"Veronica Mars" film fundraiser swiftly reaches $2 million goal

Fans of defunct TV show "Veronica Mars" turned out in droves to raise $2 million in record time on Wednesday to fund a long- hoped-for movie version of the mystery series about a young, female private investigator.

More than 31,000 people pledged amounts ranging from $1 to $10,000 on crowdsourcing site Kickstarter.com, less than 24 hours after the campaign was launched.

The TV series' creator Rob Thomas said he had struck a deal with Hollywood studio Warner Bros. to make a movie based on the show if he was able to raise $2 million by April 12 through the campaign.

"Their reaction was, if you can show there's enough fan interest to warrant a movie, we're on board," Thomas wrote on the film's donation page, adding that, if successful, the film will be released in early 2014.

"Veronica Mars," starring Kristen Bell, ran from 2004-2007 on U.S. television networks UPN and CW and told the story of a high school student who moves on to college while moonlighting as a private investigator working on complex mysteries.

For the "Veronica Mars" movie project, a pledge of $10 or more got backers a copy of the film's shooting script while those pledging $25 or more will receive a custom T-shirt along with the script.

One donor pledged at least $10,000 and will receive a speaking role in the film.