Omnilab Media is no longer working with The Jim Henson Company to produce a live-action 3D sequel to 1982 cult classic The Dark Crystal.
In May 2010, Omnilab and the Jim Henson Company unveiled plans to produce The Power of the Dark Crystal. The project, which had been in development for several years, boasted the involvement of the Spierig brothers (Daybreakers) as directors and original fantasy artist Brian Froud as conceptual designer.
However, Omnilab managing director Christopher Mapp told IF Magazine late last year that the project was on hiatus. An Omnilab spokesperson confirmed that the situation had not changed.
“We invested a lot of time and energy into trying to get that property up,” Mapp said. “The Hensons were always an influencer over its direction and we agreed that it would sit for a period of time and we’d talk again sometime in 2012. We hope that we’ll get a chance to give that another breath of life.”
The Power of the Dark Crystal was set to follow 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 centre of the planet.
Last year, Omnilab continued production on another big budget film, Killer Elite, with Clive Owen and Jason Statham. However, the $80 milion film's performance did not meet box office expectations, grossing $US53 million globally. It will be released in Australia on February 23.
The Spierig brothers also moved on to another film, Jungle, which was based on the true story of young Australian Yossi Ghinsberg’s tale of survival, human fortitude and social manipulation after becoming lost in the Amazon jungle. However, that film also encountered funding difficulties, despite being backed by Screen Australia, and remains postponed.
Contact this reporter at bswift@www.if.com.au or on Twitter at @bcswift.
The Spierig brothers