Image copyright AP Image caption Mel Gibson has yet to comment on reports of a sequel

Mel Gibson is planning a sequel to his controversial 2004 film The Passion of the Christ, according to Braveheart screenwriter Randall Wallace.

Wallace told the Hollywood Reporter that he was working on a script for a story about the resurrection.

"I always wanted to tell this story," he said. "The Passion is the beginning and there's a lot more story to tell."

Wallace said he and Gibson discussed the idea while working together on the forthcoming film Hacksaw Ridge.

Gibson has yet to comment on the Passion of the Christ follow-up.

The Passion of the Christ - released 12 years ago - became the most successful independent film of all time, earning $612m worldwide.

But Gibson's account of the final hours of Christ's life - scripted entirely in Latin and Aramaic - drew widespread criticism from Jewish groups who determined it was anti-Semitic.

Two years later, Gibson himself was accused of being anti-Semitic following his arrest for drink-driving in July 2006.

Image copyright Jay Westcott Image caption Randall Wallace has been working with Mel Gibson on new film Hacksaw Ridge, due out in November

Wallace - who recently directed and co-wrote the faith-based drama Heaven is for Real - said there was great demand for a sequel from the Christian community.

"The evangelical community considers The Passion the biggest movie ever out of Hollywood, and they kept telling us that they think a sequel will be even bigger," said Wallace.

He refused to comment on how the film would be financed: "It's too early to talk money," he said. "This is a huge and sacred subject."

Hacksaw Ridge - co-written by Wallace - marks Gibson's outing as a director since 2006's Apocalypto. It stars Andrew Garfield as World War II doctor Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.