05.09.08
It’s the end of the World as I know It: Donnie Darko the Spin-Off.
ComingSoon says that on the 18th of May, filming will begin on “S.Darko” which is to be directed by Chris Fisher, and is the supposed sequel/spin-off to the 2001 hit “Donnie Darko,” which is incidentally one of my favourite films of all time.
The cast includes Daviegh Chase reprising her role as Donnie’s younger sister, Ed Westwick, Briana Evigan and Justin Chatwin. But that is not really important. Don’t you just hate it when “they” – being movie studio tyrants – try mess with a good thing, and create an abnormal amount of potential for the prequel to be ruined? Well, nothing can really ruin “Donnie Darko,” but this is not the best news lately. Not at all. Because money is the name of the game, sales for the film will commence at Cannes.
I am *this* close to pulling the trigger…
Daniel said,
May 9, 2008 at 3:46 pm
1 year…some day when it’s released… That… is when the world… will end.
Nick Plowman said,
May 9, 2008 at 4:30 pm
True, true.
However, for now, I just feel like it is a complete screw-up of an idea and whoever decided to pursue this idiotic conception deserves to be shot. Hence the pulling of the trigger.
J.D. said,
May 9, 2008 at 6:32 pm
*deep breaths, deep breaths…*
Well, it’s not really a sequel, it’s just a spin-off…
It’s not gonna be a disaster, I doubt it…
Daveigh in a starring role, that’s an excellent thing! Ermmmhh…
*hyperventilates*
Nick Plowman said,
May 9, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Well, we finally disagree on something…
I think it is unnecessary to make “S.Darko” – “Donnie Darko” is a classic, and anything spinning of it, or sequelling off it will pail in comparison, but perhaps if I take it out of context:
It is a film about two teens who go on a road trip to LA and have wacked out visions. Sounds thrilling.
fadedsilverscreen said,
May 9, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I’m really hesitant about a sequel to Donnie Darko, especially since Richard Kelly won’t be directing it. I mean, what else can they do with the plot? Personally I think I’ll wait for this one to come to DVD before watching it.
Nick Plowman said,
May 9, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Hey :)
I am in complete agreeance with you! Perhaps it should release straight to DVD? I know I am being awfully biased here, but sometimes I am allowed that too.
I think it is a bad idea, and nothing will change my mind.
sarcastig said,
May 9, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Ugh. I mean, just,…..ugh
RC of strangeculture said,
May 9, 2008 at 10:09 pm
What a horrible idea! horrible, horrible, horrible!
Matthew Lucas said,
May 10, 2008 at 3:54 am
This post has been brought to you by the letters W, T, and F.
Seriously, this has corporate greed written all over it. You can’t manufacture a cult hit – “Snakes on a Plane” proved that.
“Donnie Darko” was a totally unexpected phenomenon, and you can’t recapture that.
It will be interesting to see Daveigh Chase in a major role…I don’t think I’ve seen her in anything since “The Ring,” and that was a long time ago.
Nick Plowman said,
May 10, 2008 at 7:18 am
I agree with you all.
But thanks for the visit, unfortunate that we all had to meet under such awful circumstances.
Perhaps the whole thing will collapse or something. We just need to keep that faith.
Matt – I would like to see her do more work too, because she is talented, but I think she should do something along the lines of finding her own “Donnie” – her own unexpected, cult phenomenon – and not feed of the scraps of success.
paperdreamer said,
May 10, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I loved Donnie Darko! I don’t know how they’ll do a sequel though — uness for some unexplainable, Hollywood way, Donnie comes back to: life, the present, the past, the future?, etc…
As far as I know, no one else who saw the movie with me got the point. So maybe this will encourage people look at the original again even though unnecessarily so.
Nick Plowman said,
May 10, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Hey there!
Totally agree, especially in the confusion part. I do not know exactly how it will work itself out – I guess we will have to wait until the film wraps filming and goes on circuit.
If a sequel encourages more people to check out the original – I say it is a good plan. “Donnie Darko” is a must-see.
J.D. said,
May 10, 2008 at 5:46 pm
It’s not a sequel, it’s a spin-off – it’s about Samantha, not Donnie, who is dead. Which honestly could be interesting, right? Who knows.
Nick Plowman said,
May 10, 2008 at 5:52 pm
It could be interesting – the initial anger has totally worn off, I am curious – as usual, but still not looking forward to it or anything.
amazingampersand said,
May 10, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I think there should be an internationally agreed moritorium on messing with certain works of art. No one should cover ‘Say a Little Prayer’, for instance. It should just be illegal. And no one should make another film to link up (in a prequel/sequel way) with Donnie Darko.
Nick Plowman said,
May 11, 2008 at 7:26 am
Too true, it should be a CRIME to do so, or us fans should be paid huge sums of money to allow our favourite *things* being messed with.
In the very least, it should not be allowed, ever.
You, my friend, are too right.
Douglas Racso said,
May 11, 2008 at 11:05 am
this is gonna suck big time
Nick Plowman said,
May 11, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Oh, Douglas, how I wish I could disagree, but I cannot.
Reetta said,
May 11, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Ech! Meanwhile, nobody’s lifting a finger to bring about the spin-off I could get behind, “Sparkle Motion: The Movie”.
Nick Plowman said,
May 11, 2008 at 7:05 pm
LOL!!!
I am slowly warming up to the idea but who knows what will happen between now and the release date, it may fall through, it may be the best film ever. I am open to all possibilities. *trying to be even a little bit positive*
J.D. said,
May 11, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Yay, Nick! Be positive! :)
Nick Plowman said,
May 12, 2008 at 4:01 am
I will try, but only for you.