BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

With Mel Gibson’s The Resurrection of the Christ set for a two-part release beginning on Good Friday 2027, all eyes have turned toward its new leading man, Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen. The announcement that Jim Caviezel would not reprise his role as Jesus caught headlines worldwide, but Gibson’s reasoning was clear: the film’s timeline begins only three days after the crucifixion, and 20 years has simply created too wide a chronological gap.

Now stepping into one of the most significant roles in cinematic history, Ohtonen is far from an unknown in the industry. Though this is his largest spiritual and global spotlight to date, the actor has built a steadily growing portfolio marked by gritty historical dramas, intense character portrayals, and commanding screen presence.

One of Ohtonen’s most recognizable roles came with Netflix’s acclaimed historical drama The Last Kingdom. Appearing in Season 5, he portrayed Wolland, a calculating mercenary tied to shadowy alliances, smuggling rings, and political betrayal. Introduced in the show’s final season, Wolland quickly stood out as a layered character—dangerous, unpredictable, and driven by self-preservation.

The series, adapted from Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Stories, spans the violent struggle for early England’s identity. Ohtonen’s performance leaned into the darker tones of Viking-age storytelling, delivering a stoic, sharp, and menacing presence that aligned seamlessly with the show’s raw brutality and tactical intrigue.

Before Wolland, Ohtonen appeared in Vikings: Valhalla, Netflix’s high-stakes follow-up to the original Vikings series. Playing Johan in Season 1, Ohtonen once again immersed himself in a world defined by clashing kingdoms, wavering loyalties, and shifting spiritual landscapes across the Viking diaspora.

Created by Jeb Stuart, Vikings: Valhalla centers on the tension between Norse legacy and the rise of English power, interwoven with ideological conflict and political ambition. Though not a central protagonist, Ohtonen’s role reflected his growing niche in historical epics—characters forged in chaos, tested by war, and grounded in dramatic weight.

Moving beyond warrior lore, Ohtonen took on a lead role in the Sweden-based Disney+ historical thriller To Cook a Bear, portraying Roope, a character central to the series’ survival-driven mystery.

The six-episode show, adapted from Mikael Niemi’s acclaimed novel, unfolds in a remote northern Swedish village in 1852. The plot follows a pastor and his foster son as they track a rumored killer bear in the wilderness. In a story driven by fear, faith, and primal danger, Roope’s role places Ohtonen in a landscape both physically harsh and narratively intense—one where courage and survival collide.

As anticipation builds for The Resurrection of the Christ, Ohtonen’s past roles offer clues to what he brings to the character of Jesus: emotional depth, silent strength, commanding physicality, and an ability to carry stories rooted in history, suffering, and redemption.

*All Photos from Disney