. In more than one interview, he has shared with journalists that the experience of filming The Passion strengthened his faith. While on set, he regularly prayed the rosary and went to confession – practices that had flagged a bit in his life prior to that time. This seminal acting experience also ended up refocusing his attention on Christ, reinforcing important truths that he had learned as a child, and setting the course for the next stage in his life.  “As a result of playing this part,” Caviezel remarked to one reporter, “I have become even more passionate about the Way of the Cross. It is about Our Lord’s sacrifice for mankind, for our sins, bringing us back to God, and it’s love that did this.” It’s noteworthy that Caviezel in this comment brings love to the fore. Even though some critics have accused him of being ideological in his proclamation of the Christian faith, Caviezel has claimed that love has to be our compass in life, just as it was for the one whom we call Savior.

Allegations

That is not to say that Caviezel’s life has been free from controversy. He has taken the most heat perhaps for appearing to endorse elements of the QAnon conspiracy theory. Accusations of this kind first emerged in 2023, when Caviezel starred in the thriller film Sound of Freedom, which depicts the anti-human trafficking work of activist Tim Ballard. Observers have claimed that Ballard’s activism has contributed to the rise of QAnon, though Ballard himself disavows any connection to the movement. During a promotional event for the film, Caviezel spoke about how Ballard has helped to save victims of human trafficking from “adrenochroming,” a practice whose existence is suggested by QAnon adherents. In October of that same year, while speaking at the conference For God & Country, Caviezel urged the audience to join the fight against child sex trafficking, Satan, and liberal values. He added that “the storm is upon us,” a slogan associated with QAnon conspiracy theories, and framed the cause as part of a larger war being waged against “Lucifer and his henchmen.” Even some who are sympathetic to Caviezel’s political concerns have expressed uneasiness about this aspect of his activism, particularly in light of the seeming overlap with QAnon messaging.

Social activism

Those concerns aside, from a Catholic perspective it’s difficult not to admire the energy that Caviezel has applied on behalf of the pro-life movement. This cause is not a popular one in Hollywood circles, so it’s rare to see successful actors who are willing to speak out on behalf of pre-born children. Caviezel’s involvement goes even further than simple lip service though. In 2006 he was featured with actress Patricia Heaton and NFL quarterback Kurt Warner in an advertisement opposing Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2, which sought to legalize any form of embryonic stem cell research and therapy within the state. Caviezel knew that his involvement would be unpopular with many potential moviegoers, yet he felt compelled to take a stand. His unflagging advocacy on behalf of victims of human trafficking has been equally courageous, helping to draw attention to an issue that is sometimes shielded from the public eye. While it’s difficult to determine the exact number of human trafficking victims, due to the hidden nature of the crimes, The International Labour Organization estimates that 49.6 million people are trapped in modern forms slavery, which includes both forced labor and sex trafficking. This is clearly a massive problem in today’s world, yet one that would be easy for a wealthy actor to ignore. Caviezel has refused to do so.

The passion with which Caviezel tackles his political activism can be traced back, in large part, to playing the role of Christ. Through walking the way of the cross, even if only in a dramatic portrayal of it, Caviezel was reminded that being committed to self-giving love will often lead to being despised by the world. Looking at the trajectory of his career, there is some indication that his role in The Passion led to his receiving far fewer offers to star in other films. Caviezel doesn’t mind though. He believes that he did the right thing, and he remains committed to seeking justice for the vulnerable, regardless of the costs that come with taking a stand.

QAnon CONSPIRACY

The name QAnon is a combination of ‘Q’, the alias of an anonymous poster, and ‘Anon’, short for ‘anonymous’, referring to the online users who followed and discussed the posts on forums like 4chan. Q claimed to have ‘Q clearance’, a real – though misused in this context – US Department of Energy security level. The conspiracy theory alleges that a global cabal of elites is involved in child trafficking, and that Donald Trump was secretly working to dismantle it. Over time, QAnon evolved into a broader movement that hijacks legitimate concerns – such as child exploitation – and injects them with sensational and unfounded claims. Actor Jim Caviezel has been accused of publicly echoing QAnon-adjacent rhetoric, referencing its terminology and theories in various speeches and interviews.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE CHRIST

Jim Caviezel is set to reprise his role as Jesus Christ in the upcoming sequel to The Passion of the Christ, titled The Resurrection of the Christ. Directed by Mel Gibson, the film was slated to begin production in August 2025 at Cinecittà Studios in Rome, and at various locations across southern Italy, with a planned release in 2026. As of this writing, filming is either underway or imminent, marking over two decades since the release of the original film.

The sequel will explore the aftermath of Jesus’ crucifixion, focusing on the resurrection through a non-linear narrative that weaves in spiritual and metaphysical elements – such as the fall of the angels and Christ’s descent into hell. Gibson has described the project as a bold and visionary departure from traditional biblical storytelling.

Caviezel has voiced profound dedication to the role, reportedly engaging in fasting, prayer and daily communion to prepare. He views the film not merely as a performance, but as a personal and spiritual undertaking – one he believes speaks powerfully to modern audiences. The sequel is highly anticipated and positioned to become a major cinematic event upon its release.