The Sequel To The Dark Crystal Was Released, Just Not As A Movie

In another world and another time, Jim Henson's epic fantasy "The Dark Crystal" may have seen a cinematic follow-up. But in our own world and time, the sequel to the 1982 film came along in a very different format. 

While, according to MTV, director Jim Henson discussed ideas for a sequel with the original film's writer David Odell prior to the Muppets creator's death in 1990, it wouldn't be until 2006 when plans for "The Power of the Dark Crystal" began taking shape with "Dexter's Laboratory" and "Samurai Jack" creator Genndy Tartakovsky at the helm. The sequel would have seen Gelfling protagonists Jen and Kira as the new rulers of Thra, only for their land to be placed under threat once more when an underground race steals a shard from the Crystal of Truth.

After a series of setbacks, plans for the film sequel were scrapped and replaced by a 12-issue comic adaptation of the screenplay by writer Si Spurrier for Boom! Studios in 2016. Despite never seeing it as a movie, the Henson family were nevertheless happy to finally give fans the much-anticipated story, with Lisa Henson telling Forbes in 2018, "We thought, 'Why should we let this story that we thought up not get seen by the public?' We just went a different way with it." "The Dark Crystal" may not have seen a big screen continuation, but its small screen follow-up set in the world of Thra more than made up for what we lost. 

Following in the footsteps of "The Dark Crystal" is no small feat to say the least. The original 1982 film was an ambitious undertaking for its time; its immense leap forward in puppetry and creature design helped the film become a beloved cult classic for many over the decades. So, when Netflix embarked on their own journey to bring new life to Thra with the 2019 series "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance," it's safe to say they had some obstacles ahead. But thankfully, the team overcame these hurdles with flying colors.

Acting as a prequel to the original film, "Age of Resistance" follows three Gelflings from differing societies who learn of the dark truth behind their rulers, the Skeksis, and must unite the other Gelflings in an effort to start a rebellion. With its state-of-the-art practical puppetry blended with digital effects, an all-star cast consisting of Taron Egerton, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Nathalie Emmanuel, and rich mythos building off the original film, "Age of Resistance" became quickly beloved by old and new fans alike. The show's first season received an 89% Tomatomater score on Rotten Tomatoes and even won a Primetime Emmy for outstanding children's program. 

Sadly, the show's fate mirrored that of its cinematic predecessor. Not long after its Emmy win, Netflix would cancel the series after only one season, with some sources suggesting that the show's viewership numbers weren't substantial enough to support a 2nd season.