Well that certainly came out of nowhere. DONNIE DARKO 2 (starts shooting May 18)
 

I certainly didnt see this one coming but comingsoon.net says t is so. Here is more:
Donnie Darko Sequel Starts Filming May 18
Source: Screen Daily
May 9, 2008


Screen Daily reports that UK-based sales company Velvet Octopus will be launching sales in Cannes for S. Darko, billed as the sequel to the 2001 cult hit Donnie Darko. Fox has already taken North American rights for the $10 million-budgeted film.

Chris Fisher, who previously made Nightstalker and Rampage: The Hillside Strangler Murders, will direct.

Daviegh Chase reprises her role as Donnie's younger sister. The cast for S. Darko also includes Ed Westwick (Son of Rambow, Gossip Girl), Briana Evigan (Step Up 2: The Streets) and Justin Chatwin (Dragonball).

The story picks up seven years after the first film when little sister Samantha Darko and her best friend Corey are now 18 and on a roadtrip to Los Angeles when they are plagued by bizarre visions.

Producers have spoken to Richard Kelly about the project but he is not involved in any official capacity at this stage.

The project starts shooting May 18.

i can already smell the overwhelming stench of this...

uhh...

No thanks.

Direct-to-DVD, anyone?

That did come out of nowhere. I guess some suits have been trawling the $5 bin at Wal-Mart for new film ideas. No doubt "S. Darko" will see the new cast being chased through the woods by a crazed murderer dressed in a bunny costume.

I thought this was going to be Richard Kelly trying to make himself bankable again after Southland Tales, which would have been bad enough, but this is just awful.

I wonder if it will actually be a retelling of the Darko story like sequels to Cruel Intentions have been...this will be a "pass" from me.

I honestly don't know if it's better or worse that Richard Kelly isn't involved.

I will probably see this one day out of sick curiosity, but this certainly is a giant "WTF?" followed by a "Why?" The first one is not holding up so well for me after these few years... ...

Hmm, that chick from Step Up 2... I wonder if there is going to be some hardcore Sparkle Motion dancing?

Sounds like shit. Pass.

a bit more info from /film.com
"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."

I actually dont know what to think about this news... I am certainly not against it as of yet since there seems to be very little info about the project so far. Odds are it'll suck but I suppoe their is a possibility there could be something worthwhile about this project.

I don't know, there really isn't any room for a sequel. But Daveigh Chase is good at being creepy.

This idea is worse than a Bollywood remake of Oldboy ...

No.

So wait, it gets twice the budget of the original despite the fact it'll likely go direct to video and only stars Daveigh Chase (who I like in The Ring and HBO's Big Love).

Just seems weird to me. Love the original, and think a sequel could have potential, but the odds of it being even decent are minimal.

Probably a different script that reminded an exec of Darko, so they tweaked it to add the sister character and then retitled.

Ha ha ha haa, this is awful.

Looks good.

Oh, this isn't the Indiana Jones 4 thread.

Nevermind, this sounds bad.

even Smurfette thinks this is a bad idea

:lol: rotfl :lol: rotfl :lol: rotfl :lol:

:lol: rotfl :lol: rotfl :lol: rotfl :lol:

:lol: rotfl :lol: rotfl :lol: rotfl :lol:

Being that Kelly isn't involved I have high hopes for it.

I didn't even think the first one was good, so as you can imagine, I won't even bother with this.

I may give it (D. Darko) another chance someday though.

I was thinking the same thing but didn't have the balls to type it. :)

My Frank the Bunny figure came in the mail the other day and when I showed it to my wife she let out a darling "awwwwwwww" sound. Odd reaction to what isn't even a cute bunny. We sat down after getting home from the movies tonight and we started Donnie Darko so she would understand the figure more.

The sequel idea sucks.....even if Kelly was involved I wouldn't get excited about it.

I love Donnie Darko, but even I will admit this movie sounds like a terrible idea.

That about covers it.