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Actor Jim Caviezel said he nearly turned down the role of Jesus in “The Passion of the Christ,” but an encounter he described as a visit from Jesus convinced him to reconsider.
“About five something in the morning, this presence came over me, and I know it was him,” Caviezel, 58, told Sean Hannity on his “Hang Out with Sean Hannity” podcast.
“I was awake, but my eyes were closed, and he was sitting Indian style on the foot of my bed, and he said, ‘It is not a requirement of you as a Catholic… to play this role.’ And I said, ‘Good, I won’t. Get somebody else.'”
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Jim Caviezel speaks on stage during Beyond Sport United – Workshops & Panels at Yankee Stadium on June 11, 2014 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images) (Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Caviezel said the figure appeared sad after he refused, leading to an exchange that prompted him to reconsider.
“I said, ‘Get somebody else,’ and his countenance changed, and then he says, ‘I don’t have anybody else,'” Caviezel recalled.
When Caviezel questioned why he had been chosen, he said the figure responded that others would not ask the same question of him. After some exchange, Caviezel was convinced the role was his to play.
“Immediately, I was like, okay, this is part of the plan. I’m in,” he said.
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“The Passion of the Christ” starred Jim Caviezel as Jesus of Nazareth. (Lionsgate/Fathom Entertainment)
Caviezel is best known for his performance as Christ in the Mel Gibson-directed 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ,” which follows the final hours of Jesus’ life, including his crucifixion.
The role became a defining performance of his career, but Caviezel said filming took a severe physical toll.
During production, Caviezel said he injured his shoulder, suffered hypothermia and was struck by lightning while filming a scene.
“It nearly killed me,” Caviezel recalled of the hypothermia.
“When you watch the end of the movie, I’m blue for a reason. My body’s blue. There’s no fake stuff there.”
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The podcast episode comes as the actor returns to the big screen in the action thriller “Ghost Soldier” and prepares for the release of “Zero A.D.: The Birth of Christ,” in which he plays King Herod.
During his conversation with Hannity, Caviezel also discussed what he described as a near-death experience, the lasting impact of his work with Mel Gibson and the spiritual battles he believes have shaped his life and career.
Viewers and listeners can find the Fox News host’s full conversation with Caviezel on the “Hang Out with Sean Hannity” podcast, available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeartRadio.