Nosferatu Director Officially Set to Helm a Sequel to Jim Henson’s 39-Year-Old Fantasy Movie

Robert Eggers is one of the most in-demand directors following the success of his film, Nosferatu. Although the director clarified that he wants his upcoming project to be an original film, he is also set to helm a long-gestating sequel.

Per Deadline, Robert Eggers is officially set to direct and write a new Labyrinth sequel. The director made his debut in 2015 with The Witch, and has continued to impress the critics and the audience with his out-of-the-box and original storytelling. Following the release of Nosferatu, his only title based on an already-existing IP, Eggers has officially joined the sequel game with Labyrinth.

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The plans for the Labyrinth projects are in early stages, and there are no plot details available. However, the outlet reports that the new project will be a sequel instead of a remake of Jim Henson’s 1986 classic dark fantasy film. Eggers will team up again with Sjón, his frequent collaborator, with whom he worked on the 2022 Viking action epic The Northman, as well as his upcoming werewolf project, Werwulf.

The dark fantasy musical starred Jennifer Connelly and the late musician David Bowie. It followed Connelly’s character, Sarah, and her journey through a maze to save her younger brother from the Goblin King.

The sequel was long in the works, and the son of the original director, Brian Henson, confirmed that plans for Labyrinth 2 were still on the table in February 2024. Henson, the chairman of The Jim Henson Company, which he runs with his sister, Lisa, the CEO, noted that “That is a project that we are very excited about” when speaking to ComicBook. He didn’t share too many details.

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‘A Funny Time in the Industry’: Robert Eggers Wants an ‘Original’ Movie Following Nosferatu Success

The Nosferatu director acknowledged the benefits of a pre-existent IP but wants his future film to be an original.

Rumors of Eggers helming the Labyrinth sequel came out in late 2024, as movie scooper Jeff Sneider ran the story to reveal Eggers’ new project. On Wednesday, news broke out that Eggers’ next project following Nosferatu will be a werewolf film, which will be an original, as he promised, set for release on Christmas Day 2026. At the same time, he also addressed the Labyrinth rumors when speaking to Comic Book, and didn’t deny the rumors.

“The thing is, I always have a ton of things in development because you need to to survive this industry and you don’t know what is going to hit next. But I definitely want the next film I make to be an original movie.

Labyrinth was released in 1986 and was not a success at the box office. The movie had a budget of $25 million and only scored $34 million worldwide. However, it has since become a cult classing following its release on home media and television broadcasts.

Robert Eggers’ New Project Comes After Record-Breaking Oscar Nominations

Since his directorial debut 10 years ago, Robert Eggers released four films. The Witch, his first project, was initially expected to be followed by his longtime passion project, Nosferatu, but the director delayed production, wanting to get more experience in the industry. He then released 2019’s The Lighthouse and The Northman.

The Lighthouse, starring Robert Pattinson and frequent collaborator Willem Dafoe, was the first film to score an Oscar nomination, for Best Achievement in Cinematography. With his latest release, Nosferatu broke the record and scored not just one, but four Oscar nominations in several technical categories. The gothic horror highlighted Eggers’ previous experience as production designer, as he scored four nominations for Cinematography, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Production Design.

Eggers is a director who takes chances and has a different, original approach. However, his recent experience with a well-established title like Nosferatu, which was a remake of the 1922 silent horror film, proves a sequel will be an interesting path. Furthermore, a fantasy musical like Labyrinth might come with a slight genre change but it’s exactly the type of welcome risk that will certify Robert Eggers as one of the best contemporary directors.

Source: Deadline

Labyrinth

Release Date

June 27, 1986

Runtime

101 minutes

Director

Jim Henson

Writers

Terry Jones

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