Power of the Dark Crystal (cancelled film)

"Prophets don't know everything!"

This article contains information about a scheduled, upcoming or ongoing production.

It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature and content may change dramatically as the release approaches and more information becomes available.

Power of the Dark Crystal is the upcoming sequel to the 1982 film The Dark Crystal.

Plot

Power of the Dark Crystal is set many years after the events of the first movie, and Jen and Kira are now king and queen. When the Gelflings welcome a fiery and an unexpected visitor to their castle, they learn that the very existence of the U-mun people, who live in the searing heat in the center of the earth, is threatened by the death of their sun. There is apparently only one thing powerful enough to heal the dying sun - a shard of the Crystal.

The Gelflings refuse the U-mun request for a crystal shard, as breaking the crystal would disturb the peaceful surface world's balance. However the desperate visitor takes matters into her own hands and steals a shard, making a hasty escape through tunnels deep in the bowels of the castle. The surface world once again falls into darkness - as the urSkeks split into Mystics and Skeksis. So begins the adventure of Thurma, a girl "made of fire", who bands together with Kensho, an outcast Gelfling, in an adventure in the "inner-world" over the fate of the planet.

Development

In May 2005 the Jim Henson Company first announced plans to produce a sequel to The Dark Crystal, entitled Power of the Dark Crystal. The screenplay was developed and written by David Odell, screenwriter of the original Dark Crystal, and his wife, Annette Duffy.^[1] Odell says he had discussed this concept of this sequel with Jim Henson in the 1980s. Although they didn't get too far into developing the idea, Odell claims remember the basic concept the two discussed. Brian Froud, conceptual designer of the original Dark Crystal, was also brought on board to design new characters and environments for the film.^[2]

The Jim Henson Company announced in February 2006 that Genndy Tartakovsky was hired to to direct the film. Additionally, Tartakovsky's Orphanage Animation Studios, was brought on board as a producing partner to head up the CG animation elements that will be incorporated with the film’s live-action animatronic characters.^[2]

Odyssey Entertainment is representing worldwide sales and distribution on the film.^[2] Power of the Dark Crystal will be produced by Lisa Henson and Scott Stewart. Executive Producers will be Brian Henson, Ralph Kamp and Louise Goodsill.^[2]

Tartakovsky, Froud and Henson appeared at the San Diego Comic-Con in July 2006 to talk about the film. ^[3] The Comic-Con presentation included the presentation of a promotional video showing conceptual art, storyboards and an interview with Tartakovsky about the process going into the the production of Power of The Dark Crystal.

While release was originally anticipated for "spring 2008"^[4], Henson announced at the 2007 Comic-Con that the production had hit a few setbacks causing the projected release to move to 2009:

Fans of The Dark Crystal did detect that we were moving a little slowly, and it’s kind of true - we had a little setback but are back on track. The movie will not be coming out until 2009 so we're not going to be showing anything for a while.
Lisa Henson^[5]

The Jim Henson Company reassured fans that the film was still coming in the January 14, 2008 installment of the Henson.com podcast:

...[The film] is deep in development here, and we are as committed to it as ever. We are still planning our original vision of a film, which is a theatrical release... We are anticipating a beautiful blend of puppetry and animatronics with CG animation backgrounds as we've said all along... We're all very excited to see the film come together, and we'll be sure to update the fans to the progress as we have those updates confirmed...
Nicole Goldman^[6]

In February 2009, it was reported that development on the project was still underway, with Craig Pearce (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!) having completed a rewrite of the screenplay, with the Australian company Omnilab Media set to co-produce.^[7]

Allyson Smith, the Henson Company's VP of New Media, responded to a question on Twitter about the project's status on April 16, 2009 stating: "Development [of the Dark Crystal sequel] moves forward, paying attention to what will serve fans and The Dark Crystal best. No details to announce. Check henson.com for updates."^[8], and again on February 24, 2010 stating: "Any news regarding Power of the Dark Crystal will go to Henson.com - keep checking for updates."^[9]

This is the most recent update as of May 4, 2010 from www.powerofthedarkcrystal.blogspot.com. Please notice that the directors have been changed from Tartakovsky to the Spierig Brothers:

In a joint announcement by Omnilab Media's Christopher Mapp and The Jim Henson Company's Lisa Henson, Australian based Omnilab Media is teaming up with The Jim Henson Company to bring the much anticipated fantasy sequel, "Power of the Dark Crystal" to the big screen in stereoscopic 3D. The highly anticipated film will be among the most ambitious projects to ever be produced in Australia.

