Kevin Smith’s “Dogma” Sequel in the Works After Lengthy Rights Struggle

Kevin Smith, known for directing “Dogma,” is finally moving forward with a sequel nearly 30 years after the original’s debut. This comes after numerous attempts to regain the film’s rights from the infamous Harvey Weinstein.

Miramax Films, which was co-founded by Harvey and Bob Weinstein in 1979, originally focused on independent films. It was acquired by the Walt Disney Company in 1993. “Dogma,” a theological comedy, was released by Miramax in 1999, but the Weinsteins later reacquired the rights.

Smith recounted how Weinstein purchased the film from Miramax when Disney wanted to distance itself from it. “Harvey Weinstein personally bought this movie from Miramax at the time because Disney wanted this movie out of their lives,” he explained to Fox News Digital. The Weinsteins had a history of buying films from their own company for distribution.

In a broader conversation, Smith expressed skepticism about whether Weinstein actually paid for “Dogma,” mentioning that Disney never seemed interested in supporting the film. He mused that the backlash at its release could have led to Weinstein acquiring it for free.

With Weinstein personally owning the rights, Smith faced numerous challenges in trying to reclaim them. He often appealed to Weinstein, saying, “Hey, this movie doesn’t mean anything to you… so can I buy the movie back?” His initial offers started at $250,000, then $500,000, which would have required him to shut down his comic store, Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, established nearly 30 years ago. But those offers weren’t enough, and he soon realized he needed help.

Smith then reached out to Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, asking if they would support his efforts. He returned to Weinstein with a $1 million offer, but it was still met with silence. Smith described the interaction as “an absolute stone wall situation.”

Eventually, when the rights became available, it was due to a small company purchasing several films from Weinstein, seemingly unaware of what they were acquiring. “They just bought 10 movies from Harvey Weinstein,” he said, noting that the company hadn’t intended to sell “Dogma” back to him but did partner to make the film accessible again.

For Smith, this partnership, while not financially lucrative, was worthwhile. He remarked, “I felt like even if I don’t get rich doing this, someone else will, and that’s what the movie business is about.” This provided him a fresh opportunity to engage with the film he cherished.

Smith emphasized that his motivation now isn’t money. “I do things just to see people’s faces change, or just to kill a few months,” he shared. He found joy in the recent “Resurrection Tour” celebrating the 25th anniversary of “Dogma.” It was a chance to introduce the film to a new generation, which brought him satisfaction.

Interestingly, he noted the age diversity of the tour’s audience, expecting mostly older fans but finding a mix that included parents sharing the film with younger viewers. Reflecting on this, he noted, “It’s nice to know that the tradition continued in the suburbs,” smiling as he recalled his own childhood experiences with movies.