British filmmaker Alex Cox is set to release what may be his final film, *Dead Souls*, a darkly comic western loosely inspired by Nikolai Gogol’s 1842 novel of the same name. The film, which also features Cox in a leading role, is scheduled to begin a Q&A tour starting November 4, with screenings in Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, London, and Oxford.

Cox, known for his unconventional style and cult status, has had a varied career that spans several decades. He initially gained recognition with the 1984 punk-infused cult classic *Repo Man*, followed by *Sid and Nancy* (1986), which starred Gary Oldman as Sid Vicious. He later directed the political western *Walker* (1987), starring Ed Harris, and from 1988 to 1994, served as the original presenter of BBC Two’s *Moviedrome*, a series showcasing cult and overlooked films.

Throughout the 1990s, Cox worked extensively in Mexico, creating films such as the critically acclaimed *Highway Patrolman*. He returned to his hometown of Liverpool for projects including *Three Businessmen* and *The Revengers Tragedy*. In the United States, Cox continued to explore genre films with *Searchers 2.0* (a reinterpretation of the classic western), *Repo Chick* (a sequel to *Repo Man*), and the sci-fi comedy *Bill the Galactic Hero*.

*Dead Souls* follows Cox’s character—alternately named Strindler or Swindler—a mysterious drifter in the American West who offers to buy the names of deceased Mexican laborers. The narrative unfolds as he becomes entangled with outlaws, corrupt officials, and increasingly exaggerated personal tales. Edward Tudor-Pole, known as a punk frontman, actor, and former host of *The Crystal Maze*, also appears in the cast.

Alongside the film, a screenplay co-written by Cox and Gianni Garko, paired with a new edition of Gogol’s original novel, will be published on November 5. As part of the film’s release, readers are invited to submit questions for Cox by midday on November 4, with selected responses to be featured in a Readers’ Interview series.

Whether *Dead Souls* represents the final installment in Cox’s prolific career or a prelude to further work remains to be seen, as some have speculated that Cox might follow the example of filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, who have announced retirements only to later return to directing.