After a remarkable span of twenty-five years since Kevin Smith’s thought-provoking 1999 comedy <em>Dogma</em> made waves, the visionary behind the View Askewniverse has shared exciting news regarding a long-awaited sequel. Featuring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as two estranged angels attempting to navigate a loophole in Catholic Dogma to return to Heaven, Smith’s fourth film stands as his most commercially successful project. For years, fans faced disappointment as the film remained largely inaccessible due to a protracted rights conflict with Harvey Weinstein. However, in late 2024, a significant turning point occurred when Smith announced that a new company has acquired the distribution rights, setting the stage for a theatrical re-release of Dogma on June 5.

In an engaging conversation with Screen Rant prior to the theatrical re-release of Dogma, Smith expressed his genuine enthusiasm for the potential sequel to his cult classic fantasy. He shared that Alessandra Williams, instrumental in reacquiring the rights from Weinstein, inquired about the possibility of revisiting the Dogma narrative. While Smith initially did not envision a sequel, he now finds himself more receptive to the idea of revisiting his beloved creations, particularly following the success of his recent sequels. Check out his candid response below:

But [Alessandra Williams], from the jump, was like, “Would you ever think about doing a sequel?” I was like, “Are you kidding me? F–k yeah.” Years ago, when I first made Dogma, I never had a sequel in mind. Back then, I was like, “Hey, man, I got more ideas than I can f—-ng get to in a lifetime.” Clerks 3, now on home video. [Chuckles] So now, in a world where I’m open to sequels and s–t, and she’s got the one back that I’ve never really f—-d with.”

Smith reassured fans who might be worried that a sequel could tarnish the original film’s legacy, stating emphatically that he cannot afford to jeopardize a Dogma follow-up. He candidly noted that he cannot recreate the same film, as he no longer possesses the same faith that inspired him previously. Nevertheless, he elaborated that while his planned sequel may lack in faith, it will undoubtedly make up for it with sharp wit and cleverness. His final remarks are worth noting:

Perhaps a bunch of people in the audience are like, “Yes, and there’s a good reason you shouldn’t do that.” But now I do, and so I do want to assure those cats who love Dogma that are like, “Oh, he’s gonna f—-ng ruin it”, and, “I saw Clerks 3, f–k him!” I can’t f—-ng afford to ruin a Dogma spinoff. Too many people f—-ng love this movie, so I can’t make that same movie again, because I don’t have the same faith. Like the way they say in the movie,” I don’t believe like that anymore,” I have some pretty good ideas. But, what it lacks in the faith that powered that first one — I know where it is now, because I’ve been writing it — it makes up for in pure cleverness.

When you see the movie, you’ll be like, “Of course, that’s the Dogma sequel. That makes a lot of sense.” So, I’m having a blast right now. The tour has been more helpful than me just sitting in the back and victory lapping it. I’ve been sitting in the back listening, going like, “All right, there’s a joke that could carry over. There’s some ties I can make. Oh, there’s a thing I could pay off in the next movie.” So, it’s been helpful as well.

Fans Once Gave Up Hope for a Follow-Up After Years of Anticipation

For many years, any aspirations for a Dogma sequel appeared to be a distant dream, primarily due to Smith’s challenges in reclaiming the rights to one of his most celebrated films. Although the filmmaker has not hesitated to revisit his other cherished franchises, creating sequels for both Clerks and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, many ardent fans believed that Dogma held the most promising storytelling potential thanks to its unforgettable characters and fantastical themes revolving around religion.

It appears that Smith is determined to create a meaningful sequel, envisioning it as a two-hour film that aims to “match what we did in terms of the length in the original presentation.” He has expressed his aspiration to return to the Cannes Film Festival for its 80th anniversary after recently attending the 78th edition to screen the original film, giving himself a two-year window to bring this ambitious project to fruition.

Insightful Perspectives on Kevin Smith’s Dogma 2 Plans

Fast-Tracking Plans by Reuniting Original Stars

No stranger to the unpredictable landscape of Hollywood, Smith understands how easily even the most well-crafted projects can lose momentum soon after their announcement. He has previously encountered multiple setbacks with his plans for a Mallrats sequel. Nevertheless, the chances of successfully bringing this latest endeavor to fruition will significantly increase if he can persuade Affleck and Damon to reprise their beloved roles as Bartleby and Loki.

While the exact roles that Affleck’s and Damon’s characters will play in the new film remain uncertain, Smith has indicated that he plans to feature both angels in his project, having shared this intention back in November of the previous year. Furthermore, both actors have continued to engage with Smith’s more recent projects, with Affleck appearing in a cameo role in Clerks III, and Damon even reprising his role as Loki for Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. With any luck, Smith will successfully entice them back and execute his vision of showcasing a Dogma sequel at Cannes in the coming two years.