Jim Caviezel doesn't exactly do "easy" movies. After the massive cultural earthquake that was Sound of Freedom, everyone basically expected him to jump straight back into the sandals for Mel Gibson’s long-delayed sequel to The Passion.
But things took a sharp left turn.
While the internet was busy arguing about de-aging tech and biblical scripts, Caviezel went and signed on for a gritty, high-stakes action thriller called Archangel. Sony Pictures finally put a date on it: November 6, 2026. Honestly, if you were hoping for a quiet return to period dramas, this isn't it. This is Jim Caviezel going full "one-man army" in the rural wilderness of Wyoming, and the details coming out of the production suggest something way more complex than your standard shoot-em-up.
What is Archangel actually about?
Forget the biblical title for a second. Archangel isn't a religious epic, though knowing Caviezel, there’s probably going to be some heavy moral weight behind the trigger pulls. He’s playing a guy named Fitz.
Fitz is a former Green Beret.
He’s living out in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming, designing high-end, secret military weaponry for a private agency. It’s that classic "leave me alone" setup. But then, a massive corporation starts using eminent domain and—let’s be real—straight-up violence to snatch land and water rights from the locals.
📖 Related: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
Fitz isn't the type to call a lawyer.
He takes those experimental weapons he’s been building and starts a private war. It’s basically a modern Western with a high-tech edge. The script comes from Randall Wallace—the same guy who wrote Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ—which explains why the themes of sacrifice and "dying for something" are baked into the DNA of this thing.
The Team Behind the Scenes
- Director: Will Eubank. You might know him from Land of Bad (the Liam Hemsworth/Russell Crowe drone movie) or that claustrophobic Kristen Stewart flick Underwater. He knows how to film tension.
- The Cast: It’s a stacked room. Olivia Thirlby, Shea Whigham, and Garret Dillahunt are all on board. These aren't just "action" actors; they’re the kind of people who bring a lot of grit to the screen.
- Release Date: Sony has locked in November 6, 2026.
The Passion Sequel: The Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about the Jesus situation. For years, the Jim Caviezel new movie everyone talked about was The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection.
It’s been a rollercoaster.
In late 2025, reports started surfacing that things had changed. While Caviezel spent years telling everyone it would be the "biggest film in world history," the production eventually hit a wall with the "20-year gap" problem. Mel Gibson started filming The Resurrection of the Christ in Rome in October 2025, but here’s the kicker: Jim Caviezel isn't in it. The role of Jesus was recast with Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen.
👉 See also: Why the Cast of Hold Your Breath 2024 Makes This Dust Bowl Horror Actually Work
Why? Apparently, the de-aging CGI required to make a 57-year-old Caviezel look like a 33-year-old Jesus (who has only been dead for three days) was becoming a budget-killing nightmare. Instead of a $100 million VFX bill, Gibson went with a fresh cast to tell his "acid trip" version of the story, which apparently involves Jesus descending into hell to fight fallen angels. It’s wild stuff, but Caviezel has moved on to projects where he can play his actual age.
The Bolsonaro Biopic: Dark Horse
If a Wyoming action movie wasn't enough, Caviezel is also diving into the world of international politics. There’s a biopic in the works titled Dark Horse where he plays former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
People have already seen photos of him in costume.
The film, directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh (The Stoning of Soraya M.), focuses on Bolsonaro’s 2018 rise to power. It’s a polarizing choice, but Caviezel has never been one to avoid controversy. Between the action of Archangel and the political weight of Dark Horse, 2026 is shaping up to be the year he tries to prove there’s more to his career than just the "faith-based" box people try to put him in.
Why Archangel matters for Caviezel’s career
Let's be honest: Sound of Freedom changed the math for Jim Caviezel. Before that, he was mostly known for Person of Interest and the Mel Gibson movie. Now, he’s a massive box-office draw for a very specific, very loyal audience.
✨ Don't miss: Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med? What Really Happened With Dean Archer
Archangel is a test.
It’s a big-studio movie (Sony) with a big-name writer (Randall Wallace). It’s an attempt to see if that Sound of Freedom energy can translate into a mainstream action franchise. If Fitz becomes a character people love, we’re looking at a whole new era of Caviezel movies that feel more like John Wick meets Yellowstone.
The movie is being positioned as the big "older male audience" draw for November 2026. It’s actually going up against a new Street Fighter movie and an animated Cat in the Hat. Talk about a weird box office weekend.
What you should do next
If you're following the Jim Caviezel new movie cycle, keep an eye on the Archangel trailers dropping later this year. The footage is expected to showcase a lot of practical effects and Wyoming scenery, which usually hints at a more grounded, visceral experience.
- Watch the Timeline: Don't expect the Passion sequel to feature Jim. If you want to see him, Archangel in November 2026 is your primary target.
- Check the Rating: Expect Archangel to be a hard PG-13 or an R. The themes of corporate raiders and Green Beret tactics don't usually lend themselves to family-friendly viewing.
- Look for Dark Horse: This biopic will likely hit the festival circuit or a limited release right around the same time, offering a completely different side of his acting range.
The shift from "Biblical Figure" to "Wyoming Weapons Designer" is a big move. Whether it pays off depends on if the audience follows him from the chapel to the trenches.