The Passion of the Christ to RETURN to theaters this fall

More than two decades after becoming one of the most successful faith-based films ever made, The Passion of the Christ is headed back to theaters for a limited nationwide showing.

The film's official social media accounts announced the re-release with the caption, "Before the Victory, there was the Sacrifice," revealing that the movie will return to theaters from Sept. 10 through Sept. 17. The picture has been digitally remastered in 4K with Dolby Atmos sound, giving audiences the opportunity to experience the Mel Gibson's produced portrayal of Christ's crucifixion with higher picture and audio quality. Tickets go on sale July 24.

Released in 2004, The Passion of the Christ follows the final hours of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, depicting His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection. Starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus, the film became a smashing success at the box office despite its controversial R rating for depicting the graphic suffering of Christ.

Made on a $30 million budget financed by Mel Gibson, the film went on to gross more than $600 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing independent film ever produced and the highest-grossing faith-based film to this day. It also sparked widespread cultural debate, with many Christian audiences praising its biblical themes and emotional portrayal of Christ's sacrifice.

The remastered theatrical release comes as anticipation continues to rise for Gibson's long-awaited follow-up, film The Resurrection of the Christ. While production on the sequel has faced delays, Gibson has repeatedly said the project remains one of his top priorities.

"It took me about eight years to write the script for the sequel, if we can call that 'The Resurrection of Christ,' because it's a very complex and almost impossible to understand subject, so that necessarily you have to underpin it with a great deal of all of salvation history and theology," Gibson said of the upcoming film in an interview with Church Leaders.

"It's not just a linear narrative. You have to juxtapose the central event that I'm trying to tell with everything else around it in the future, in the past, and in other realms, and that's kind of getting a little sci-fi out there."