Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The late Hristo Jivkov to star in The Passion of the Christ sequel digitally

Mel Gibson and Hristo Jivkov
Photo: archive

Exactly 20 years after the release of the epic biblical film The Passion of the Christ, its director Mel Gibson will make a sequel. This was announced by the production company of the Hollywood filmmaker. The production is already in an advanced preliminary stage. The movie is scheduled to be released in 2025, before Easter. Unfortunately, the Bulgarian actor Hristo Jivkov passed away in 2023, aged only 47. Mel Gibson, who has often admired his talent, has made up his mind that the actor must star in the sequel as well, albeit digitally. The sequel is to be called The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection.

It is a little known fact that while shooting The Passion of the Christ, Hristo Jivkov underwent a strict fast. Even though there is no such practice in Catholicism, Mel Gibson, himself is a Catholic, also abstained from animal source food like the Bulgarian actor. In the 2004 movie, another Bulgarian actor, Hristo Shopov, played Pontius Pilate, but there is no information as yet whether he will feature in the sequel as well.

Compiled by Gergana Mancheva
Translated and posted by Milena Daynova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgarian violinist Svetlin Roussev gives solo concert in Vienna

Bulgarian violinist Svetlin Roussev, a professor at the Paris Conservatoire, performed a solo concert on 24 September at the Imperial Church in Vienna’s Hofburg Palace, Austria . He appeared at the invitation of the Bulgarian Cultural Institute “Haus..

published on 9/25/25 7:43 PM

Days of Argentine Culture and Art take place in Plovdiv

The second largest city in Bulgaria - Plovdiv, is hosting the Days of Argentine Culture and Art for the first time from September 25 to 28 th . The four-day festival includes exhibitions, literary readings, concerts with musicians..

published on 9/25/25 6:25 AM
Stephan Komandarev

The film ''Made in EU'' wins the Grand Prix at the Golden Rose Bulgarian Feature Film Festival in Varna

The film “Made in EU”, directed by Stephan Komandarev, won the Golden Rose Award for Best Feature Film at the Golden Rose Bulgarian Feature Film Festival in Varna. According to the jury, it is an uncompromising work that, in addition to reflecting..

published on 9/24/25 11:02 AM