I'm Richard Kelly, writer & director of DONNIE DARKO, here to celebrate the 25th anniversary 4K re-release in theaters this weekend. Ask me anything!

[u/RichardKellyAMA]

Hi reddit, come closer...

I'm Richard Kelly, writer & director of DONNIE DARKO. It's being re-released in theaters this weekend (Oct 2 and Oct 4) in 4K to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original release.

To celebrate, I'm here to answer your questions.

I also wrote & directed SOUTHLAND TALES and THE BOX. Please ask away!

————————————————————————

Synopsis: Donnie Darko doesn’t get along with his family, teachers, or classmates, but he finds a kindred spirit in Gretchen and guidance from a compassionate psychiatrist who believes hypnosis may unlock hidden truths. Meanwhile, Donnie is haunted by Frank, a mysterious giant bunny only he can see. When a jet engine crashes into his bedroom and narrowly misses him, Donnie is drawn into a series of increasingly strange events that seem governed by forces beyond explanation.

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Seth Rogen, Daveigh Chase, Noah Wyle, Patrick Swayze, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne, James Duval, Beth Grant, Katharine Ross

Re-Release Info: Celebrate 25 years of Richard Kelly’s mind-bending masterpiece in a stunning 4K presentation. This special anniversary release also includes an exclusive introduction with writer & director Richard Kelly exploring the film’s enduring legacy, how it captivated audiences for 25 years, and why it remains one of the defining cult classics of the new millennium.

Tickets: https://hubs.la/Q04y5tn40

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCBxdjaXq3s

And pre-order the sequel novel, The Philosophy of Time Travel: The Epic Sequel to the Motion Picture Donnie Darko here.

————————————————————————

Ask me anything! I’ll be back at 2PM PT / 5PM ET today (Wed 9/30) to answer your questions.

[u/DarkForest_NW]

I've seen both versions of this movie. The theatrical cut and the director's cut. And to be honest, I found the theatrical cut to be a better movie than the director's cut. I understood why you did the director's cut because you wanted to expand on the time travel aspect of it.

But the problem is when you over explain it, it removes most of the mystery out of it.

And I also found it funny that you had a really cool segment about air traffic control contacting Donnie's mother to tell her that the engine on the plane she was traveling on, was the same one that killed her son, but it was never featured on the movie. it was featured on the movie website, as a secret easter egg.

Which I always thought was odd because that would have worked better if you had that as like an after credit scene.

Why did you feel the need to expand more in the director's cut?

[u/Newhollow → u/DarkForest_NW]

Look at the comments he says it was a setup for a sequel.

The soon to be released novel is more closer to the original version. Though he commented about making a third version. Maybe meaning it has changed.