Because an original idea must be exploited as much as possible, a sequel to 2004’s The Butterfly Effect has been given the green light. Actually, the concept of the first film (and presumably the sequel), a person able to travel back in time and change events that then alter his present time, isn’t exactly original either, having been used in several movies and even spoofed on a “Treehouse of Horror” on “The Simpsons”. So I guess it would be better to say, when you have a good idea, milk it for all it’s worth.

Showing he isn’t the dummy everyone thinks he is, Ashton Kutcher won’t be involved with this movie, which actually is a good move, not just for Kutcher’s career but also for the storyline. The first film was pretty much closed as the end credits rolled. The sequel will follow another person with powers similar to Kutcher’s Evan Treborn. Whether he’ll have a perfect girlfriend who becomes a whore isn’t known yet.

The sequel is expected to be helmed by someone used to directing sequels that star none of the original cast - Mortal Combat - Annihilation director John Leonetti, who had absolutely nothing to do with the first picture.

This news is a real shame for Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber, whose commentary track on The Butterfly Effect’s DVD release showed they were really attached to the original film, which they conceptualized, wrote, and co-directed. Basically now the studio (FilmEngine) has taken their idea and decided to murder it with a fast tracked picture that hopefully will capitalize on the original.