“Mel Gibson advised actor Jim Caviezel that playing Christ would be difficult, and that if he accepted, he would most likely be sidelined by Hollywood.”
Caviezel requested a day to consider it, and his response to Mel, who was funding and directing the film, was, “I think we have to create it, even if it is difficult.” And, by the way, my initials are J.C., and I am 33 years old. “I had no idea till now.”
“You’re really scaring me, you know,” Mel replied.
During filming, Jim Caviezel, who plays Jesus, lost 45 pounds, was struck by lightning, was unintentionally struck again during the scourging sequence, and dislocated his shoulder when the cross was dropped into the hole with him on the cross. He eventually developed pneumonia and hypothermia as a result of being almost naked with only a loin cloth on the cross for hours on end. The crucifixion scene alone consumed 5 weeks of the 2 months of filming.
His body was so strained and weary from playing the role that he needed two open heart surgeries after the shoot.
“I didn’t want anybody to see me,” Jim explained. All I want is for them to see Jesus. It will result in conversions.”
Many extraordinary things occurred, almost as if by clairvoyance.
Pedro Sarubbi, who played Barabbas, felt that it was Jesus Christ himself who was looking at him; when he played that role, he stated of Caviezel, “His eyes had no animosity or hostility against me, only mercy and love.”
When filming began, Luca Lionello, who played Judas, declared himself an agnostic. He finally became a Christian and baptized his children.
One of the film’s major technicians was a Muslim who converted to Christianity.
Some producers said they spotted performers dressed in white they didn’t recognize during one of the filming sessions, and when they watched the records they found they couldn’t see them in that footage.
With $370.8 million, The Passion of the Christ is the highest grossing religious picture in the United States as well as the largest R-rated film of all time! It grossed $611 million worldwide.
Most importantly, it has reached hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
Mel Gibson spent $30 million for the film’s production out of his own cash because no company would embark on the idea.
Now, Jim Caviezel simply and proudly professes his faith in Christ, as well as the miracle of being able to represent Christ as an actor and a better believer in Christ as a result of this experience.
