(2004-02-04) — Actor-director Mel Gibson announced today that he would drop the crucifixion scene from his upcoming film The Passion of the Christ because focus groups didn’t like it.

The announcement comes a day after reports that Mr. Gibson would cut another scene, also panned by focus groups, involving Jews calling for the Christ’s crucifixion. Both scenes portray events from the New Testament of the Bible.

“It didn’t work in the focus screenings,” said an unnamed associate of Mr. Gibson. “Frankly, I understand how people could be offended at the mutilation and execution of an innocent Jewish teacher.”

Marketing experts say that without those two scenes, The Passion of the Christ should be “the feel-good hit of the season.”