Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly says that he has finished editing the directors cut of the movie, which will be released later on this year. "[Newmarket Films] is re-releasing it, and they're letting me have a director's cut, which will come out this summer in theaters, that I just finished today," Kelly told
Sci-Fi Wire. "No one's seen it yet, but it will definitely be a completely new experience as a film. It will probably surprise and shock even the most hardcore fans."
Kelly says he was finally able to complete his vision of of Donnie Darko. "Ultimately, for me, I'm just psyched I finally got to finish the film," he said. "While I'm proud of the theatrical cut, I feel like there were some elements that were never fully realized that I'm excited to be able to realize now. It's been a dream come true, and I'm really lucky to have gotten to do it."
The director's cut will premiere at the end of May, with subsequent releases depending on the initial reactions from filmgoers at the upcoming Seattle Film Festival. "They're going to test it in Seattle May 29th, and they're going to determine, like, a week later what the audience is, if they can really sell it to the multiplexes and to the suburban crowd," Kelly said. "The anticipation would be that maybe it could cross over and become more than just a cult film. It might become more of a mainstream success."