“At some point, everyone will have to answer for what they have done.”
Those are the words of actor Jim Caviezel, most famous for his portrayal of Jesus Christ in the 2004 blockbuster “The Passion of the Christ.”
Caviezel is referring to sinners having to account to God for their actions. To him this includes the Hollywood producers who allegedly shunned Caviezel after he took on the role of Jesus in the film, “The Passion of the Christ.”
"The Passion of the Christ,” directed by Mel Gibson, earned $612 million worldwide on a $30 million production budget, making it the highest grossing religious film in history.
Caviezel made his remarks to Polish journalist and film critic Lukasz Adamski for the website wpolityce.pl.
An excerpt:
“You will not work here [in Hollywood] anymore.” Mel Gibson told you that when you took up the role in his film. To what extent was he right?
All of the sudden I stopped being one of five most popular actors in the studio and I haven’t done anything wrong. I just played Jesus. Was I personally touched by this rejection? Well, everyone has their cross to bear. The world changes in the particular direction but after all, I will not be in this world forever. Neither will the producers from Hollywood. At some point, everyone will have to answer for what they have done.
Where do you think this reaction come from? Are people afraid of such films? Of evocative picture of Jesus on the screen? People really stood for it. Over half a billion dollars income is a great success. There are even reports on conversions after watching the film!
It isn’t me who should answer this question. They should, shouldn’t they? I did my job. The film has inspired millions of viewers. Let the producers answer whether they are afraid of this success. My career is not over. After all, I starred in some prominent, Hollywood films. I also played in a popular TV series called “Person of Interest.”
At the same time, I’ve never forgotten that the name of Jesus is above all else. It is also the most controversial name of all times. Love is controversial and he impersonates love. Jesus was telling the Romans about love and they killed him because of that. “Who is that man to tell me what kind of person I’m supposed to be?” - they asked arrogantly. He was betrayed by his own people and abandoned by everyone. My duty was not only to show it all on the screen. My real duty is to live in accordance with the gospel every day and to give witness to the truth. And it all goes down to John Paul II again:“Totus Tuus” - “Totally Yours”. If you want to know how he inspires me, this is it. Totally Yours.
Caviezel, 48, said he would love to play a part in Gibson's planned "The Passion of the Christ" sequel.
"I want to work with Gibson again. This time it will be a film about the resurrection. If ‘The Passion of the Christ’ inspired so many people to do good, why don't we try again? I feel like there is a purpose in my life again.”
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