...slowly began to become interested in making the version he wanted to make & WB gave them Carte Blanche. Some of Richard Lester's material was retained, but heavily replaced.

Unlike Alexander Salkind, his son Ilya & producer Pierre Spengler stated there was no animosity between them & Donner.

Surviving cast members claimed that the new "Richard Donner Cut" was the definitive version of II. This was also Richard Donner's last project before retiring & sadly, he died on 07/05/2021 at age 91.