Jim Caviezel has shared that he's turning to C.S. Lewis' as he prepares to once again portray Jesus in The Resurrection of the Christ, the upcoming sequel to The Passion of the Christ.

Speaking on the Arroyo Grande show, Caviezel reflected on the intense spiritual and physical demands of playing Christ, calling it a “war".

"I'm not going to play Jesus", he said. "I need Him to play me."

Directed by Mel Gibson, the sequel begins filming in Rome this August, aiming for a 2026 release.

Gibson has described it as a surreal exploration of the aftermath of the Crucifixion.

Caviezel, now 56, will be digitally de-aged to portray a 33-year-old Christ.

The actor recalled the extreme suffering during the first film’s production, including hypothermia, a dislocated shoulder, and even being struck by lightning while on the cross.

"I got shot right out of my body," he said. "It was enough to kill me. My heart shut off."

Despite requiring two heart surgeries afterward, Caviezel accepted Gibson’s call for the sequel without hesitation, saying, "You want me to play Jesus, don't you? I'm in."

His preparation includes fasting, praying the rosary, and receiving the Eucharist daily. 

Caviezel admitted the backlash to The Passion harmed his career, recalling Gibson’s warning: "If you do this movie, you may never work in this town again."

Nevertheless, he said: "The world didn’t like The Passion, and that’s a good thing. So we did a good job."