Warning: This post contains some spoilers for the original Descent.

It's been a while since we've heard anything about the promised sequel to Neil Marshall's The Descent, and fans of the film who rolled their eyes at the initial announcement may have gotten their hopes up. But no: the sequel is still going forward with Descent editor Jon Harris making his directorial debut, and James Watkins (My Little Eye), who had nothing to do with the first film, writing the screenplay. The new info is that Shauna McDonald and Natalie Mendoza, who played protagonists Sarah and Juno, will reprise their roles in the sequel. The cast will also have some Y chromosomes this time around, in the form of Gavan O'Herlihy, Joshua Dallas and Douglas Hodge.

The plot will involve "the survivor" -- that would be Sarah -- "forced back into the system of caves she battled her way out of in the first film, in a bid to locate the rest of her group." Shockingly, this probably means that the sequel will take the American "Lionsgate ending" (in which Sarah gets out) as canon, rather than the original ending, where Sarah's escape is a dream sequence and the final shot shows her remaining in the cave. I suppose this could be explained to overseas viewers (who were, after all, responsible for more than half of the first film's $57 million box-office) by claiming that she got out later, in some other way. But it'll be tough.

When I say "that sequel to The Descent is still going to happen," you first reaction might be an audible groan and an eye-roll. (Or perhaps you just don't care.) But there's some promising news on the horizon regarding the "babes in a cave" follow-up: No, Neil Marshall won't be returning to direct the sequel -- but he will be on board as a writer / producer. Plus he's just given a big stamp of approval on the director for The Descent 2.

According to Fangoria, film editor Jon Harris will make his directorial debut on the slimy spelunking sequel. Here's what the director of Dog Soldiers (and the impending Doomsday) told Fango: "I will not be directing The Descent 2 ... But I will be overseeing every aspect of the production. There's nothing to oversee yet, though, as the script is currently being written. My Descent editor Jon Harris will make his feature directing debut with the sequel, and I can't think of a better man for the job."

So far so good, right? Best of luck to Mr. Harris on the promotion. He's got a tough act to follow with this sequel. (In addition to The Descent, Harris cut films such as Snatch, Layer Cake, Ripley's Game and Stardust.)

[ Thanks to DreadCentral.com for the tip. ]