I dont know how I missed this: Bret Easton Ellis has dredged up Less Than Zero to write a direct sequel set in the present-day, called Imperial Bedrooms.

Imperial would be a direct sequel, because much of Ellis fiction subsequent to Zero has been set in the same world, with supporting characters from prior works further carrying on a larger meta-narrative. Conversely, the former principals would reappear in the backgrounds of those later works. Zero protagonist Clay had a brief section devoted to his first-person narration in The Rules of Attraction, and as far as I know, that was the final time he appeared in Ellis world until now.

Actually, its a bit unclear just what Ellis has dredged up his book or the 1987 movie adaptation in writing this follow-up. Because theyre two different animals, with really only superficial resemblance to one another. Yet it sounds like the author has written a sequel to the movies storyline, instead of the novels:

Easton Ellis is hoping that a movie would reunite [James] Spader, [Andrew] McCarthy, Jamie Gertz and others and, after Robert Downey Jr.s well-chronicled substance-abuse difficulties and subsequent triumph over them, feels that the recent Oscar-nominee could bring something special to a second turn as Julian Wells. His character in the book is sober, the author explained. Fragile, but sober.

[A second Less Than Zero movie] can either be a stunt and seem really gimmicky, or it could work out. But I think it would be of interest, he explained. Now that Im finally done with the book Im thinking God, what if Fox wants to do this as a film? Because Fox did the original and I think theres a rights issue involvedI think it would be a great idea. Well see.

One thing: Downeys Julian character dies at the end of the film, unlike in the book. So I guess Easton Ellis is thinking more about a reboot of the movie storyline. Or more likely, hes just blowing smoke, because itll probably be a tough sell to reunite the original cast anyway.

Im not convinced of the merits in having Clay reappear here, twenty-five years later. Zero is a great period piece, so I dont see whats to be gained by updating the milieu, other than personal catharsis:

Ellis now lives in a small apartment in West Hollywood, and he has been working on a sequel to Less Than Zero, which will come out next spring. The narrator is Clay, the spoiled, cocaine-deadened teen of the first book, twenty-five years down the road. Clay is probably a more villainous version of me, Ellis said.

Well see. Hopefully, this wont inspire a similar 80s revisit of Zero literary twin, Jay McInerneys Bright Lights, Big City.