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Mel Gibson's 'Resurrection of the Christ' Sequel Faces Backlash Over Actress's Abortion Rights Activism
30 Oct
Summary
- Mel Gibson's sequel to 'The Passion of the Christ' has cast Kasia Smutniak as Jesus' mother Mary
- Smutniak is a Polish-Italian actress and activist who supports Poland's pro-choice 'Women's Strike' movement
- Supporters of Poland's anti-abortion Law and Justice party have protested Smutniak's casting
In October 2025, Mel Gibson has announced the cast for his sequel to the 2004 biblical drama 'The Passion of the Christ'. The new film, titled 'The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One', has cast Jaakko Ohtonen as Jesus of Nazareth, Mariela Garriga as Mary Magdalene, and Kasia Smutniak as Jesus' mother Mary.
However, Smutniak's casting has caused controversy. The Polish-Italian actress and activist is a vocal supporter of the 'Strajk Kobiet' (Women's Strike) movement in Poland, which campaigns against the country's strict abortion laws. Supporters of Poland's anti-choice Law and Justice party have written to Gibson's production company, Icon Productions, to protest Smutniak's involvement in the film.
When contacted by Variety, Smutniak's publicist stated that he was unaware of the protest. Gibson, who is co-writing the sequel with Randall Wallace, began production on 'The Resurrection of the Christ' this past summer. The original film starred Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci, but they will not be reprising their roles in the follow-up.
