‘Donnie Darko’ Sequel Being Made - ‘S. Darko’ Tells Younger Sister’s Story
Donnie Darko is one of my favourite movies ever, it’s probably in my top ten of all time. So when I first spotted the headline on my feed reader this morning that a sequel was being made, my eyes lit up like a fat kid in a sweet shop. However, after the initial shock and excitement, I now have mixed feelings on the announcement.
For starters, Richard Kelly, the man behind the original movie, which has now become a massive cult hit, is not involved in the sequel in any way. Which though not necessarily fatal, will definitely be a negative.
Then there’s the obvious fact that Donnie Darko sat by itself brilliantly. It left viewers with more questions than answers, and left you wanting more. BUT, you kind of didn’t want more, and a sequel is going to ruin that sense of intrigue and amazement that you are left with at the end of the original 2001 movie.
Donnie Darko started the career of one Jake Gyllenhaal, who is now Hollywood A-List. The sequel, titled S.Darko, is set to follow the story of his character’s younger sister Samantha, played by Daviegh Chase.
She travels across America with her best friend Corey only to start experiencing strange visions. Chris Fisher (Nightstalker) will be directing this time. According to Digital Spy, he said:
“I am a great admirer of Richard Kelly’s film and hope to create a similar world of blurred fantasy and reality. Donnie’s not in [the new film] but there are meteorites and rabbits.”
The film starts production on May 18th, and Fox has already secured North American distribution rights for the film.
I probably will go and see this when it eventually comes out, but if it ruins the legacy of the first film, and soils its memory, then I’ll never forgive Fisher for ruining one of my favourite movies ever.
37 Comments
May 9th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Don’t worry, there will be meteorites and rabbits…
May 10th, 2008 at 4:46 am
Who is Keyser Soze?
lol
May 12th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Don’t worry, there will be meteorites and rabbits…
May 12th, 2008 at 10:20 am
| Don’t worry, there will be meteorites and rabbits…
May 12th, 2008 at 10:21 am
| Don’t worry, there will be meteorites and rabbits…
Oh…well in that case, everything will be JUSSSST FINE.
May 13th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I AGREE!!!
If the name of Darko is ruined, I’ll be so furious you won’t even believe it!
May 16th, 2008 at 12:59 am
So yeah… the new Donnie Darko sequel. I like Dave was hyped about the announcement of the follow up to Richard Kelly’s brilliant film ‘Donnie Darko’- which is indeed one of my top five favorite films of all time. Just a correction though on the comment that ‘R. Kelly doesn’t have anything at all to do with it.’ He actually wrote the story/screenplay that will be directed by Chris Fisher. I agree that the lack of direction by R. Kelly could be a big mis-step in creating a follow up to a brilliantly crafted cult film. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. I highly doubt that it will be up to the caliber of Donnie Darko.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:49 am
I’m a big Darko fan, I’ve got tattoos from the movie on my left arm, this movie means a lot to me. I’m scared to death with this “S. Darko” project. It isn’t necessary at all and it’s plot takes down a whole lot of possible explanations to Donnie Darko’s plot. I’m a big fan of Richard Kelly’s work, but I don’t know what he was thinking about when he let this people get a hold of his characters and ideas. I think “S. Darko” WILL suck badly.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
OMG, This sucks! WHY?!?!?! Now everyone is going to be like “woooo S. Darko is awesome” and they never saw Donnie Darko, plus the whole name of Donnie Darko is RUINED as said already.. WOW THIS SUCKSSS.!!!!@#!%^@ I’m so mad.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:14 am
So Mr. Cooper, how are you aware the Mr. Kelly wrote S. Darko? I only ask so i to can read it also
June 12th, 2008 at 10:37 am
I guess all we can do is wait for the movie to come to the theaters and watch it. I have a feeling that it will be weaker. It is difficult to beat the cult Donnie Darko.
I have a lot of respect for Richard Kelly; however, Southland Tales from 2006 just killed me. The movie was pointless and stupid. So maybe a new director for S.Darko is not such a bad idea.
Blair Witch Project was a masterpiece. The sequel sucked. Maybe this time the history would be different.
My best regards to all Donnie Darko fans!
July 12th, 2008 at 5:32 am
ok…i love donnie darko,best movie i’ve seen by far.
but i don’t think this is a good idea
this movie,in my opinion,was not meant for a second..i mean
it was an amazing movie!
don’t ruin it.
July 12th, 2008 at 5:34 am
DONNIE DARKO!
DON’T DO THIS!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
DON’T RUIN THAT NAME
THIS CANNOT HAPPEN!
July 25th, 2008 at 10:25 am
you can sign a petition to stop it
www.petitiononline.com/sdarko/petition.html
November 16th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
this is just gonna kill it.
i just died a little inside.
November 26th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Ummm, i know it wont be as good, but you cant just judge it before it comes out. You should get your facts straight because Richard Kelly Does have something to do with this movie. He is in charge of the Characters.
“S.Darko” give it a chance Darko Fans!
December 1st, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Hm,
at first i was kind of turned off but.
seriously
i dont think Donnie Darko could ever be stepped on.
even if s.DARKO is terrible, we will still have the first one.
who knows, maybe it WILL be good?
just have to wait and see
(i honestly wish they used like low key actors..)
