For film enthusiasts who have spent years hearing whispers about lost masterpieces and legendary acts of censorship, the upcoming theatrical release of Ken Russell’s The Devils is nothing short of a landmark event.
BFI Distribution, in partnership with Warner Bros. Clockwork, has unveiled a brand-new trailer featuring never-before-seen footage from the long-awaited 4K restoration.
Opening in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 30 October 2026, this release marks a historic occasion fifty-five years in the making: for the very first time, audiences will be able to experience the definitive, uncensored version of the film exactly as Russell intended it to be seen.
For someone who has never seen the original, hearing about its mythic status through seasoned film historians has only fuelled my excitement. Now, the prospect of witnessing this visionary work for the first time, not on a compromised bootleg tape, but fully restored in 4K on a massive cinema screen, is incredibly exciting.
The scale of this restoration is staggering. Assembly was completed from the original camera negative, restoring footage that was sliced away over half a century ago due to its controversial themes. Director and BFI Fellow Guillermo del Toro put the sheer ambition of the project into perspective, describing the painstaking restoration process as “like cleaning the Sistine Chapel with saliva,” while praising the epic, overwhelming visual power of seeing the film on the big screen.
Set in 17th-century France and inspired by the true story of priest Urbain Grandier, The Devils explores a terrifying intersection of religious persecution, mass hysteria, and state corruption. Oliver Reed stars as Grandier, a charismatic priest accused of witchcraft after a convent of nuns becomes engulfed in collective mania, while Vanessa Redgrave delivers a powerhouse performance as Sister Jeanne des Anges.
Beyond its magnetic leads, the trailer showcases a stunning gathering of artistic craft. The film features exquisite work from Oscar-winning cinematographer David Watkin, legendary editor Michael Bradsell, and visual artist Derek Jarman, whose revolutionary work as production designer marked his feature film debut.
After receiving overwhelming critical acclaim at its Cannes Film Festival world premiere in the Cannes Classics strand, this definitive cut is finally making its way home to UK cinemas just in time for Halloween. For anyone who loves the transformative power of cinema, 30 October 2026 cannot come soon enough.
Watch the new trailer below: