This is it, folks, it's finally happening! It's been announced today that Tristar Pictures has requested that director Fede Alvarez pick up the pieces in creating a long-awaited follow-up to Jim Henson's 1986 fantasy classic LABYRINTH. From what I've gathered, Alvarez will once again team with THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER'S WEB scribe Jay Basu on the LABYRINTH project.
It's being reported that Alvarez and Basu will tend to the details of the proposed LABYRINTH movie after all matters concerning THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER'S WEB have wrapped. Furthermore, the duo's goal regarding the new LABYRINTH venture will be to design a new story within the universe created by the legendary Jim Henson. In essence, the project will be a spin-off rather than a reboot or sequel.
For those of you who are too young to recall, LABYRINTH told the epic fantasy tale of a A 16-year old girl (Jennifer Connelly) who is given 13 hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue her baby brother when her wish for him to be taken away is granted by the Goblin King (David Bowie). Sadly, it's being reported that Bowie's Jareth character (or the magical bulge between his gray-tighted legs) will not be a part of the plan for this project. The film is a co-production between TriStar Pictures and The Jim Henson Co. with Alvarez and Basu writing the script. Lisa Henson will produce and Nicole Brown will oversee for TriStar. Lisa Henson of The Henson Co. will produce.
In speaking with Deadline Hollywood, Alvarez told the publication, “Labyrinth is one of the seminal movies from my childhood that made me fall in love with filmmaking. I couldn’t be more thrilled to expand on Jim Henson’s mesmerizing universe, and take a new generation of moviegoers back into the Labyrinth.”
Alright, it's time for some serious talk here, Alvarez. Are you listening? My buddy, my pal, my friend of friends, please don't f*ck this up. Additionally, do you recall how important it was to J.J. Abrams that he include puppetry and practical effects when making the STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS? Yeah, you should follow that same edict. While I fully understand that CGI effects are cheaper and easier to manage, I hope that you keep the use of that stuff to a minimum when making this film. I'm just sayin', the people will love you for it. I will love you for it. Do the right thing, man. I'll be watching you. I'm like Roz from MONSTERS INC., always watching.
Be sure to look for more updates on this project here as they roll out. Meanwhile, be sure to give Jim Henson's LABYRINTH another watch, simply because that movie is amazing in all regards. It's available right now on Digital, Blu-Ray and DVD.