Richard Kelly Set to Release Debut Novel “Gigantic” This Year

      The wait for new material from Richard Kelly feels as prolonged as it is unproductive. While his films, their alternate versions, and graphic-novel prequels continue to offer insight and satisfaction, it’s notable that a child born the day after The Box debuted is now preparing for college. In a thorough discussion we had with him a few years back, Kelly assured us that he has many projects in various stages of development. We trust him and remain patient as contemporary American cinema fades away. To quote Kent Jones on John Carpenter: we cannot afford to let someone as talented as Richard Kelly slip through the cracks.

      However, there may finally be a shift: during an interview with GQ, Kelly casually mentioned “a gigantic novel” that is set to be “published later this year.” While he refrained from revealing the publisher's name, he shared some insights on what to anticipate and how it ties into his broader aspirations:

      “It’s science fiction, that’s all I can disclose right now. It’s definitely substantial. It’s epic, and I’m really, really thrilled about it, to finally have something new released into the world. I wish it was a film, but for now, we’re beginning with a novel. This is something I wanted to prove to myself—that I could achieve it independently, that I could indeed produce a novel. Plus, looking at Project Hail Mary and all these films, if you want to introduce something original to the world, a novel is a fantastic means of doing so for a worldwide audience. It paves the way for a film adaptation if there’s a book available.”

      Kelly has expressed admiration for Philip K. Dick (whose influences and references are evident in Southland Tales) and Thomas Pynchon, while The Box is adapted from Richard Matheson’s work. These names might raise expectations, and Kelly's proven track record of crafting memorable dialogue sustains them. Given that fans can drive themselves to distraction speculating on what he has been developing over nearly 20 years, a “gigantic” project—be it a movie or something else—will certainly be welcomed. I am just curious about how he will describe a portal.