I’m a huge fan of Donnie Darko. Richard Kelly’s debut film is not only one of my favorite films of 2001, but it’s probably somewhere on my list of favorite films of all time. So when I learned this morning that a sequel was being made, I seriously began to doubt my commitment to sparkle motion. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti sequel at all. I’ll be happy to see Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and enjoyed watching Live Free or Die Hard. If the original people are involved, and it doesn’t suck as a movie (forget about comparisons to the original) then I’m in. But that’s where the sequel to Donnie Darko goes wrong.
Apparently the sequel is being made completely without the involvement of Richard Kelly. The press release reads:
“Producers have spoken to Richard Kelly about the project but he is not involved in any official capacity at this stage.”
But I’m guessing that this is just PR speak for Velvet Octopus probably called Richard Kelly, who explained he was not interested in being involved in a sequel. I just sent an email to someone I know over at Darko Entertainment, and they assured me that “Richard, Sean, and every ounce of Darko Entertainment are 150% NOT INVOLVED”. This can’t be good.
“Why do you wear that stupid Woman suit?”
The sequel follows Donnie’s younger sister, Samantha Darko, a role reprised by Daviegh Chase (of such direct to dvd classics as Beethoven’s 5th: Big Paw and the animated Stich! The Movie). The story picks up seven years after the first film and Donnie’s death when his now 18-year-old sister Samantha and her best friend Corey go on a roadtrip to Los Angeles, where along the way they are plagued by bizarre visions. And if that doesn’t sound bad enough, guess what they’re calling it? Donnie Darko 2? Nope. S. Darko! What? They couldn’t even call it Samantha Darko?
But they probably nabbed an unknown filmmaker who has an incredibly unique vision, and ability to think outside of the box. Someone who was discovered in the world of music videos or some other visual medium, right? They wouldn’t have hired a hack to direct the sequel, would they? They have. Chris Fisher, who previously made Nightstalker and Rampage: The Hillside Strangler Murders, will direct.
Producers told ScreenDaily that “Donnie’s not in [the new film] but there are meteorites and rabbits.” Oh, great. The budget is pegged around $10m, and production begins on May 18th. The supporting cast includes Ed Westwick (Son Of Rambow, Gossip Girl), Briana Evigan (Step Up 2) and Justin Chatwin (Dragon Ball). Fox has already nabbed the North American distribution rights. Avoid at all costs.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:20 am
EPIC FAIL
May 9th, 2008 at 11:21 am
thats just great…………..
*shakes head to wake up*
damn……..thought i was dreaming
May 9th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I’m not one of those people who were in love with Donnie Darko, it’s a great film but not life changing like some people think it is. that said, it literally pains me to read this story. a sequel? if ever there was a movie not in need of a sequel, it is this one. hopefully it won’t tarnish the original
May 9th, 2008 at 11:26 am
why can’t Richard Kelly stop this? Didn’t he write and direct it? What happened to copyright laws? S. DARKO? We are officially fucked..
May 9th, 2008 at 11:36 am
This is an I am may have to quit now. no no good.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:36 am
hahahahaha
May 9th, 2008 at 11:46 am
i just dont understand. this hasnt really had time to settle down in my head.
these people must be fucking demented, or stone broke, just trying to make some cash.
donnie darko 2? what? ‘S. DARKO’?!@? you must be insane. i hate movies like this, that add absolutely nothing to cinema history, and end up in the blockbuster bargain bin for 2.99.
thanks!! cant wait! LOL!!!111
May 9th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Surely the film makers would know that any fan of the original film would go nowhere near this guaranteed direct to DVD bollocks.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:51 am
STOP THIS MOVIE!!!
May 9th, 2008 at 11:52 am
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
they are going to ruin this movie sooooo hard
JUST TERRIBLE
May 9th, 2008 at 11:53 am
This is retarded.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Why!?! I like sequels but not EVERY movie
needs a sequel.
I can’t wait for part 2 of The Devil Wears Prada.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Ohhh No. Bad idea.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Whoa-boy. This is seven different kinds of bad. S-Darko, well I guess we can all figure out what the S stands for, and it’s not Samantha.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
…oh dear god, no!
This is a waste of money, film, and time…
It doesn’t appear to be a waste of talent as there isn’t any present in the production.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I’m only interested in how this happened and what I can do to stop it. Very weird news, unbelievable.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
As far as i’m concerned this has never happened. I won’t be going to this.
When will hollywood come up with original ideas? Are there no new kids coming out of college brimming with fresh scripts? Or is Hollywood now fully a gated community?
May 9th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Can we boycott this? Like seriously? I’m more in favor of this not happening than Uwe Boil never directing again. Please, please, please we must stop this!
May 9th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I am in disbelief. What is wrong in some people’s heads??
Do they actually think this will be a money maker? They’ll be
lucky to break even, even with a $10mil budget.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
“Avoid at all costs…” “Can we boycott this?..” “Bad”. “Retarded”. “Terrible”.
