HOLLYWOOD, February 11, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Mel Gibson has decided to re-release The Passion of the Christ in theatres in time for Good Friday.
The new cut tones down the more violent scenes, such as the scourging and some scenes from the crucifixion, in order to avoid a restricted rating. Daily Variety reported Thursday that Gibson plans to trim five to six minutes from the film, for re-release in US theatres March 11.
“There has been quite a demand by the religious community to bring (the film) back for Easter,” Gibson’s partner at Icon Productions, Bruce Davey, told Variety, as reported by the Turkish Press.
“And there has been a lot of discussion about the violence,” Davey said. “Mel wanted to try and accommodate those people by making a version that is softer and gentler.”
“There are no new scenes, and the cuts are limited to the more violent aspects of the film, if that’s the right term. The scourging scene in particular has been substantially adjusted.”
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