To this day I get a huge grin on my face whenever I even THINK about the original “The Dark Crystal” movie. You wanna know if someone is cool? Do a quick Chamberlain imitation by going “mmmMMMMMmmmmm….” and see if they get the reference. If they do… they are COOL. If they don’t, spit in their faces (an exception can be made for meeting your girlfriend’s parents for the first time).
It was over three years ago that we talked about the synopsis for the proposed second Dark Crystal film:
“Set hundreds of years after the events of the first movie when the world has once again fallen into darkness, Power of the Dark Crystal follows the adventures of a mysterious girl made of fire who, together with a Gelfling outcast, steals a shard of the legendary Crystal in an attempt to reignite the dying sun that exists at the center of the planet.“
We’ve basically heard nothing since. UNTIL NOW!
Henson Company co-CEO Brian Henson (son of the late Jim Henson) in a recent interview has emphatically said that both “Fraggle Rock” and “The Power of the Dark Crystal” are “Ready to go“. They both have “very strong” scripts and that’s they’re just getting the final financial and distribution pieces put together and expects both to go into full pre-production “soon“.
That damn grin is back on my face again. (source: MTV)
One of my wonderfully attentive teachers showed my kindergarten class The Dark Crystal on a day she was probably hungover. I suspect she thought it was just going to be another regular muppet movie with Fozzie Bear. Creepy muppet bird things fighting to the death still haunt my nightmares. If this movie does get made and the trailer starts showing up on tv, I will probably wet myself.
I am, however, PSYCHED for a Fraggle movie.
Awesomeness. One sequel that actually DESERVES to be made!
The Garthim scared the crap out of me as a kid.
Dark Crystal was ALWAYS far better than the campy “The Muppets guest-starring David Bowie” that was the Labyrinth. Dark Crystal still holds up as a rare and brilliant Fantasy film, and Brian Froud’s production design is absolutely gorgeous and timeless.
Since Froud is still alive, I expect that he’ll be on board with this, in which case it’ll be stunning…
Can’t wait! But yeah, hoping the CG is just used to augment rather than for the whole thing. Once you have CG, the audience expects celebrity voices and inane humour. And once that happens, its all over.
I loved Dark Crystal. I would like to ask that they film the movie similar fashion as the orginal with animatronics and puppets. Not everything has to be done in CG. I also feel it be great sense of nostalgic continuity like the two films were made within a few years of each other kinda feeling instead of 30 years apart.
They’ve said that it will be all done with animatronics and puppets, like the original. This is Jim Henson studios after all. :P
But if I remember right, some of the backgrounds and invironments will be done in CGI. I’m guessing for far off veiws with things, like planets and creatures moving in the background and such. Also for the core of the planet stuff, if we do get to see that in the movie.
This movie is going to be so awesome.
Hey John,
If you’re such a fan of the film could we one day be treated to a TMB Commentary track for The Dark Crystal?:P
The Dark Crystal is such a great movie!! It’s one of my childhood favorites and I’m excited to see a return to this world/mythology. Guess I know what I’m re-watching tonight…thanks for the post!
AWESOME NEWS!
I was just thinking the other day, are they still working on these movies, are they ever going to happen? I was thinking and hoping they were already in production, oh well. Atleast they finally will be “soon”. Glad to hear they think the scripts are so good aswell.
Oh, I see now, IMDb is saying The Power of the Dark Crystal is set for a 2011 release. So glad that Genndy Tartakovsky is still on board to direct, I think he’s perfect for it.
Can’t freakin wait…!
Wait? Fraggle Rock?!? When was that even on the table to begin with?
A while now, almost as long ago as the announcement of the Dark Crystal sequel. :)
As far as sequels to old movies go, I am quite excited by this and Tron 2. I cannot wait to see where the story unfolds for this sequel, as I just watch The Dark Crystal not to long ago.
Glad to hear this as a sequel and not another Hollywood reboot. This is one classic that is timeless.