'Veronica Mars' Trailer, Release Date and Spoilers & SXSW 2014 Interactive Lineup: Director Says Kristen Bell Could Do Sequel, Netflix Spinoff After Movie Hits Theaters
On Saturday, the Veronica Mars movie premiered at SXSW. The film, which is a continuation of the WB's 64 episode 2004-2007 television series, was funded by excited fans, but perhaps none are more excited than director Rob Thomas.
"...one of the hugest [moments on the film] was the moment I got to click on the button that said 'project launched,' getting to that moment was an odyssey," he told Variety. "It was 100 phone calls, a ton of meetings with Warner's, getting backers and a reward plan and everyone to sign off on it. Right up until the last moment, I had doubts, but once I hit the launch button I knew that nothing could stop us. I hit that button and I made the movie."
The Veronica Mars movie was crowdfunded by a Kickstarter campaign which drew 91,585 fans to donate $5.7 million and break Kickstarter records.
"We really stripped down to the core of what fans like," Thomas said. "They like Kristen [Bell] playing Veronica and the snarky dialogue and those are the things we do well...There are some things we wanted to do different, to make it look more filmic with big set pieces but we know what we are."
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Veronica Mars movie will be shown in about 270 mostly AMC theaters nationwide that Warner Bros. rented out. It will also be available online via rent or purchase, making the movie's cast and crew "a bit of a guinea pig," according to Thomas.
"I think the public will tell us when they are done with Veronica," the director explained. "Kristin loves doing it, and I see this as sort of a low budget James Bond franchise. In the next two to three years to send Veronica on another adventure, we'll be completely game for doing that."
The director can also see Veronica Mars spinning off into new formats.
"Maybe we can have a Netflix R-rated version," Thomas said. "I'm ready to take that call as well. It would make me incredibly happy. We've got the books coming out and then the Ryan Hansen spinoff. Nancy Drew has had a corner on the market for the last 70 years, I would love if Veronica got next 70."
Veronica Mars also features Jason Dohring reprising his role of Logan Echolls and hits theaters March 14. Spoilers can be found in the movie's first scene below: