Jim Caviezel revealed that Mel Gibson issued a stark warning regarding his potential involvement in “The Passion of the Christ” during their initial discussions, a decision that could have significantly impacted Caviezel’s career trajectory.
Initially, the project began as a conversation about a surfer movie – a venture explored for approximately forty minutes with Steve McEveety – before shifting dramatically to a film centered around Jesus. As Caviezel recounted on Raymond Arroyo’s “Arroyo Grande” podcast, Gibson reportedly expressed concern: “How’s that going to work? We were talking about surfing movies and everything, and then it pivots into Christ movies, you know, Jesus movies. Well, that’s not a surfing movie.”
Caviezel recalled a formative experience from his youth when he believed he had received a divine calling to become an actor. He described the moment of considering playing Jesus as a pivotal one, stating, “I literally said, ‘Oh my God, this is it,’ and I said, ‘You want me to play Jesus, don’t you?’” Gibson reportedly responded with a near-panic, nearly choking on his cigarette, confirming, “Yeah.” Caviezel then declared, “OK, I’m in,” driven by a desire to execute an authentic portrayal of the biblical narrative.
Two days later, Gibson contacted Caviezel, delivering a grave warning: “You really want to do this? If you do this movie, you may never work in this town again.” Caviezel acknowledged the risk but maintained his commitment, emphasizing that he aimed for an accurate depiction of events. He explained his daily practice of confession – “to keep my temple as pure as I can so that he could come through me” – and endured extreme physical discomfort during filming, including contracting pneumonia, suffering from hypothermia and a separated shoulder, culminating in being struck by lightning while portraying the crucifixion.
“The pain was excruciating,” Caviezel described of his experiences on set. During the shoot, he utilized a bike seat for the cross scene and frequently fell asleep due to exhaustion, even wearing his elaborate makeup throughout. “I couldn’t stay awake,” he admitted. He felt this physical torment brought him closer to the suffering endured by Jesus.
Despite these challenges, Caviezel ultimately embraced the role, recognizing God’s love for him and believing it was part of his purpose. The film’s success—grossing over $600 million globally – solidified its place as the highest-grossing religious film in history. Caviezel is now preparing to reprise his role as Jesus in “The Resurrection of the Christ,” anticipating a renewed sense of fear and anticipation, acknowledging that readiness for the project hinges on that initial apprehension.
