Ridley Scott, director of Gladiator II, intends to release a four-hour version of his 1992 historical epic 1492: Conquest of Paradise. Starring Gerard Depardieu, the film about Columbus’ journey had mixed reviews and was a box-office flop initially.
Scott has a history of releasing extended cuts, some highly praised. He still holds the film in high regard and wants to revive it for streaming, even joking about re-dubbing Depardieu’s lines.
While its 1990s reception was muted, the time might be right for a re-release. Recent director’s cuts’ streaming success and the growth of epic content on platforms suggest a four-hour 1492 could do well. Its fate depends on Scott’s ability to get studio support, but it’d be an interesting revival.
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