- Robert Eggers recently directed the box office hit Nosferatu
- Labyrinth has become a cult classic in the past 40 years
- New film will be a sequel rather than a remake of the original
A sequel to 1980s cult classic fantasy film Labyrinth has been confirmed, with Robert Eggers, fresh from his Nosferatu success, on board to write and direct.
Deadline has reported that Eggers is signed on for the movie, which is being made by TriStar Pictures.
Also on board is Sjon, who will be writing the script with Eggers – they previously collaborated on 2022 film The Northman. On the production side, Chris and Eleanor Columbus are producing with Lisa Henson, and Brian Henson as executive producer.
It has been confirmed that the new film will be a sequel to the original, rather than a remake or reboot. However, no plot details have been released as yet.
What was Labyrinth
The original Labyrinth film was released in 1986. It was written by Terry Jones and directed by Jim Henson. The musical fantasy film was notable for many characters being played by puppets from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. It starred 16-year-old Jennifer Connelly as Sarah, alongside music legend David Bowie as Jareth.
The plot centres on Sarah who inadvertently banishes her baby brother Toby by reciting lines from a book called The Labyrinth. But she instantly regrets her decision so when Goblin King Jareth appears and offers her dreams in exchange for Toby, she refuses. Jareth gives Sarah a challenge to solve his labyrinth in 13 hours, otherwise Toby becomes a goblin forever.
Sarah, aided – sometimes – by a cast of creatures she meets, goes through a variety of challenges and perils as she tries to defeat the Labyrinth and rescue Toby.
Labyrinth didn’t perform too well on its theatrical release – grossing $34 million after having had a budget of $25 million – but it has since become a cult classic thanks to success with video/DVD sales and being shown regularly on TV ever since. Sadly, it was the last film that Jim Henson directed before his death in 1990.
Busy time for Eggers
Eggers is set to be busy in the upcoming period. He has just confirmed that Focus Features’ film Werwulf is set to be his next film, with Labyrinth presumably his focus after that.
His most recently released movie, Nosferatu, has been performing well during awards season so far, picking up four Oscar nominations earlier this week.
News of a new Labyrinth film being in the works continues a developing trend in Hollywood to resurrect beloved franchises from the 1980s. earlier this month it was revealed that a new Gremlins film is in the works, and reports of a new Goonies film too.
