Kevin Smith coming to Georgia to re-release controversial movie that was buried for 10+ years

A popular name in independent movies is coming to Georgia for a special event years in the making.

Creator and star of the "Clerks" and "Jay and Silent Bob" franchises Kevin Smith is hosting "Dogma: The Resurrection Tour." This is a kickoff to the re-release of his movie "Dogma" which has been largely kept from the public's eyes for a long time. Here's what we know:

What is "Dogma?"

"Dogma" was released in 1999 as a fantasy-comedy about two angels banned from Heaven who find a loophole to get back in, but it could destroy humanity. It stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, the late Alan Rickman, and Salma Hayek. Smith wrote and directed it.

The movie has a 68% among critics and 85% among audiences, according to Rotten Tomatoes. It made more than $43 million on its $10 million budget, according to The Numbers. Despite the praise, some religious groups called it "blasphemous" and held protests outside theaters at the time of his release. Smith famously showed up to one of these protests and appeared on the local news pretending to be a protester.

Why can't anyone watch "Dogma?"

As explained by the A.V. Club, the flick was last released for watching at home in 2008. However, complications arose due to the fact that the rights have, for more than 20 years, been owned by Bob and Harvey Weinstein. Smith said in 2019 that the movie was licensed to Lions Gate for theatrical distribution and then Sony for home video, but those deals pre-dated streaming and then they lapsed. Since then, "Dogma" has not been turned into a DVD or been available through any streaming services. Some bootleg recordings have appeared on YouTube, and used copies of the DVD have been marketed at a range of prices reaching over $100.

Smith has been trying to get the rights back to "Dogma" for years, and only recently was he finally successful.

When will "Dogma" be re-released?

"Dogma" has been remastered in 4K and will return to movie theaters across the U.S. and Canada on June 5. But, before then, Smith is doing his "resurrection tour" starting April 20 where he will appear at AMC theaters for special Q&A screenings. For those who attend a screening dressed up as one of the characters, Smith will take a selfie with you after the show.

When will Kevin Smith be in Georgia?

Smith will be at the AMC Sugarloaf Mills 18 in Lawrenceville on Wednesday, May 7. This is an R-rated event. The show starts at about 6 p.m. Tickets will be about $50. Limited tickets are available, so get them soon if you're interested. For more info, go to dogmamovie.com.

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email atmlegoas@gannett.com.