The long-awaited The Whole Bloody Affair – Quentin Tarantino’s edit of both Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 as one film – will be getting a digital release on February 17, followed by a physical release later this year.
This news should come as no surprise, given Lionsgate’s track record, especially with their fairly new “Lionsgate Limited” label, a company that specializes in physical disc releases.
In the past, Tarantino has said he sees The Whole Bloody Affair as a theatrical-only event — ideally screened in an immersive large-format presentation, preferably on 35mm or 70mm — arguing that its scale and ambition are meant to be experienced on the big screen, not a living room TV. But let’s be real: there’s far too much money on the table to keep it confined to theaters forever.
According to an interview with Lionsgate’s Creative Ad Senior VP Aaron Gershman (via SteelBookObsessed), an elaborate, deluxe box set and simpler retail version are in the works. Details are still pending, but most-likely, 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray options will be available.
Expect the possibility posters, photo/art cards, booklets, and brand-new illustrated artwork – now the standard play for physical media as it continues to outdo digital-only releases for hardcore film fans. Heck, how about a Hattori Hanzo sword replica?
The Whole Bloody Affair revolves around a former assassin (Uma Thurman) who wreaks vengeance on a team of assassins (David Carradine, Darryl Hannah, Michael Madsen, Lucy Lui and Vivica Fox) who not only betrayed her, but also left her for dead.
The Whole Bloody Affair removes the cliffhanger ending from 2003’s Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and the recap that began 2004’s Kill Bill: Vol. 2. New to this release will be a never-before-seen 7½-minute animated sequence.
The film also boasts an all-star cast featuring Sonny Chiba (Doberman Cop), Gordon Liu (Shaolin Martial Arts), Chiaki Kuriyama (Battle Royale), Michael Parks (Blood Father), Jun Kunimura (The Wailing), Kazuki Kitamura (Blade of the Immortal), Bo Svenson (The Inglorious Bastards), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction) and Michael Jai White (Triple Threat), who had his scene cut out in the original theatrical film.
Here’s what we can expect from the release (beware of spoilers):
- Format and Pacing: The two volumes are combined into one uninterrupted feature, presented with a single opening sequence and a single end credit roll. A fifteen minute intermission separates the events of the first and second halves of the film.
- Uncensored Violence: The House of Blue Leaves fight, which was presented in black and white in the U.S. theatrical cut to avoid an NC 17 rating, is fully restored in color. The sequence also includes more explicit and graphic moments of violence.
- Extended Anime: The animated origin story of O Ren Ishii is expanded with an additional seven and a half minute segment. In this sequence, a young O Ren murders one of Boss Matsumoto’s associates inside an elevator.
- Omitted Cliffhanger: The original ending of the first volume is removed, including the reveal that the Bride’s daughter is still alive. As a result, the audience learns this information at the same moment as the Bride in the latter half of the film, giving the moment greater emotional impact.
- Sofie Fatale’s Fate: New footage depicts the Bride severing Sofie’s second arm while she is confined in the trunk of a car.
- Post Credits Scene: The 2025 release adds a special animated short titled The Lost Chapter: Yuki’s Revenge, which follows Gogo Yubari’s sister as she seeks retribution.
- Other Removals: To maintain a smoother single film presentation, the recap at the start of the second volume and the Bride’s opening narration at the Two Pines chapel have been removed.
For Asian and martial arts cinema fans, the Kill Bill saga is noted for having action sequences by legendary martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping (Drunken Master, The Matrix) and sword fight choreographer Tetsuro Shimaguchi.
Additionally, it’s filled with countless nods to Toshiya Fujito’s 1973 female-samurai revenge flick, Lady Snowblood; kung fu icon Bruce Lee (his Kato costume from The Green Hornet and his yellow/black tracksuit from Game of Death); and of course, an appearance by Pai Mei (aka White Eyebrows), a villainous figure in Chinese folklore, made famous in 1977’s Executioners from Shaolin and 1980’s Clan of the White Lotus.
