Over three years ago, it was announced that Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson was going to helm a sequel for the classic 1986 fantasy film Labyrinth. It’s been so long that I just assumed it was one of those Hollywood film projects that ended up being scrapped. But, apparently, that’s not the case.
During an interview with CB, Derrickson revealed that the Labyrinth follow-up is still in development, but he has no idea what the status of the project is. He explained:
“I don’t know what’s happening with that. We never got the script all the way to a place where the studio wanted to make it, but I was very proud of the work that we did on it. And it’s a hard, hard project to turn into something commercially viable, because it’s so imaginative and surreal that there’s no way that it can be done cheaply. And at the same time, it’s so daring and different that it is a tough movie for a studio to feel competent that it has enough commercial value to earn a profit. So I think that it’s a tough nut to crack, but all I can tell you is I’m very proud of the work that we did on it. We certainly had a great film in mind.”
When asked about moving forward with the project and the original star David Bowie being able to play the Goblin King, Derrickson said:
“Because the project is still in development, I probably shouldn’t say what the plans are because I think we had a really cool idea, but I don’t want to blow that in case the movie does get made.”
So, while he has no idea what’s going on with the project, there’s still a chance it could be made. I loved watching the Jim Henson-directed movie when I was growing up, and it has since spawned tie-in novels, comic books, video games, and even an annual fan masquerade ball, which is said to be one the largest in the world.
The story for the original film follows sixteen-year-old Sarah, who is given thirteen hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue her baby brother Toby when her wish for him to be taken away is granted by the Goblin King Jareth.
Maggie Levin, who wrote and directed Into the Dark and My Valentine for Hulu, is writing the script for the sequel. Lisa Henson of The Jim Henson Company is producing along with Brian Henson, who is executive producing. Derrickson is also set to executive produce the film along with his frequent collaborator C. Robert Cargill.
If this movie does get made, I hope that it gives us another great story!
