A HORRIFIC Dark Crystal in 3-D is finally happening!!

This morning The Jim Henson Company announced that two of our HORROR buddies Peter and Michael Spierig (Daybreakers and The Undead) are heading up the long awaited sequel to THE DARK CRYSTAL in 3D. The Spierig Brothers have gone from making an insanely cool little zombie flick in their garage to a big budget zombie flick, and now to the coveted roll of directing what (in my mind) is the most anticipated sequel of all time! Thankfully we are in good hands with these guys!

Oddly enough I was watching The Dark Crystal last night for the zillionth time, and wondering what ever happened to the dude that they had signed on to direct it a few years back. They had this big presentation for it at comic-con, and showed off this picture.

The new power of The Dark Crystal

Lets hope that The Spierig bros will have much less Geflings, and much more Skeksis, and by all means…no CG characters…I BEG YOU, PLEASE USE PUPPETRY!!

And guys…you need a hand, I have a few puppet skills up my sleeve and will move to Australia immediately to begin work! (here is some proof)

One last thing…Last year I was invited to see the inner workings of the Hollywood branch of  The Jim Henson Studios. I am in awe of the actual Skeksis they had on display in the lobby. But regardless of my personal love of puppets this should get many people excited!

Read on for the official press release from Henson studios:

OMNILAB MEDIA AND THE JIM HENSON COMPANY JOIN FORCES

TO LAUNCH THE AUSTRALIAN FEATURE PRODUCTION OF THE

HIGHLY ANTICIPATED

POWER OF THE DARK CRYSTAL

HOLLYWOOD, CA May 04, 2010 – 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.

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’.”

Set hundreds of years after the events of the first movie when the world has once

again fallen into darkness, “Power of the Dark Crystal” follows the adventures of a

mysterious girl made of fire who, together with a Gelfling outcast, steals a shard of

the legendary Crystal in an attempt to reignite the dying sun that exists at the center

of the planet.