Twenty-five years ago, at the height of his powers, Kevin Smith took on God. After his biggest critical hit yet, Chasing Amy, Smith tackled his biggest film to date, with a star-studded cast, about a topic that made many people angry: religion. The resulting film, Dogma, wasn’t a huge hit but has remained a favorite among Smith fans, and after years of red tape, now Smith may finally be able to embrace the film once again.
You see, Dogma was personally owned by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the latter of whom is currently in prison for rape. That made any kind of rerelease or streaming of Dogma very difficult, but in a new interview with Smith, the writer-director claims there might be light at the end of the tunnel for the film. Speaking to That Hashtag Show (via /Film), Smith revealed the Weinsteins sold the film and its new owners are interested in getting it out there.
“The movie has been bought away from the guy that had it for years and whatnot,” Smith said. “The company that bought it, we met with them a couple months ago. They were like, ‘Would you be interested in re-releasing it and touring it like you did with your movies?’ I said ‘100 percent, are you kidding me? Touring a movie that I know people like, and it’s sentimental and nostalgic? We’ll clean up.’ Right now, 2024 is our 25th anniversary this year. November is when we came out. I think 2025 it looks like is when the movement is going to happen there. Back on home video, then back out in theaters, and I’ll tour it.”
So there you go. While it will be difficult to do something for the actual 25th anniversary, which is in November, Smith is eyeing 2025 as the year to bring Dogma back in a big big way. He may even explore some spinoffs, something he’s been doing with his characters since the start of his career. “Maybe, at this point, sequels, TV versions, in terms of extending the story. Something we could never do before,” Smith said. “So exciting, man. And all those people who worked in it are still viable.”
Released November 12, 1999, Dogma follows two fallen angels, played by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who find a loophole in Catholicism that allows them to get back into Heaven. The problem is if they do that, they will prove God wrong and thereby end existence. So it’s a race between the forces of Heaven and Hell to stop the angels. In addition to the Oscar-winning writers of Good Will Hunting, Chris Rock, Linda Fiorentino, George Carlin, Salma Hayek, Alan Rickman, and others were along for the ride. Not to mention Alanis Morissette as God. The film was controversial for several reasons, mostly because of how fast, loose, and humorous it was with religion. But now, decades later, that’s water under the bridge. Smith is ready to bring Dogma back to the spotlight.
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