“I will tell you now, first off, I’m
Christian, and my career is evidence of God in my life, and I think
that most people are already thinking that Gaga and the blasphemy and
they’re premeditating the approach and I think they’ll be very shocked
to find out how huge and really groundbreaking the message is and how
freeing the message is for all the right reasons,” Gibson said. “And
it’s really going to shock the world.”

The cast includes some big-name cameos
as well, including Norman Reedus as Judas. “He was so prolific,” she
declared of his performance, adding that the video is “badass” and that
Gaga will play Mary Magdalene.

The two ladies took it upon themselves
to make sure the video’s direction was perfect — so they just decided
to direct it themselves. “There was elements of ‘Born This Way’ during
our collaboration [with director Nick Knight] and, as much as I loved
it, there were moments where, for me, it didn’t really evolve as I had
inspired of the actual creative, which was defined.

“But when we got to ‘Judas,’ it was
very clear to me and the inspiration was very clear to her. We
approached a director, but then the dates actually got messed up and it
was conflicted and her manager and her looked at me [and asked me to
direct it with her].”

Gibson said she took a moment before
agreeing, as she had just wrapped up work on Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball
HBO special, premiering in May, but she “couldn’t resist. It’s a
phenomenal video: really powerful, really impactful. She’s such a
strong, committed artist. Her loyalty to me is something I will be
forever grateful for. We’re spiritually connected. We need each other,
and ‘Judas’ is ultimately a representation of our true bond.”