River Phoenix's Final Film To Be Released

The final film made by River Phoenix is to finally be completed and released by its director.

Phoenix was shooting Dark Blood, directed by Dutch helmer George Sluizer, when he died of a heart attack outside the Viper Room in Los Angeles on Halloween night 1993, aged 23.

Hearing the news of Phoenix's passing, Sluizer took the original footage and hid it away, fearing that it would be destroyed.

However, The Hollywood Reporter says that he has now re-edited the material, and is convinced that with a few tweaks - such as using voice over - a final cut of the movie will be ready for release in 2012.

Sluizer is planning to ask brother Joaquin to do the voice over as River's character Boy, saying: "The voices of both brothers are very much alike."

Sluizer is best known for directing Spoorloos, which was remade as The Vanishing, starring Jeff Bridges and Kiefer Sutherland.

Movie stars who died young...