Last year, Netflix premiere The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a follow-up to Jim Henson’s 1982 puppet fantasy drama The Dark Crystal. The puppets were back, this time aided by cutting edge special effects, and the whole thing went over really well:
Now, Hollywood is getting ready to make a sequel to the other Jim Henson-produced dark fantasy from the 80s: Labyrinth, about a young girl (Jennifer Connelly) who must navigate a treacherous maze to save her little brother from the clutches of Jareth, the goblin king. Jareth was played by rocker David Bowie, wearing a pair of tight pants you figure would’ve gotten the rating kicked up to PG-13, but nothing doing.
Good luck finding someone to do all of…that.
Anyway, Deadline reports that Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson has signed on to direct a sequel, with Maggie Levin on board to pen the screenplay. Lisa Henson is producing and Brian Henson executive producing, so the Henson family is still involved.
Now, I could be cynical about this and say that Hollywood is once again dragging out an old property and giving us a sequel or a remake rather than making something new. I could say that this fits right in with Hollywood’s current love affair with the ’80s, what with Stranger Things and IT and Top Gun and more all making waves.
And all of that is true, but like I said, that Dark Crystal Netflix show was pretty good, so who am I to poo-poo this?
The real question is what modern-day musician has the swagger to replace Bowie. Lady Gaga, maybe? Call me when you have an answer, Hollywood.
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