We’ll have more details about the physical release as we learn more. Stay tuned!
Until then, you can pre-order the digital release (arriving on February 17) on Apple TV for $19.99. A release on Prime Video, YouTube, and Fandango at Home are expected to follow.
It’d be nice if Quentin gave us the uncut Hero and Shaolin Soccer, next. I also wonder what it would take to get back Grandmaster from Harvey.
Fun question: Would you let Harvey walk if he gave up the rights?
It sounds like we got downvoted by people who like edited and dumbed down dubs and subs.
You got downvoted because you suggested getting your favourite movie in its original form was worth letting a convicted multiple rapist go free
No, I said get it back from him, not release him.
You literally said let him walk which correct me if I’m wrong means release him…..Let a sex offender walk so you can have a couple of movies released?
I didn’t. Bona joked about it.
Ningen is correct. He said nothing of the sort. lol
Been available for years.
Got mine in 2011.
Nice. Do you remember or have a list of things different from the Theatrical releases? (that is not already on our post). Is this a fan cut or a legit release from another country?
The whole bloody affair had been out since 2006 (if i recall right) in limited edition only in Japan video market. I myself had a copy on drive from 2010. I just can’t recall if the added scenes fro Oren ishii’s past were already implemented (which are crazy good).
When was the extended part of the O-REN anime sequence produced? Clearly the animation style looks cleaner and newer
Finally I can put my Milkman reconstruction into the basement , thats if they actually bother with a physical release. The major difference of this cut is that you don’t get dumbass spoilers for “part 2” as you’re leaving the cinema. Rapestein saw LOTR and Harry Potter and thought hmm double the dollars if I split this movie into two.
there’s a guy on facebook thats talking crap about you. Comments that you guys are making shit up about a physical release. he also states that Quentin wants this to be a theater experience only and a physical release is not possible.
It may or may not get a physical release. Tarantino did state that he wants it to be a cinema only thing. I think he’s already shown it before in a cinema he owns. I think he said he wants it to be more of an experience.
Only time will tell. Unless anyone is sitting at the negotiation table between QT and Lionsgate (its subsidiaries), it’s not a shot in the dark to say a physical release will follow. It’s common sense forecasting.
As far as Tarantino wanting it to be “cinema only,” I’m sure he mostly means that he wants just as many people to get off their asses and go to the movie theatre as there are who want to buy the home release.
And why not? As much as I love watching movies at home, people should be going to the theatre as well. It’s disheartening to go to the theatre and only see a few people in there because everyone else wants to illegally download or stream a movie.
As veteran film fans, we should be encouraging a theatre going experience without phones.
Will be interesting if they give us the option to choose which version of the Crazy-88 fight because as cool as it is we are getting it but there’s just something so memorable about the black & white version.
Hopefully we also get a nice collector’s edition too.
Agree. When the film switches to black and white, there’s more weight behind the brutality of it. I remember owning the Japanese DVD (with the color version), and it didn’t quite work for me. Comes down to taste (and which version you watched first).
I appreciate the artistic aspect of seeing the action sequence in Black and White, but it’s hard not to appreciate the color version. While it’s less artistic, it makes the scene better on a technical level since the details are more visible.
The b&w look would have worked better if the walls and floor were white.
“The b&w look would have worked better if the walls and floor were white.”
Valid point.
Is that poster an homage to The Bride with White Hair?
Honest trailer. https://youtu.be/tnWWEWC85rA?si=JYg5xgpcaRMKucuT
How about a 4k UHD release of Hero and The Grandmaster?
QT is the greatest rip off artist of all time!!!
QT had his wish of folks seeing it in theaters (I did). Now lionsgate can do what they want and release it.
Not a very big succes in theatres. I’m happy, can’t stand the guy and his fans.
What did I do? lol
The theatrical release is just advertising the home vid release, since it already made its money back. Now, Cliff Booth might not do as well, if it goes wide.