Robert Downey Jr. Back For Less Than Zero 2? Brett Easton Ellis Suggests So

We know whatRobert Downey Jr.andJames Spaderare doing, and a quick trip to theIMDBindicates thatAndrew McCarthyis still working, andJami Gertzhad a picture out as recently as ‘07. Perhaps the idea of rounding them all up for aLess than Zerosequel isn’t as crazy as I first assumed…

The idea comes fromBrett Easton Elliswho is now finishing up said sequel, in novel form. He tellsMTVthat such a film “would be a great idea”.

The originalLess than Zerorevolves around Clay Easton, played in the picture by Andrew McCarthy, while Downey played his close-at-hand compadre in all manner of substance abuse and abandon. That Easton surname is not, I’m sure you’ve realised, a coincidence. The sequel is going to be calledImperial Bedroomswhich, like the originals handle, comes from the Elvis Costello songbook.

Of this new volume, Ellis says:

It’s in present-day. You’ll find out where all the characters from the book have now ended up, for better or for worse.

He explains that the leads have all survived the 20-some years since the last installment, though some of the supporting characters have not.

AfterLunar Park, Ellis’ last novel, took fantasy, nightmares and the author’s life and made them all do cartwheels into and through one another, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Downey’s real life misdemeanours and misadventure have been folded into the fictional life of Julian Wells. Ellis says:

His character in the book is sober. Fragile, but sober.

Okay… I don’t know about fragile. Then again, we don’treallyyet know what he means by fragile.

Should such a film adaptation ever go ahead, Ellis provides some indication of the studio that would be in charge:

Now that I’m finally done with the book I’m thinking ‘God, what if Fox wants to do this as a film?’ Because Fox did the original and I think there’s a rights issue involved.