Power of the Dark Crystal will be produced by the Australia based production arm of Omnilab Media, Ambience Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company's executive producers are Brian Henson, Lisa Henson and Jason Lust. Omnilab Media's executive producers are Christopher Mapp, Matthew Street and David Whealy. Cinemarket Films' Peter D. Graves ("Terminator Salvation") rounds out the executive producer team.

Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig, writers and directors of "Undead" and most recently, "Daybreakers," have come aboard to direct the screenplay written by Australian Craig Pearce ("Moulin Rouge," "Strictly Ballroom," "Romeo + Juliet") based on an original script by Annette Duffy and David Odell. The legendary fantasy artist Brian Froud will reprise his role as conceptual designer of the film, which will use a stunning mix of live action and traditional puppetry combined with visual and special effects produced entirely in Australia. Omnilab-affiliated Iloura ("Where the Wild Things Are," "The Pacific," "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark") has already begun work on the film's complex CGI elements. With this team in place, next steps will be to secure worldwide distribution.

"Power of the Dark Crystal is an exciting and ambitious undertaking and, having worked on previous projects with the top-notch talent and crews that Australia offers, we know we have assembled the right team to deliver the sequel to one of the most enduringly popular titles in the Henson library. Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig are sure to create a film that will continue the legacy of the original and exceed the expectations of our loyal fans," said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. "We are especially enthusiastic to be working with Omnilab Media, a strong and growing force in worldwide film finance and production."

"We are very pleased to be producing this wonderful and fantastical film in Australia. The Power of The Dark Crystal will showcase the depth of talent Australia has to offer up on the international stage, including the extremely gifted directing team of Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig. The Jim Henson Company has consistently delivered an amazing range of entertainment over generations and is an iconic creative studio that we are proud to have partner with us," added Christopher Mapp from Omnilab Media.

Michael Spierig said, "We feel a tremendous amount of responsibility in telling this story with the same meticulous care that Jim Henson and Frank Oz gave the 1982 original." Added Peter Spierig, "This is a chance to take the world of puppetry into the modern age by using modern techniques (like motion capture CGI) and the tried and true methods (like puppetry and animatronics) to create a one hundred percent real world that is unique to 'The Dark Crystal'."

New Update as of 12-7-10: Dark Crystal sequel directors Peter and Michael Spierig keep it real with muppets DREAM WEAVERS: Michael (left) and Peter Spierig. Pic: Russell Shakespeare Source: The Courier-Mail BRISBANE film-making twins Peter and Michael Spierig will emulate industry pioneer Jim Henson by creating hundreds of puppets for the sequel to the Muppet creator's 1980s classic fantasy, The Dark Crystal. In a cinema world hooked on digital effects, the directors of Queensland-shot movies such as Daybreakers and Undead are keeping it real for The Power of the Dark Crystal 3D.

Puppets will return to repopulate the late Henson's magical world of "Gelflings", "Podlings" and "Landstriders".

"Where we can, we're keeping to the spirit of Henson," said Peter Spierig speaking from the Woolloongabba production house the brothers have established.

The Spierig brothers are just two of the brilliant Queenslanders featured in Qweekend's annual 50 Best and Brightest issue in Saturday's Courier-Mail.

One of the most ambitious film projects ever produced in Australia, The Power of the Dark Crystal 3D will run the gamut of audiences growing sceptical about remakes. "We went to a convention not so long ago and we had a number of people come up and say, 'Don't you dare rape my childhood'," said Peter. "When one person says that, you take it on board. But when a bunch of people say it, you think, 'Wow, this really means something to them'.""So the last thing we want to do is screw it up," Michael adds.

Source: http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/dark-crystal-sequel-directors-peter-and-michael-spierig-keep-it-real-with-muppets/story-e6freqex-1225955222271