Kevin Smith’s Final Act: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Return for Dogma Sequel That Sparked Catholic Backlash

Kevin Smith is circling back to one of his most infamous troublemakers. With Dogma getting a 4K rerelease, he says he wants to finally make a sequel with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck back in the mix. And yes, he sounds serious.

"Before I leave this best of all possible worlds, absolutely."

So... Dogma 2 might actually happen

Smith told ComicBook he is aiming a follow-up straight at the Damon/Affleck reunion that made the original such a trip. The timing is better than it has been in years. For a long stretch, Smith did not control the Dogma rights, which is the real reason there was no sequel talk beyond wishful thinking. After a lot of legal wrestling, he has the rights again and is eager to go.

Smith also knows sequels are a harder sell in his indie lane. Investors tend to chase new ideas, not follow-ups and spin-offs, which is why some of his projects stall. He has been talking about Moose Jaws for a decade and keeps saying it is close, but it never quite clears the runway. Dogma is different because the title actually means something to people, and that brand recognition makes the money part infinitely easier. In his view, Dogma 2 should be a smoother finance job than Moose Jaws.

The Damon and Affleck of it all

Nothing is signed, but Smith says Ben Affleck is game to return. Given how often Affleck and Matt Damon show up for each other, it is a safe bet Damon would follow.

Where we left Bartleby and Loki

The original ending has fueled decades of debate: did the fallen angels get obliterated, forgiven, or shipped off to heaven or hell? The movie gives you closure without spelling it out, which is part of the charm and the headache. Smith is finally tipping his hand, and it sounds like the sequel will pick up those threads and deal with the consequences.

"What a great question. You are asking the right questions. After Dogma came out, people would be like, 'What happens to Bartleby and Loki at the end?' And I was like, well, if you are a touchy-feely Christian, you believe in forgiveness. But if you are an old school Catholic like myself, they are burning in hell. They broke the laws, and that is what happens. There is punishment there. So that plays into our follow-up. Good eye, good eye."

Quick snapshot of the original

• IMDb: 7.3
• Rotten Tomatoes: 71% critics, 85% audience
• Runtime: 130 minutes

Dogma was a hit, and a lightning rod, when it opened. It is also one of the defining Kevin Smith movies, which is why a sequel with the original stars could actually get off the ground now that the rights issue is sorted out. No timeline yet, but the intent is clear.

If you want a refresher while we wait, Dogma is available to rent on Apple TV.