Jake Gyllenhaal Recalls Reading Donnie Darko For First Time
Jake Gyllenhaal recalls reading the Donnie Darko script for the first time, revealing he almost didn't want to meet with the writer/director. The 2001 psychological thriller marked Gyllenhaal's second film in which he served as the lead after the critically acclaimed biographical drama October Sky. Gyllenhaal led an ensemble cast for Donnie Darko that also included his sister Maggie, Drew Barrymore, Jena Malone, Patrick Swayze, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne, Katharine Ross, James Duvall, Noah Wyle and Jolene Purdy.
Donnie Darko centered on the titular high schooler who begins suffering from hallucinations and visions after narrowly escaping a jet engine crashing into his bedroom. His hallucinations begin to manifest in the form of Frank, a figure in a disturbing rabbit costume who reveals the world will end in 28 days and convinces Donnie to commit a series of crimes, all while Donnie tries to grapple with the meaning behind his visions and his growing feelings for new classmate Gretchen Ross. Donnie Darko was a box office failure in its initial release, but thanks to word of mouth and solid reviews it garnered a strong cult following in the years that followed.
Related: Donnie Darko: Timeline & Ending Explained
In anticipation of the release of his latest film Ambulance, Jake Gyllenhaal caught up with Vanity Fair to reflect on the timeline of his career. When looking back at Donnie Darko, the actor recalled reading the script for the first time and his hilarious initial reaction in which he almost didn't want to meet with the writer/director of the film, Richard Kelly. See what Gyllenhaal shared below:
“Donnie Darko, it was my first movie that anyone offered to me without an audition. I remember finishing the script
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