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May 9, 2008


Cult classic Donnie Darko – the film that catapulted Jake Gyllenhaal to fame, re-ignited interest in Tears for Fears and made sinister bunny suits de rigeur for Halloween – is about to get the sequel treatment.

According to Screen Daily, Chris Fischer (Nightstalker, Rampage: The Hillside Strangler Murders) will direct the sequel, to be called S. Darko.

Richard Kelly, writer-director of the original, will apparently not be involved, although 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."

Picking up seven years after the original, the plot will follow Donnie's sister Samantha on a road trip to Los Angeles, during which she is plagued by a series of bizarre visions.

Daviegh Chase will reprise her role as Darko the younger, while Ed Westwick (Son of Rambow), Briana Evigan (Step Up 2) and Justin Chatwin (Dragon Ball) will also star.

S. Darko is set to start shooting on May 18 with a budget of around $10m.