'Donnie Darko' Sequel Continues to Gain Names

Robert Rodriguez and news on Emily the Strange

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Friday, May 30th 2008 at 2:34 PM

Darko Gets 'Saved by the Bell': She's played a stripper and a whore since her days on "Saved by the Bell!" and now she is set to star in half-assed sequels as Elizabeth Berkley joins S. Darko the unofficial sequel to Donnie Darko being directed by Chris Fisher without any cooperation from Richard Kelly. Berkley joins Ed Westwick, Justin Chatwin, Briana Evigan and Daveigh Chase. The story, set seven years after the first film, follows Donnie Darko's sister, Samantha, who, in dealing with her broken family, flees town with her best friend (Evigan) when they are plagued by bizarre visions. Berkley is playing a speed freak-turned-Jesus freak whose sentiments about ridding the world of its exponential sin are rivaled only by her infatuation with her dreamy pastor. [The Hollywood Reporter]

Rodriguez Finally has a Film Moving Forward: Jon Cryer, William H. Macy, Leslie Mann and James Spader are set to star in the comedy Shorts for director Robert Rodriguez from his own screenplay. The film is set in a suburb where all the houses look the same and everyone works for Black Box, manufacturer of the ultimate communication and do-it-all gadget. Chaos follows when an 11-year-old boy is hit in the head with a rainbow-colored rock that grants wishes to anyone who holds it. [Variety]

McBride Script Gets Green: Upcoming Pineapple Express helmer David Gordon Green is set to direct Your Highness with Danny McBride set to star. McBride, who wrote the script with Ben Best, will play an arrogant, lazy prince who must complete a quest to save his father's kingdom. Producer Scott Stuber is quoted saying, "This is such an original idea for a comedy that takes place in a kingdom with dragons and wizards, with Danny at the center as the outcast brother who gets an opportunity to prove himself." [Variety]

Several Names Join Brit Gangster Drama: Tom Wilkinson, Stephen Dillane, Joanne Whalley and Melvil Poupaud are set to join Ray Winstone, Ian McShane and John Hurt in the British gangster drama 44 Inch Chest for first time feature director Malcolm Venville. The film is about a Brit gangster (Winstone) who seeks revenge on his wife and young French lover. Louis Melles and David Scinto (Sexy Beast) penned the script. [Variety]

Dark Horse Shilling "Strange": Three years ago Rob Reger's "Emily the Strange" was set up at Fox but no longer. Dark Horse is now looking for a filmmaker/writer to breathe some life into the rail-thin 13-year-old whose clothes are as black as her hair and as dark as the tone of her adventures and then they will decide exactly what direction they will take the story and what studio will become a contender. Dark Horse Entertainment president Mike Richardson has not ruled out live-action, animation or a combination of both and Universal is most likely the top contender as they currently have a first look deal with Dark Horse. [The Hollywood Reporter]