January 4th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
some of the greatest movies can have no logical sequel.
ergo there is no,
“Stranger than Fiction 2: Strangerer”
“V for Vendetta 2: the Empire Strikes Back”
“Fight Club 2: Durden vs. Rocky”
or,
“Pulp Fiction 2: regular fiction”
January 13th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
To be honest, I wanted to see more of the story after Donnie died, but I don’t THINK that this is going to be a very good sequel. I may be wrong and I WILL see it, but for those of you that think that it’s going to ruin the first movie…I don’t think so. Donnie Darko was one of the best movies that I’ve ever saw. If you don’t like the sequel, then just pretend that it doesn’t exist. Easy enough for ME anyway. I’ll make my judgement when I see it.
January 19th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
I think it CAN be good… I mean just becouse R. Kelly aint directing it, dousn’t mean the new director is bad… he obiesly got a lot of insperation from Kelly
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:04 pm
On IMDB it says Richard Kelly is involved in the writing and he’s in the credits for the characters.
February 21st, 2009 at 11:59 am
IMDB says Richard Kelly for characters, because S. Darko is based on characters that he created in Donny Darko — NOT because he is involved with S. Darko.
According to Wikipedia:
Donnie Darko’s writer and director, Richard Kelly, did not reprise his role as the director or writer of S. Darko. He stated “To set the record straight, here’s a few facts I’d like to share with you all — I haven’t read this script. I have absolutely no involvement with this production, nor will I ever be involved.”
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:35 pm
We must all endevour to sit this one out, hold true to the original film, not let this ruin it. We have the power to build a time machine -metaphorically- and by boycotting this film we can make it seem like it was never made.
March 9th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Well… Im kind of interested. wont be as good, sounds like a disaster, but if it has a good storyline im happy. The only way it can ruin the original is by going all blockbuster, or having rubbish acting, or bad plot….. OH GOD THIS IS A MISTAKE
March 19th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
NO NO NO!! IF THIS SUCKS ILL ALSO BE FURIOUS. I loved Donnie Darko and I just saw the trailer, and it doesnt look too good. The whole mystery and time trave thing will be ruined! I just hope it doesnt suck
April 9th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
The cast is what scares me the most, it has all the makings of a ”appeal to teens who want to seem cool” movie. Im all for teens watching the movie and loving it, but i dont want to see it turn into a fad and im sure no other Darko fans want to see it either.
April 18th, 2009 at 1:58 am
To quote: “Donnie’s not in [the new film]”
OF COURSE DONNIE IS NOT IN THE NEW FILM… Because I sorta remember this little bit at the end WHERE HE DIES!?!?
Wasn’t that a little redundant to state?
I watched the trailer and I saw a few screen shots and all I can say is, from what I see, I think its just a poor attempt at a remake of a *great* film (to say the least about it). Its just got tag lines and iconic scenes from Donnie Darko shot in a new place, with a difference face…
Bunch of 3rd rate actors and no name directors trying to make it big by killing something great?! Bunch of dickheads…
May 6th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Sequels do not ‘ruin’ or ‘soil’ the original film. If the original is a good film it will always be a good film. If a sequel does not have the original filmmakers I see it as an opportunity for new filmmakers to have fun with the film, experiment with their filmmaking style, and add a unique spin to the story. I’m actually excited for the film release and see where the story goes with Samantha.
May 12th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Picked up S. Darko today during lunch. Watching it tonight!
May 13th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I find it absurd that so many people are appalled by the idea of a so-called “sequel.” I don’t think the makers of Donnie Darko or the cast could care any less about your opinion on another Darko movie and I was entirely surprised when I heard it existed. Upon watching it I was not one bit disappointed and find it ridiculous that it is being compared so harshly to the first Darko film.
Have some decency, people. The budget was fairly non-existant and knowing that the movie was amazing. Another Darko film couldn’t “ruin the name” considering you only say things like that if you’re a hot topic queer. Great film.
May 14th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Well said Pella. Watched S. Darko last night and I must say I was not disappointed. A lot of elements from D. Darko are present in the sequel but there is an interesting spin, which I thought was a really great take on the concept of the original. Don’t want to leave any spoilers, but I will say that I’m glad I checked out the sequel.
May 18th, 2009 at 2:31 am
I would really like to know what happens in the end…with the kids, and who dunnit fer sure don’t wanna ruin it but you know what i am talking about. Prety sure I know the answers but want to hear feed back. actually by this date, everyone talking about it must have seen it by now, so let me know your thoughts
May 18th, 2009 at 8:08 am
This movie sucked big… you know what! The dude that wrote it had no creativity what so ever. He basically ran with same formula that the original laid out and added nothing new. The characters were horrible! The story was horrible. The reason Donnie Darko was such a classic was because it left many things open to interpretation. This movie did none of that! We knew what was coming at every corner. And I think they new that, that’s the reason they threw in that “sexy character” what ever her name was walking through every scene with cut off shorts showing her ass! And throwing all those sex innuendos in there! Most of those scenes seemed like a plot to a porno instead of a real movie! This movie was a pathetic attempt to try and recapture the magic of the original!
The only good thing that came out of that movie was the song they should in the extras about Utah!
For Shame!
May 18th, 2009 at 8:12 am
The only good thing that came out of that movie was the song they showed in the extras about Utah!
May 18th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Correction….. The only good thing that came out of that movie was the song they showed in the extras about Utah!
May 19th, 2009 at 5:39 am
Donnie Darko is art. This is like making a sequel to ‘The Shining’, its just completely wrong. I just watched the sequel and it looks like nothing more than a mere cash-in.
May 19th, 2009 at 5:43 am
whoops… i meant to write “Donnie Darko is art. This is like making a sequel to ‘The Shining’, its just completely wrong. I just watched the TRAILER and it looks like nothing more than a mere cash-in.”
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