Richard Kelly Set to Release Debut Novel "Gigantic" This Year

      The anticipation for anything fresh from Richard Kelly has been lengthy and fruitless. Although his films, their alternative versions, and graphic-novel prequels are consistently engaging and rewarding, a child born the day after The Box was released is now contemplating college. During an extensive discussion with him a few years back, Kelly assured us that multiple projects are in various stages of development. We trust his words and continue to wait as modern American cinema fades. To paraphrase Kent Jones regarding John Carpenter: we don’t have a surplus of exceptional directors, so we can’t afford to let Richard Kelly slip away unnoticed.

      However, a shift might finally be on the horizon: in a recent interview with GQ, Kelly nonchalantly revealed that “a gigantic novel” is set to “be published later this year.” While keeping details about the publisher under wraps, he elaborated on what we might anticipate and how it connects to broader aspirations:

      “It’s science fiction, that’s all I can share for now. It’s definitely substantial. It’s epic, and I’m genuinely excited about it, to get something new out into the world. I wish it were a movie, but for now, we’re starting with a novel. It was something I wanted to prove to myself—that I could do it independently and actually produce a novel. Furthermore, when you look at Project Hail Mary and other films, if you intend to introduce something original to the world, a novel serves as an excellent medium for reaching a global audience. Having a book available simplifies the process of getting a movie greenlit.”

      Kelly has expressed admiration for Philip K. Dick (whose influences are numerous in Southland Tales) and Thomas Pynchon, while The Box is an adaptation of Richard Matheson’s work. These names may set expectations high, and Kelly's knack for crafting memorable dialogue keeps them buoyant. Fans can (and in this case, have) drive themselves to distraction contemplating what he has been working on over the last two decades, making a “gigantic” project—whether in film or another form—entirely welcome. I’m just curious about what words he will choose to describe a portal.