Mel Gibson’s 2016 war drama Hacksaw Ridge is scheduled to depart Netflix on July 31. This streaming exit coincides with the announcement that the director is pivoting toward large-scale religious epics with upcoming sequels to The Passion of the Christ.
The $180 million legacy of Hacksaw Ridge
Hacksaw Ridge remains one of Mel Gibson's most critically and commercially significant achiievements. As the report states, the 2016 World War II epic was produced on a $40 million budget and went on to gross more than $180 million at the global box office. The film was a major contender during awards season, earning two Academy Awards for Film Editing and Sound Mixing, while securing four other nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Gibson.
The film also served as a career highlight for Andrew Garfield, whose performance earned him a Best Lead Actor nomination. While Netflix users in the United States will lose access to the film at the end of July, the movie is not disappearing from the digital landscape entirely; it remains available for streaming on Paramount Plus. This transition highlights the shifting availability of major studio titles across competing streaming platforms .
Lionsgate’s 2027 roadmap for The Resurrection of the Christ
Lionsgate is positioning itself at the center of Gibson's next major creative era.. The studio recently unveiled a first look at two highly anticipated sequels: The Resurrection of the Christ Part 1 and Part 2. These films are slated for theatrical releases in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
To build momentum for these new installments, Lionsgate has announced that the original The Passion of the Christ will return to theaters.. This strategic re-release is intended to coincide with the arrival of the new sequels, attempting to recapture the cultural zeitgeist that the original film generated years ago. According to the report, this move is part of a broader effort to prepare audiences for the upcoming two-part saga.
A transition from Mark Wahlberg’s Flight Risk to biblical epics
Gibson's recent professional trajectory shows a director moving between vastly different genres. Following his work on historical and religious themes, his most recent directorial effort was the 2025 aviation thriller Flight Risk, which stars Mark Wahlberg. This shift from high-octane suspense to the heavy, contemplative themes of the Passion series suggests a director working to maintain presence in both the blockbuster and prestige markets.
While the last few years have been relatively quiet for the Oscar-winning director, the scale of these upcoming projects suggests a significant return to the epic filmmaking that defined his earlier career. The move from a contemporary thriller like Flight Risk back to biblical history marks a return to the high-stakes storytelling that has become his trademark.
Missing details on the Resurrection's cast and dates
Despite the excitement surrounding the Lionsgate announcement, several details regarding the new films remain unconfirmed. while the release years of 2027 and 2028 have been established, the report does not specify the exact release dates or the full ensemble cast expected to join the production. The source focuses on the timeline and the studio's involvement rather than the creative specifics of the scripts.
Furthermore, it remains to be seen how the modern theatrical market will respond to a multi-part religious epic. While the original Passion was a massive success, there is no information regarding whether the upcoming sequels will follow a similar distribution model or if they will rely heavily on the re-release of the original film to secure their audience. The success of these sequels will likely depend on whether they can bridge the gap between historical drama and modern cinematic expectations.
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