Kevin Smith To Pioneer Controversial Release Strategy For New Movie
Well, we didn't expect that!
As the writer and director of 1999’s Dogma — a film which tackled abortion, euthanasia, and religion; gave Buddy Christ to the world; and cast Alanis Morissette as God — Kevin Smith is no stranger to controversy. But what’s coming for the Clerks creator may be coming from a different side of the socio-political spectrum than he’s used to being attacked by. Smith’s upcoming horror anthology film KillRoy Was Here is going to be released not in movie theaters, but as an NFT.
The news comes from Deadline, who reports that Kevin Smith is partnering with Secret Network’s Legendao to make the KillRoy Was Here NFT happen. The film will be released as a “5,555-piece generative art NFT collection” on Secret Network’s own platform. In other words, only 5,555 people will be able to buy it. Those who purchase it will have access to perks like “one-of-a-kind” art pieces, behind the scenes footage, and commentary tracks. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the offer is that the format will allow users to actually alter their specific copy of the film. “[T]he specific version of KillRoy you get is YOUR KillRoy to do with whatever you want,” Smith’s statement reads. “Make your own movie, turn it into a cartoon, license him for lunchboxes!”
In fact, Kevin Smith says that those who purchase the KillRoy NFT will have the chance “to go from art collector to collaborating artist!” The writer/director says he will be shooting part of KillRoy Was Here 2 in 2023, however, “the bulk” of the sequel will be made up of the “shorts and animation” that the NFT purchasers come up with.
Inspired by the graffiti phenomenon from World War II, KillRoy Was Here is a comedy horror anthology whose titular creature turns the Krampus legend upside down. The KillRoy of the Kevin Smith film, instead of punishing naughty children like Krampus, will hunt down grown-ups who abuse children. You can see the trailer for the film below.
The reason why Kevin Smith probably needs to brace himself for a social media tsunami, is that NFTs are apparently absolutely horrible for the environment. As The Verge reported last year, the digitally traded art is responsible for “millions of tons” of harmful carbon emissions. One of the quickest ways for a celebrity to get torn to shreds on social media make any involvement in NFTS known publicly, and it’s almost guaranteed that Smith is about to learn that if he doesn’t know it already.
The rumblings on Twitter are already beginning. Fans — including many who claim to otherwise be admirers of his work — are already slamming Kevin Smith on social media. Among other things, they don’t seem to be among the folks who are going to be lining up to purchase Smith’s movie.
We’ll have to wait and see exactly how things with this KillRoy NFT unfold. It could do serious harm to the career and legacy of Kevin Smith or it could prove a huge, innovative success. Time will tell whether or not the man who brought Silent Bob to the big screen will wish he was more like his character.
