Jim Henson’s 1982 film, “The Dark Crystal” is one of the biggest cult classic films of all-time. Utilizing Henson’s signature puppeteer work, ‘Dark Crystal’ is a darker project for the legendary creator, but has resonated with audiences almost 40 years after its original release. And now, Netflix is putting the final touches on a new series set in the ‘Dark Crystal’ universe and the streaming service has hired an incredible cast to voice some of the characters.
Netflix announced that the voice cast for “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” will feature the talents of Taron Egerton (“Kingsman”), Anya Taylor-Joy (“Thoroughbreds”), Nathalie Emmanuel (“Game of Thrones”), Caitriona Balfe (“Outlander”), Helena Bonham-Carter (“The King’s Speech”), Harris Dickinson (“Maleficent 2”), Natalie Dormer (“Game of Thrones”), Eddie Izzard (“Ocean’s Thirteen”), Theo James (The ‘Divergent’ Series), Toby Jones (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”), Shazad Latif (“Star Trek: Discovery”), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“The Cloverfield Paradox”), Mark Strong (“Kingsman”), and Alicia Vikander (“The Danish Girl”).
Cindy Holland, VP of Original Series, Netflix said, “To match the stunning visual world of ‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance,’ we knew we had to entice some incredible voice talent to add dimension to the exquisite artistry of the puppeteers who bring the characters to life. I am proud to say that this may be one of the finest casts assembled from the world’s favorite TV shows and movies, and I am now even more excited for fans to come back to Thra with us, and for new viewers to discover this world for the very first time.”
The rest of the cast includes Harvey Fierstein (“Torch Song”), Mark Hamill (“Star Wars”), Ralph Ineson (“Game of Thrones”), Jason Isaacs (“The OA”), Keegan-Michael Key (“Key and Peele”), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (“True Detective”), Simon Pegg (“Mission: Impossible – Fallout”), Andy Samberg (“Brooklyn Nine Nine”), and Donna Kimball (“The Happytime Murders”).
‘Age of Resistance’ tells a story set many years before the first film. A group of three Gelflings must save the world of Thra from the corrupt Skeksis and win a battle for the fate of the planet.
Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company said, “It is humbling to see so many truly gifted actors join ‘The Dark Crystal’ universe by adding their voices to ‘Age of Resistance.’ As with the original film, we are now adding a voice cast of the highest caliber that will provide textures and range to the puppetry performances that are the heart of the series. It is thrilling to see this assembled team of artists, puppeteers and now voice actors, many inspired by my father’s original film, work together to realize this unique world – through performance and craft – at a scale that is rarely seen today.”
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance will launch on Netflix in 2019
Here is the synopsis and a first look at three new characters:
Based on The Dark Crystal, Jim Henson’s groundbreaking 1982 feature film, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance tells a new epic story, set many years before the events of the movie, and realized using classic puppetry with cutting edge visual effects. The world of Thra is dying. The Crystal of Truth is at the heart of Thra, a source of untold power. But it is damaged, corrupted by the evil Skeksis, and a sickness spreads across the land. When three Gelfling uncover the horrific truth behind the power of the Skeksis, an adventure unfolds as the fires of rebellion are lit and an epic battle for the planet begins.
