Ken Russell’s The Devils: The Director’s Cut – Restored and Remastered

WARNER BROS. CLOCKWORK WILL RELEASE THE DEFINITIVE VERSION OF KEN RUSSELL’S MASTERPIECE IN A 3-DISC 4K UHD + BLU-RAY COLLECTOR’S EDITION AND STANDARD 4K UHD EDITION ON APRIL 20, 2027 – THE FIRST TIME EVER THAT THE FILM WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THESE FORMATS

 See the UK theatrical trailer

The BFI, in partnership with Warner Bros. Clockwork, announces that Ken Russell’s The Devils, the 4K restoration of the definitive, uncensored director’s cut will be available for purchase in the UK and Ireland on 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc on April 20, 2027. Following Warner Bros. Clockwork’s theatrical release of this version that has been 55 years in the making, (which BFI Distribution released in UK and Irish cinemas on 30 October), the film arrives in 4K UHD for the first time ever. The 3-disc Collector’s Edition will include the 4K UHD presentation of the director’s cut as well as all three versions of the film for the first time ever on Blu-ray. The standard 4K UHD edition will include the director’s cut and new bonus material.

Both the Collector’s and Standard 4K UHD editions are now available to pre-order online at major retailers.  Two versions of the 4K UHD disc will be available for purchase: the 4K UHD + Blu-ray Collector’s Edition as well as a standard 4K UHD Edition. The Collector’s Edition includes a rigid slipcase with an 8-panel 3-disc holder and 96-page book. There is more than 14 hours of material, including the Director’s Cut encoded by Fidelity in Motion on a 4K UHD disc; the Director’s Cut, UK X-rated cut and US R-rated cut on a Blu-ray disc; and a Blu-ray disc including never-before-seen bonus material. The standard 4K UHD includes more than 4 hours of material in a slipcase with an 8-panel 1-disc digipak. This disc includes the Director’s Cut encoded by Fidelity in Motion and new bonus material. Pre-orders for both products begin today.

Ken Russell’s The Devils is the definitive cut of “The Devils”, and no other director’s cut formally exists. This cut was originally reconstructed in 2004 under the supervision of Ken Russell and the film’s editor Michael Bradsell with the collaboration of Mark Kermode. The 4K restoration was completed using the original camera negative at WB Water Tower Color, with audio restoration completed using original composite 35mm mag film at WB Sound.

The film stars Oliver Reed and Academy Award Winner Vanessa Redgrave.  In 1971, the film received Best Director awards from two of the most prestigious institutions in the world: the 33rd Venice International Film Festival and the U.S. National Board of Review. Its critical reception in the following decades has only become more impassioned, championed by artists and film historians including Guillermo del Toro and Mark Kermode.

About the Film

In Ken Russell’s The Devils, the legendary and controversial 1971 masterpiece returns in a stunning new 4K restoration, presenting the director’s definitive vision for the first time. In 17th-century Loudun, charismatic priest Father Grandier (Oliver Reed) finds himself at the centre of a political and religious conspiracy when the tormented Sister Jeanne (Vanessa Redgrave) becomes consumed by obsession. As accusations of possession, corruption, and witchcraft ignite mass hysteria, a shocking struggle for power threatens to destroy an entire community. Written and directed by Ken Russell, this visually breathtaking epic remains one of cinema’s most provocative and enduring works.

Ken Russell’s The Devils 3-Disc 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Collector’s Edition contains the following:

  • The first ever 4K UHD presentation of Ken Russell’s The Devils– the uncensored, definitive director’s cut – encoded by Fidelity In Motion with a newly restored monaural soundtrack.
  • The first ever official Blu-ray presentations of Ken Russell’s The Devils, the uncensored, definitive director’s cut (114 mins); the UK X-Rated version (111 mins); and the US R-Rated version (108 mins), with a newly restored monaural soundtrack.
  • Unedited 2004 audio commentary with Ken Russell, Michael Bradsell, Mark Kermode & Paul Joyce
  • Never-before-seen extended scene
  • New extended version of the documentary Hell on Earth: The Desecration and Resurrection of The Devils (2002) featuring additional interview footage with Ken Russell
  • New 4K remaster of the short film Amelia and the Angel (1958) directed by Ken Russell
  • New compilation of camera slates
  • New interview with Guillermo del Toro on The Devils and the legacy of Ken Russell
  • New introduction by Kleber Mendonça Filho at the first ever screening of Ken Russell’s The Devils in Brazil
  • New extended interview with Mark Kermode on The Devils and the reconstruction of the definitive director’s cut
  • New behind-the-scenes featurette on the picture and sound restoration
  • Never-before-seen archival interviews with Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed
  • Never-before-heard archival audio interviews between critic Richard Crouse and cast/crew
  • Never-before-seen costume sketches by Shirley Russell with audio commentary by Victoria Russell
  • Excerpt of Rupert Russell’s documentary Mad Dad, featuring never-before-seen Russell family photos
  • 2004 Q&A with Ken Russell and Mark Kermode following the first ever screening of Ken Russell’s The Devils at the BFI Southbank NFT1
  • 2010 Film at Lincoln Center Q&A with Ken Russell and Vanessa Redgrave
  • Director of Devils (1971) featurette with behind-the-scenes footage and a Ken Russell interview
  • Behind-the-scenes footage with commentary by Michael Bradsell
  • Archival Trailers
  • 2026 Theatrical Trailer
  • 96-page book with never-before-seen photography and production materials, excerpts of the original continuity script, new essays by Mark Kermode and Linda Ruth Williams, and newly unearthed archival crew interviews
  • and more…

Ken Russell’s The Devils 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Standard Edition contains the following:

  • The first ever 4K UHD presentation of Ken Russell’s The Devils – the uncensored, definitive director’s cut – encoded by Fidelity In Motion with a newly restored monaural soundtrack.
  • Unedited 2004 audio commentary with Ken Russell, Michael Bradsell, Mark Kermode & Paul Joyce
  • New interview with Guillermo del Toro on The Devils and the legacy of Ken Russell
  • 2004 Q&A with Ken Russell and Mark Kermode following the first ever screening of Ken Russell’s The Devils at the BFI Southbank NFT1
  • Behind-the-scenes footage with commentary by Michael Bradsell
  • Director of Devils (1971) featurette with behind-the-scenes footage and a Ken Russell interview
  • Archival Trailers
  • 2026 Theatrical Trailer

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Ken Russell’s The Devils Collector’s Edition

RRP: £59.99

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Parisian French, Italian, German, Castilian Spanish

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Parisian French, Latin Spanish, Dutch, Castilian Spanish, Italian, German, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish

Director’s Cut Run Time: 114 minutes

UK X-Rated Run Time: 111 minutes

US R-Rated Run Time: 108 minutes

UK Certificate: 18

Physical Street Date: April 20, 2027

Ken Russell’s The Devils Standard Edition

RRP: £29.99

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Parisian French, Italian, German, Castilian Spanish

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Parisian French, Latin Spanish, Dutch, Castilian Spanish, Italian, German, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish

Director’s Cut Run Time: 114 minutes

UK Certificate: 18

Physical Street Date: April 20, 2027

Skip to content
Send this to a friend
Skip to content
Send this to a friend