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As if there wasn’t already enough electricity surrounding Mel Gibson’s upcoming film on the death of Christ, the actor portraying Jesus was struck by lightning during filming – but miraculously escaped without injury.
Both actor Jim Caviezel, who portrays Jesus in “The Passion of Christ,” and assistant director Jan Michelini were struck by lightning while on a remote Italian location several hours from Rome, reports VLife, a supplement to Variety publications, in its October issue. Neither was injured. According to an Associated Press report, the main bolt hit Caviezel while one of its forks hit Michelini’s umbrella.
“I’m about a hundred feet away from them,” producer Steve McEveety said, according to AP, “when I glance over and see lightning coming out of Caviezel’s ears.”
What’s more, lightning does strike twice. This was the second time lightning has struck the “Passion” set in Italy. In fact, Michelini has earned the nickname of “Lightning Boy” after a previous strike while filming in Italy. According to AP, he suffered light burns to his fingertips resulting from a lightning strike while filming on a hilltop in the Italian town of Matera.
The film, recently renamed “The Passion of Christ,” has been the center of controversy and media attention due to claims by some organizations and individuals that the movie –depicting the last 12 hours in Christ’s life – might inflame anti-Semitism by implying Jews were responsible for Jesus’ death. Some religious leaders who actually have viewed a rough cut of the final product, however, call it the most powerful film about Christ ever made.
Recently, Gibson signed a deal with Newmarket to handle U.S. distribution for “The Passion of Christ.” Gibson sources told WorldNetDaily Gibson’s Icon Productions is planning a release timed with Ash Wednesday, which next year falls on Feb. 25.
Icon is distributing “Passion” itself in the UK and Australia, where it already has its own distributing operations, according to Variety.
Gibson so far has invested $25 million on the film. With dialogue in Latin and Aramaic in the interests of maximum authenticity, the movie will be subtitled, although Gibson’s original plans called for no subtitles.
Read WorldNetDaily’s coverage of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of Christ.”
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WND Staff