Kristen Bell - Veronica Mars movie gets $2 million fan funding

Veronica Mars movie gets $2 million fan funding

'Veronica Mars' will head to the big screen after raising $2 million from fans.

Avid viewers of the cult TV show - which starred Kristen Bell - raised more than $2 million in just under 12 hours to get the long-rumoured spin-off movie made after show creator Rob Thomas launched a grass-roots fundraising campaign.

Thomas and Bell launched the campaign on Kickstarter.com yesterday (13.03.13) following a game-changing deal with Warner Bros., which owns the rights to the series. The studio said it would pick up the tab for the proposed film's marketing and distribution if they could raise the funds to make it.

Thomas wrote on the Kickstarter page: ''Kristen and I met with the Warner Bros. brass, and they agreed to allow us to take this shot. They were extremely cool about it, as a matter of fact. Their reaction was, 'If you can show there's enough fan interest to warrant a movie, we're on board.' ''

The modestly rated drama - which starred Bell as the titular character, a high school student who moonlights as a private investigator - was axed in 2007 after just three seasons, but the show's creator and star have been eager to continue the feisty character's adventures in a feature length film despite Warner Bros. being reluctant to fund it.

The innovative campaign will see fans' donations used to make the movie in exchange for exclusive rewards, including a copy of the film's script upon its release, video messages from Bell and even a role in the movie.

Having reached its target in less than 24 hours, fans can still donate to the campaign until April 12, meaning the film's budget could significantly increase.

Filming is due to commence this summer for an early 2014 release.