Voices Rise to Defend "S. Darko"

The blasphemous sequel to the cult masterpiece, "Donnie Darko," is underway and we've heard little about it. Probably because no one cares, but at least one actor wants to put his foot down and defend the project.

Jackson Rathbone ("Twilight"), who plays Jeremy in the upcoming "S. Darko" fights back at the fan backlash:

"Look at the original Donnie Darko. When it was first released, did anybody like it? No, it was a year later," he says. "Through people talking, people got it. We're in an opposite boat, because people loved the first one after a while. Maybe they'll warm up to this, too. Or, they'll hate the idea of it, but once they see it, I think they're going to turn around."

"It takes the idea of the film and it goes beyond, answering and delving into more questions than Donnie Darko did. A lot of people are pissed that Richard Kelly is not involved, but he did sell the idea. He did give the license to do it. So it's not like he's opposed to it."

Oh, aren't we just full of such hormones? Rathbone's example of the original film's negative reviews is a pretty lame comparison. "Donnie Darko" was original. It was made from scratch and it was different enough to be flaunted. That was its risk and it eventually got praise for it. "S. Darko" is riding on the success of the original film and hoping to cash a fat check because of it. The originality is absent. The thoughtfulness? There is none.

And Richard Kelly isn't oppose to it? Lets see:

“Over the last couple of days, a few people have asked me what’s up with “this Donnie Darko sequel.” said Kelly. So 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. I have no control over the rights from our original film, and neither I nor my producing partner Sean McKittrick stand to make any money from this film.”

Take what you will from that last quote. In the meantime, Rathbone dropped some ideas as to what to expect from his character in "S. Darko."

"I play this crazy character and it has to be one of the best character developments I've seen," Rathbone says of the new Darko. "I just jumped at the chance to play it. Chris Fisher is an amazing director. [Makeup artist] Christel Edwards did this amazing prosthetic effect on me, it was so much fun. It was a month in Utah and we just had a blast [shooting] up there."

Well you heard it from "Twilight" hunk/dimwit Jackson Rathbone himself. It's "one of the best character developments" he's seen.

Fox's milking of the Darko "franchise" arrives sometime 2009.