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

Aylin Lazova from Radio Bulgaria on her debut poetry collection "The Dying out of Betelgeuse"

She is an educated, young woman passionate about astronomy and physics, but has also devoted her energy and talent to the word. She is part of the family of the Bulgarian National Radio's foreign-languages program Radio Bulgaria and today we proudly..

published on 10/19/25 11:05 AM

Young Bulgarian artist Nikolas Stoichkov: Goodness is also a type of art

Nicholas is 15 years old . He is a self-taught artist, but his maturity in creativity and strength of spirit inspire admiration in everyone who has touched his talent. He is a person who fights internal battles and continues in moments when something..

published on 10/18/25 12:15 PM
Zhivko Tenev-Gissen

Four Bulgarian artists selected for Brazil’s 20th INternational Humor Salon in Caratinga

Four Bulgarian artists — Zhivko Tenev-Gissen, Maya Cholakova, Ivaylo Tsvetkov and Anatoliy Stankulov — have been chosen to take part in the 20th Caratinga International Humor Salon Caratinga 2025 in Brazil, which will run from 21 to 26 October,..

published on 10/18/25 9:25 AM