(Image credit: Flower Films)
"Donnie Darko," widely regarded as one of the greatest debut feature films in cinematic history, has made a surprising announcement today: writer and director Richard Kelly is set to release a novel sequel titled "The Philosophy of Time Travel" (pictured below). While an exact release date has not yet been announced, fans will immediately recognize the title, which is taken directly from the time travel book written by the retired science teacher in the original film.
Plot details for the novel remain under wraps, but Kelly has revealed it will span approximately 800 pages and is set 14 months after the death of the original film's protagonist, Donnie Darko. Written in a pseudo-manuscript style, the narrative perspective will primarily shift between Donnie's parents as they attempt to understand the events that transpired.
(Image credit: Range Literary Publishing)
Years ago, "Donnie Darko" saw a poorly received sequel, "S. Darko," released, though Kelly was not involved in its production. "The Philosophy of Time Travel" will not be connected to "S. Darko."
The novel's publication is merely Kelly's first step. He also announced today that he plans to adapt the book into a motion-capture animated film, followed by a live-action third installment that will extend the story's timeline 28 years into the future.
In a recent interview with Variety, Kelly stated that he spent a decade conceptualizing this novel and two decades contemplating how to craft a proper sequel. His goal is to expand the scope of the story and bring back the original cast, noting that he has maintained contact with the actors over the years, keeping them informed of the sequel's development.
(Image credit: Flower Films)
Despite staying in touch with the cast, Kelly has not yet formally asked them to return for the sequels. "I never want to put pressure on anyone, and I never want anyone to feel like they have to give me an answer," Kelly explained. "Ultimately, it will be up to the entire cast to decide, and each person will have to individually determine what to do. They will also need to read a massive novel to understand the fate of their characters and the new meaning assigned to them."
Kelly admitted that the lengthy preparation period for the sequels has been due to difficulties in securing funding and the complex issues surrounding the rights to the first film. However, whether these sequels will actually materialize remains a significant question mark, as Kelly has not directed a film in 17 years, with his last project being the critically panned "The Box." Furthermore, Kelly has a history of enthusiastically announcing multiple scripts he intends to direct, none of which have come to fruition thus far.
via： Variety