The Jim Henson Company has been developing a Fraggle Rock film and The Power of the Dark Crystal, a sequel to The Dark Crystal, for a few years now with limited news. MTV spoke with Brian Henson and got some minor updates.
First, Fraggle Rock is still definitely in development. In fact, it’s in “very active development” and there’s a “very strong script.” He added that like the show, the film will have a major musical component. Meanwhile the property will be geared towards a more expanded audience than the show rather than a “pretty exclusively children’s audience.” I’m not entirely sure I agree with that, but as long as it doesn’t involve adding pop culture jokes or scatological gags, that will be fine. Henson didn’t mention it here, but early word on the film was that it would involve the Fraggles heading into ‘outer space’, or our world.
Next, and at a similar status, is The Power of the Dark Crystal. It also has a “very strong script”. Unfortunately, MTV didn’t ask whether Genndy Tartakovsky was still directing this one. He was attached ages ago but development has obviously taken a while and he’s doing a new show, Sym-Bionic Titan, for Cartoon Network starting this fall. Brian Froud, the original character designer, came back to do new work on the sequel. The plot, according to a synopsis from a few years ago stated that the sequel took place many years after the original and would reintroduce the Skeksis and Mystics. A new character, Thurma, comes from the center of the world which is in danger, and she must travel to the Castle of the Crystal to request a shard from the Dark Crystal in order to save her home.
Henson said that both films were nearly ready to launch into pre-production and that the main sticking point was finalizing the financial deals.
So there you have it. Both films are still being worked on, but no solid news to provide just yet. The Jim Henson Company is also working with Screen Novelties on Monster Safari, a stop-motion film.
