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The most-watched movie ever — Jesus (1979) — is being officially re-crafted as an animation and is set for release by Christmas 2025.

In 1979, Jesus, a live-action film based on Christ’s life, was released. Over the next four and a half decades, it would become the most-watched film on the planet — and has been translated into over 2,000 languages (a Guinness World Record).

The Jesus Film Project, an initiative “dedicated to engaging the watching world with Jesus”, has recently announced that it is creating a new film about the life of Jesus. But this time, the film is an animation.

The new film’s director, Dominic M. Carola, has worked as an animator on several popular films, including Mulan (1998), The Lion King (1994) and Pocahontas (1995). He has also directed a number of films, short films and TV episodes.

According to a media release from the Jesus Film Project, tens of millions of people have made decisions for Christ as a result of the original 1979 film, but the aim of the remake is to “introduce an entirely new generation to the hope and truth of the gospel message.”

New Evangelisation

The new Jesus movie will draw on technical expertise from an experienced production team, whose credits include working in Disney and Pixar films as well as projects like the Star Wars franchise. They have employed historians, archeologists and theologians to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the production.

According to the website’s Frequently Asked Questions, the ambitious project will require USD 150 million in funding.

Josh Newell, the Executive Director of the Jesus Film Project, said:

“Just like the original, this animated experiential film will ultimately touch lives in over 2,000 languages, spreading the hope of Jesus to people around the globe. It’s amazing to be a part of the continued dispersal of the story of Jesus.

Even still in 2023, we’re sharing the gospel in new languages and new ways. The telling of the story of Jesus has evolved throughout history, from the Roman Road to the Gutenberg Press, and right up to the present day through the medium of animated film.”

Notably, the remake will utilise much of the 1979 film’s dialogue — in a refreshed script — allowing streamlined translation into the more than 2,000 languages of the original. On release, it will be available in 100 languages.

December 2025 is the planned worldwide release date. A digital release will follow the theatrical release.

More information is available on the Jesus Film Project website.