Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

My Scientology Movie: Louis Theroux hints at cinema release date for new documentary

The long-awaited film has only recently picked up cinema distribution rights 

Jacob Stolworthy
Tuesday 26 July 2016 10:23 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Despite receiving its debut at last year's London Film Festival, Louis Theroux's hotly anticipated big-screen documentary My Scientology Movie has no official release date attached.

Excitingly, however, it was revealed earlier this month that the film - directed by John Dower - had finally acquired UK distribution following its international premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in April.

While Altitude Films announced plans to "celebrate Louis’s big screen debut with a number of unmissable events in U.K. cinemas in the lead up to the release later in 2016," there was still no specific word on when the film would drop.

Theroux himself has revealed - bizarrely to Ellie Goulding and this very article's writer - a ballpark date via his Twitter account.


Since the film's festival premiere, a clip - showing the documentarian locking heads with a disruptive member of the church - was released online.

Speaking about the film, Theroux said: “More than 10 years ago, I approached the church to see if they might let me in to make a documentary.

“I thought I might be able to bring a sense of nuance and perspective to people’s understanding of a faith that has been much ridiculed. Just as I have done with other non-mainstream stories, I hoped to see it from the inside and make a human connection with its clerics and congregants. But I was repeatedly turned down.”

Theroux's documentary about alcohol addiction, Drinking to Oblivion, recently aired on BBC2 while another focused on Jimmy Savile - his second - will air later this year.

My Scientology Movie will be released in cinemas this Autumn.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in