This is just ridiculous, guys, your reaction. You should LOVE this story. It’s as cinematic as it can be: Some people with no or bad credit history try to remake one of the most loved/controversial movies of recent times. It’s “Be Kind Rewind”, just in real life. And instead of laugh/praise this, you sit in circle like old village residents and start complaining to each other and nod to each other. “Oh, do you know that Susan brought home NEW guy last night! She’s a slut!” And purse lips and exchange meaningful glances when Susan passes by.
Relax, guy! The worst thing that can happen is you get another crappy movie. And you can surely tolerate this!
May 9th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Speaking of Uew Boll, they might as well just hand this over to him. If your going to ruin the movie, you may as well do it right.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Lot of whores out there.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
This belongs in the bargain bin with other tangentially-related sequels like American Psycho 2. Ugh.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
The Direct to DVD market must be killed.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
If they changed the title to “meteorites and rabbits” I would go see it.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Anti-Donnie Darko 2 petition, right here:)
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/no2dd2/
Say NO to Donnie Darko 2!
May 9th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
THIS IS SO FUCKED UP.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Sounds like this will be the 2010: TYWMC of sequels… except direct to dvd and for the Nickelodeon market.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
How do these people get this money to make this shit?
May 9th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
i seriously wanted to cry when i read this… this is fucked. this is worthy of my made up word.. its a polyobesural fail. see hunters comment (first) for a synonym.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Bad joke. Not funny.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
This has been one horrible week of movie news Peter.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Its so Reaganomics!
May 9th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Doesn’t one usually make crappy sequels to wildly popular movies so you can trick more people into spending money on your crap movie and make a little dough? I’d like to see the logic behind the decision to make a sequel to a cult movie that isn’t that well known and whose fans are made up primarily of geeks who know better than to waste their money on this kind of crap.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
if its made by asylum, then its ok, at least understandable.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
i think the well educated foreigner said it best guys: we know this is gonna suck, no need to get too upset, if nothing else the film will be sure to provide a good drinking game or two. it is disrespectful and it is laughable, but there are more pressing matters that warrent our fury/attention, like the boll petition - i want that fuking gum!
s. darko is very upsetting but i’m just not sure if there’s anything we can do.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
“Fisher said in a statement: “I am a great admirer of Richard Kelly’s film and hope to create a similar world of blurred fantasy and reality.”
this is a quote from the director…a similar world, he says? uhh, there should only be ONE linear and consitent world here - no matter how fucked up kelly made it. now, i’d love to make it to feature film directing someday, but i’m not sure i could sacrifice my integrity at a cheesy shot like this. he’s got some balls (or stupidity) to presume he could add to kelly’s vision. maybe you guys are right, some outrage might just be perfectly appropriate.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
i’m glad to see the bashing of what is bound to be a horrible sequel has already begun. lets keep this up. maybe start a petition to stop it from being made?
May 9th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I really don’t understand why people get so worked up about sequels and remakes. Sure, in all probability this film is going to be awful. It could be great, but in all likelihood it wont be. The thing is, it’s not going to take anything away from the original. Nobody is going to force you to watch it, and nobody is going to come in to your house and destroy your deluxe special edition Donnie Darko DVD.
So…chill out.
May 10th, 2008 at 2:32 am
DO NOT WANT!
May 10th, 2008 at 4:30 am
Anti-Donnie Darko 2 petition, right here:)
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/no2dd2/
Say NO to Donnie Darko 2!
This is a far more pressing matter than Uwe Boll!!!
May 10th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Nothing is more pressing than Uwe Boll.
That being said people need to relax. I have watched the first movie atleast 4 times and still don’t see what is so crazy awesome about it. Its good, but people praise the dvd like its a deity of the digital age. Everyone who likes it thinks everyone who doesn’t “just doesn’t REALLY understand it” and everyone who hates it thinks the lovers are either “emo” or to quote another website, simply “douchebags”. When all is said and done I’m still going to watch this movie and most likely get some sort of joy out of a terrible sequel, which is why I’ll most likely be renting it alongside The Lost Boys 2.
May 11th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
“Avoid at all costs.”
If this attitude existed when Richard Kelly was making Donni Darko - the film would of never been made. Wait for it to be released, see it, and then rip it apart if you don’t like it. But commenting even before the first scene is filmed is bad form.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
hey… isnt this movie going to be any good? come on have to save the world… WTF get kelly to write it not a bunch of monkeys. (Butterfly Effect 2 all over again…) I am a big fan of timetravel and thinking of things like that (own all back to the futures, Donnie D, Butterfly E). the idea of this crap for a movie about a 17 year-old girl with a 10mill budget.. don’t attached it to Donnie.. call it something out change that chars names… and come on… I love the rabbit but bringing him back for this… that doesnt work that was there for donnie not his sister. mabye better if it was donnie himself…