“Redemption or Repeat: Will Mel Gibson Triumph Where Costner Fell Short?”

Can Mel Gibson Succeed Where Kevin Costner Failed?

Mel Gibson and Kevin Costner have been Hollywood powerhouses for decades. From the 1980s through the 2000s, both actors dominated the screen, taking on blockbuster roles and stepping behind the camera to direct major films. Now, in the later stages of their careers, each has attempted a return to the spotlight—but Gibson may be poised to succeed where Costner stumbled.

Gibson first rose to fame as the lead in the Mad Max franchise, later achieving mainstream success in America with films like Lethal Weapon. His career reached new heights when he turned to directing, with Braveheart earning him two Academy Awards. He followed that with projects like The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto, further establishing his directing credentials.

However, Gibson’s career was derailed by personal controversies in the mid-2000s, including public battles with alcoholism and widely reported accusations of anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks. These controversies led to a period of blacklisting in Hollywood. In recent years, though, Gibson has slowly returned to the industry, acting in smaller roles and preparing to direct once again.

The Resurrection of the Christ Mirrors Costner’s Horizon Gamble

Gibson is now developing The Resurrection of the Christ, a sequel to his 2004 hit The Passion of the Christ, which made an astounding $612.1 million on a $30 million budget. That makes it the highest-grossing faith-based film of all time. A sequel has been discussed for years, but it’s now officially moving forward—with a surprising twist.

Rather than a single film, The Resurrection will be released as a two-part saga, with both entries hitting theaters in 2027. Part One is scheduled for March 26 (Good Friday), and Part Two for May 6 (Ascension Day), just 40 days apart—an unusually short window between releases for a major sequel.

This strategy echoes Kevin Costner’s approach with Horizon: An American Saga, a four-part Western epic intended to revive his directing career. Horizon: Chapter 1 premiered on June 28, 2024, with Chapter 2 originally slated for August 16. But when Chapter 1 flopped at the box office—grossing just $38.7 million on a $50 million budget—and received a lukewarm critical response (51% on Rotten Tomatoes), plans for further releases stalled. Chapter 2 was pulled from the release schedule, and the remainder of the saga remains in limbo.

A year later, Chapter 2 has only been shown at a few film festivals and remains unavailable to the general public. While Costner has reportedly continued working on parts of Chapter 3, the future of the series is uncertain at best.

Now, just a few years later, Gibson is embarking on a similarly risky path, betting that his sequel strategy will succeed where Horizon failed.

Will The Resurrection Avoid Horizon‘s Mistakes?

Unlike Costner’s Western epic, Gibson’s sequel has a few major advantages. For one, The Passion of the Christ already has a massive built-in audience and cultural footprint. Faith-based films continue to perform well at the box office, with recent successes like I Can Only Imagine and the God’s Not Dead series proving there’s a strong market for religious content.

In contrast, Westerns have struggled in recent decades to find mainstream audiences, which likely contributed to Horizon‘s poor performance.

The Resurrection of the Christ also benefits from its strategically timed release dates: Part One on Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus, and Part Two on Ascension Day, marking his rise to Heaven. This alignment with Christian holy days could create a sense of urgency and spiritual significance for audiences, potentially boosting attendance for both parts.

While releasing two major films just 40 days apart is a bold move—and a proven gamble in Costner’s case—Gibson’s sequel may have the right mix of timing, subject matter, and legacy to defy the odds.