From the 2007 musical drama I’m Not There to the more recent The Velvet Underground which documents the journey of one of the most prominent bands in the rock genre, Todd Haynes’ works have always been a topic for discussion, including his most controversial stop-motion Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story. Through the use of Barbie dolls, the film tells the tragic story of Karen Carpenter’s battle with anorexia that culminated in her death at 32.

Until today Superstar faced many legal restrictions, including the use of Carpenter’s songs without permission, as a result of which it has been “shown a couple of times, not announced publicly, and not for any fee, not for any ticket, under the terms of its cease and desist.” However, the Carol director is hopeful that a remastered version of his banned short may be eventually released.

In his recent interview with Entertainment Weekly on 30 years of New Queer Cinema, Haynes shared that he is eager to show the new version of the film if he is allowed to do so. He admits that there is more work to be done, but he sees a favorable shift in the legal opinions. When asked about the prospects of a re-release, Haynes responded with visible confidence: