River Phoenix's final film Dark Blood lands US release date... 20 years after he died from a drug overdose at age 23

By Alexa Rae Johnson

Published: 17:54 EST, 16 May 2014 | Updated: 18:31 EST, 16 May 2014

When River Phoenix died of a drug overdose in 1993, he was nearly done filming his movie Dark Blood.

The thriller sat on shelves for 20 years despite intense interest in the tragic star who was only 23-years-old when he died outside West Hollywood's Viper Room of a drug overdose.

On Friday it was announced at the Cannes Film Festival the film will get a US release date, according to Deadline.

A new life for an old movie: On Friday it was announced at the Cannes Film Festival that River Phoenix's last film, the thriller Dark Blood, would get a US release date 20 years after it was made

A new life for an old movie: On Friday it was announced at the Cannes Film Festival that River Phoenix's last film, the thriller Dark Blood, would get a US release date 20 years after it was made

Liongsate announced that they have bought the rights to the film, a thriller about a widower who takes an innocent couple hostage in the desert of the American southwest.

The company released a statement about their acquisition: 'The story behind the making of a film can be as intriguing as the film itself... An actor with undeniable talent has his life cut short before he could fully realize his potential. This is a time capsule. A piece of history.'

'When River died, the movie was totally cancelled and everyone went away. It was declared impossible to finish', Dutch director George Sluzier recently revealed.

Love and loss: River, pictured in his film I Love You To Death, had shot 80 percent of Dark Blood before he passed away

Love and loss: River, pictured in his film I Love You To Death, had shot 80 percent of Dark Blood before he passed away

'The negatives were still good but part of the sound needed to be rebuilt and re-recorded', Sluzier explained. 'And only 65 percent of the story was shot…so I had to rewrite the story.'

For twenty years Sluzier has been on a quest to turn that around and make it happen.

Last year an unfinished version of the movie premiered at the Berlin Film Festival.

The movie, which also stars Judy Davis and Jonathan Pryce, will be released not in theaters but on video-on-demand.

River is the brother of Oscar nominated actor Joaquin Phoenix.

Life cut short: The Golden Globe and Oscar nominee was only 23-years-old when he tragically overdosed at the Viper Room in Los Angeles in 1993

Life cut short: The Golden Globe and Oscar nominee was only 23-years-old when he tragically overdosed at the Viper Room in Los Angeles in 1993

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His brother is a brilliant actor. Never seen any of River's films.

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They've sat on this nest-egg all this time in the knowledge that it will one day make them a ton of money - watch the cash roll in when this goes out

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He looks like a young andy Carroll

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wow 20 years, i still vividly remember the moment seeing the news, yet forgot he was only 23, always thought he joined the 27 club

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He was stunning.

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I cant wait to see it. I have seen clips and it looks like a very dark emotional film. But it is the last snap shot left of the magnificent River Phoenix. A treasure indeed

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Great actor.. He would of won many of oscars had he lived.. So hot too.. Such a sad loss.. R.I.P. River.. You will always be missed..

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He was a really good young actor with his whole career ahead of him¿. it was all very sad at the time.

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River loved the role- but hated the female "lead". Kind of sad. I will watch it as I am a huge, huge fan of River Phoenix. Devastated when he passed away. He was soooo talented. Just like Heath Ledger. Huge fan of his as well. So young and so talented. The both made bad decisions and paid the price for it. I still respect both of them however and will continue to. They both are still 'legends'- but I would have loved to see them evolve in the acting business.

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I remember reading about his passing on a news paper, it was just a small article on a corner, but it had a huge impact on me when I found he had died. Can't believe it has been 20 years. Through the first years I used to watch Joaquin films trying to found something of River on him, but Joaquin is Joaquin and River was River. Hope this film is a good closure to a short bright career.

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