An agreement signed between local distributor K-Films and French distributor MK2 means we get to see Chaplin's "The Great Dictator (restored) on the big screen next Friday! The world distribution rights outside of France belong to Warner, and (luckily for me) North American rights do not include Quebec. Warner has no plans, apparently because of the current political context..., to release the film on the big screen elsewhere in North America so it will be a direct to video/DVD release. That release should be the same as the current MK2 DVD release which contains a number of interesting extras, including a short film by Sidney Chaplin (shot in color in 16mm during the shooting of Dictator) and a 60 min film by UK film historian Kevin Brownlow which analyzes the antagonism Hitler-Chaplin.

Current political context? Did I miss several Nazis getting seats in the Senate?

Yeah, I found that statement rather puzzling as well... Perhaps someone should write Warner and ask them.

Will the DVD release be the original version of the film, or Chaplin's after-the-fact re-cut?

Don't know. IMDB says 124 min and the MK2 site says 126 min. Not sure if that says anything...