JHC planning Dark Crystal sequel

[beaker]

Since 1998 weve been waiting for this news:
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9615

They are on the fast track with this one! Shooting begins this Fall for a 2007 release. We might actually get DC figures someday!

[Pino]

That is great.. although I rather see a prequel....

[matleo]

Hey gang,

Just pulled this off of comingsoon.net which pulled it from Variety. Enjoy!


Here's the link:

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9615

Here's the story:


Henson Co. Planning Dark Crystal Sequel
Source: Variety May 13, 2005

The Jim Henson Company is planning to make a sequel to its 1982 fantasy classic The Dark Crystal, reports Variety.

Titled The Power of the Dark Crystal, the new movie is written by David Odell (The Dark Crystal, The Muppet Show) and Annette Duffy. No director is yet attached to the film which starts shooting this fall for a 2007 release. It will combine live-action animatronic characters with CG animation.

The story is set many years after the original, which was helmed by Frank Oz and Jim Henson. Original heroes Jen and Kira are now king and queen, and must fight to save their kingdom when the crystal is once again split.

The company is also developing an animated series, interactive games and other media as well.


--Matt

[UncleDeadly]

I was just about to come out of absentee status to post this... and someone else barely beat me to it.

This is quite impressive news.

[Rowbes]

I'm trying not to get too excited, I've seen more info than that on projects that never materialized.
(But just in case, maybe it's time to send them my resume!)

[Movies205]

Dark Crystal is awesome, I love it and I love Jim Henson but he was not the greatest of directors so I can see this surpassing the original :up: I much would of rather seen a prequel though

[lowercasegods]

I'm afraid I'm of a mind that dictates: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Dark Crystal was as perfect as it could get, and no sequel can top it, compare to it or even remotely improve upon it, especially not one that's going to allow CGI effects. If a sequel had to be made, they should go back to the original's roots and strictly use animatronic puppetry. But even then I still think they should leave Dark Crystal untampered with. Brian Henson needs to start seriously thinking things out before he puts events into unchangeable and ultimately detrimental motion.

[Movies205]

Originally Posted by lowercasegods

I'm afraid I'm of a mind that dictates: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Dark Crystal was as perfect as it could get, and no sequel can top it, compare to it or even remotely improve upon it, especially not one that's going to allow CGI effects. If a sequel had to be made, they should go back to the original's roots and strictly use animatronic puppetry. But even then I still think they should leave Dark Crystal untampered with. Brian Henson needs to start seriously thinking things out before he puts events into unchangeable and ultimately detrimental motion.

Don't be so close-minded, Dark Crystal was not perfect and puppetry is not perfect, CGI could be used to enhance puppetry greatly.

[AndyWan Kenobi]

I just read about this on AICN. I'm cautiously optimistic. I love the original, so of course I'm excited at the possibility of another film like it, but I'd be really disappointed if they made something that wasn't as good. Here's hoping for the best!

[HPDJ]

How totally cool!

[lowercasegods]

Originally Posted by Movies205

Don't be so close-minded, Dark Crystal was not perfect and puppetry is not perfect, CGI could be used to enhance puppetry greatly.

Look, it's just how I feel about it. I'm not asking anyone to agree with me, and I'm not about to get into any arguments about the merits of CGI or its place in the future of special effects.

However, I take offense to the whole "puppetry isn't perfect" thing. Do you even realize what board you're posting on? Do you go on Disney boards and knock animation? While puppetry may not be the end all in special effects, it's what made this board, this website and our whole reason for appreciating the Muppets a possibility, so it deserves some respect. And there's plenty of us that think that puppetry is perfect.

Secondly, puppetry is what made The Dark Crystal so great to begin with. Were it not for puppetry, that film wouldn't even have been made, and we wouldn't be sitting here arguing over the mistake of using CGI for an unncecessary sequel twenty three years after the fact.

I don't think I'm being close mided because I don't want to see an already good movie tampered with by a sequel. I think people in the film industry are far too inclined to ride the coat tails of old successes or re-make classic films rather than come up with new ideas and original material. What they ultimately end up doing is hurting the original concept. And I care too much about The Dark Crystal to simply accept that and get all giddy because someone drops a blurb about a sequel.

I'm not in control here, obviously, and the Hensons or whomever's in charge of this project will do what they want. But as a fan and someone who's infested a lot emotionally into this concept, I'm against a lesser and unncessary sequel. But I do not begrudge you or anyone else in being excited for this project, and I'm not about to start a petition or anything like that. You're as entitled to your opinions and enthusiasm as anyone. Just don't begrudge my right to have my own opinion by labeling me close minded.

[TotallySpiesFan]

I heard news about this movie. What if there's a sequel to Labyrinth?

[froggiegirl18]

I'll believe it when I see it. As a fan I have heard many rumors, as a word of advice anyone can make something look believable with the technology today. The movie though ended well, it really does not need a sequel it allowed the audience to imagine what Jen and Kira would face in the future. Sequels are not always the best way to go, unless the movie requires a sequel such as Shrek 2. Just my thoughts...If in two years the movie is released I still will see it to support the Henson team.

[froggiegirl18]

Right on!! I completely agree!

[Mark Filton]

"Don't be so close-minded, Dark Crystal was not perfect and puppetry is not perfect, CGI could be used to enhance puppetry greatly."

Great attitude. Let's call up the Pixar people and tell them that they need real puppets in their next movies because it can enhance them greatly.

CGI is what is not perfect. The Yoda from Empire Strikes Back will always seem so real because he was there with the actors. Make him CGI and he runs around doing anything, but it isn't real, and it never will be.

Seems the movie starts filming in the fall for a 2007 release. That means they will spend a YEAR AND A HALF on it.

I'm all for a prequel or MAYBE a sequel, or maybe just another movie set in that world, without bringing Jen and Kira into it

But I am NOT looking forward to any project that is looking like it is just being slapped together for a direct-to-video cornerstone to kickstart another wave of cheap crap and an animated series. I know I seem like the grouch all the time, but this thing is being made too fast.

I hate you, Brian Henson

I thought you wanted to be DONE WITH MUPPETS, right? Oh, so because Disney didn't want to buy the DC, you figure you might as well mess around with it. If Disney DID want it, he would have sold it, too. I can hardly wait for a project being made a guy who doesn't love it himself