New 'Labyrinth' Movie Officially in the Works [without The Goblin King we know & love]

Brian Froud - concept for Labyrinth

Yes - you read it correctly. There is a new Labyrinth movie in the works  - and it's a sequel, that is, a 'continuation' of the first movie.

Not a remake.

We repeat: This is NOT a remake!

(Phew!)

We can't quite imagine how it's going to work quite as much wonder without our favorite Goblin King (the late, great David Bowie), but we're willing to wait and hope.

Don't Breathe director, Fede Alvarez will co-write the script and be directing. Best of all, Lisa Henson will be producing. (Yay!)

Insiders stress that the new project is not a remake nor a reboot but rather a continuation of the story set in the rich Henson universe. The goblin king will not be represented in the film. (THR)

Did you read that last line properly? The goblin king will not be represented in the film. So... how this will be a sequel, exactly, is yet to be discovered. Lisa Henson being on board means we should be spending a good chunk of time in the Labyrinth - or the Goblin City - at least. (We hope.)

While we can imagine a myriad of interesting stories with this teensy bit of information, none of the ideas come close to matching to The Goblin King in our minds, but what we really want to know is: will Toby Froud be involved again? (Technically, with the Goblin King's passing - doesn't Toby become the Goblin King?) He's become a masterful artist, sculptor and puppeteer in his own right and his touch would be perfect for the film. Not to mention he and his wife Sarah (we know!) have a little Toby, er, #cabbageprince, of their own, though he's older now than Toby was when they made Labyrinth. Ah, possibilities!

Screenwriter, Nicole Perlman, who is not involved in the sequel, but instead wrote some story ideas between 2014 (when the idea for a second movie became a possibility) and January 2016 took to Twitter to clear up some rumors about this in January of LAST year, so this has been in the works for quite some time.

Oh - and a bit of trivia that, considering the director, might be pertinent background for the upcoming movie, did you know that...

The original film was scripted by Monty Python's Terry Jones. Its story was inspired by the Maurice Sendak children's book Outside Over There, which was itself inspired by the real-life kidnapping of aviator Charles Lindbergh's infant son. (Telegraph)

There is currently no release timeline for the movie but filming is scheduled to commence in Fall 2017.

So - basically: 

Is a Labyrinth sequel needed?

No.

Will we watch it?

Yes.

And we will be here as it unfolds...

should you need us.

Labyrinth Fan Alert!

We admit we have a soft spot for Labyrinth, for many reasons, and there are some upcoming products that fans might like to keep an eye on as they're releasing very soon... (September 12th! Though, if you're very lucky you may find a pre-release in hidden portals around the web.)

I will just use the ad copy, as it says it all:

Be careful what you wish for!

Jareth, the Goblin King, is no slouch
when it comes to granting wishes!

Sarah must rely on Worm and the dwarvish Hoggle for
help to solve the Labyrinth and save her brother!

The playful beast, Ludo, is coming as a super-sized 6" Pop!

                                     Collect the whole line of Labyrinth Pop! figures this September!

                              

Giant Ludo! And there's a Hot Topic exclusive, featuring the Jareth Sarah saw at the ball (but where's Sarah in her ballgown?!) 

I wouldn't mind a version of the Junk Lady either. She represents so much in terms of people's struggle to come to terms with childhood stories and loves...

And then there's also a wonderful-looking book that Corey Godbey (another favorite contemporary fairy tale illustrator) has been working on a while: Jim Henson's Labyrinth Tales. Here are some screen shots.

Jim Henson's Labyrinth Tales will be released on September 27th 2016. Pre-orders are available through Amazon.

Free Comic Book Day is TODAY and Officially Helps Kick Off Children's Book Week 2015

Yup - that is correct. Comic book stores around the US today will be helping to launch Children's Book Week for 2015 - officially - and not just by reminding you. They've gotten involved with the Children's Literacy Council and other reading advocate organizations for kids and are ready to encourage young readers (and would-be-readers) of all ages. The official Free Comic Book Day team and graphic novel artists and writers from all over have been preparing events BEYOND free comic book day  - to take place THROUGHOUT Children's Book Week  - to help promote reading, with comics as a launch pad to reading-success.

2015 preview of Labyrinth comic from the Boom Studios Anthology to be given away

From FreeComicBookDay:

On May 2, comic book stores will kick off Children's Book Week (May 4-10, 2015), the annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading, by giving away over two million comics to younger readers on Free Comic Book Day! 

With over two dozen kid -friendly titles to choose from, there's a free comic book available to help every young reader get into the spirit of Children's Book Week which will be celebrated the following week with more fun, book-themed events, appearances from beloved children’s book authors and illustrators, and more in all fifty states. 

Comics’ industry leaders Diamond Comic Distributors and Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) are partnering with Every Child a Reader and the Children's Book Council to bring greater focus to what comics offer kids, with cross-industry promotions and targeted resources for parents & educators during Children’s Book Week. In addition to Free Comic Book Day, the organizations will partner with authors, publishers, and comics specialty and book retailers to create Children's Book Week events spotlighting comics and the joy of reading at locations all over the United States! 

Jennifer L. Holm, three-time Newbery Honoree and CBLDF board member says, "When I was a child, my love of reading started with comic books. Today, as a comics creator myself, and as a mom, I'm excited by how much extraordinary storytelling is happening for young people in comics. Children's Book Week is a wonderful time for people to come together and share the love of reading comics with kids everywhere!"“Comics and graphic novels are incredible tools for fostering a love of reading in children, and transmit valuable literacy skills to readers of all levels. We are delighted to partner with Free Comic Book Day to share the joy of comics with kids nationwide this Children’s Book Week,” says Nicole Deming, interim director of the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader. 

“On behalf of comic shops nationwide that promote reading in their communities on Free Comic Book Day and all year round, and the writers, artists and publishers creating a fantastic array of children’s comics today, we welcome this opportunity to collaborate with Children’s Book Week and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund,” added Roger Fletcher, Diamond VP Sales & Marketing.

The kid-friendly FREE comics available this year will be more in number than usual and it's recommended parents take their kids and load up those arms!

What usually happens at comic book stores participating in Free Comic Book Day?

All the ones I've been to have had:

• costumed characters
• dressing up for guests (& contests)
• props and displays for photo ops (and general fun)
• artists signing comic books and special prints
• food!
• giveaways and raffles
• special appearances by guests
• art lessons
• FREE COMIC BOOKS!

Here's what our local store is doing:

Don't worry about breakfast, you can buy something delicious at one of the amazing gourmet food trucks, and Honu Coffee will be taking your order while you wait in line!

Did we mention the Stormtroopers, Ewoks, R2D2 and the LANDSPEEDER, not to mention Batman, Batgirl, Joker, and who knows what other characters might decide to stop by! In fact, dress to impress, and enter our SUPER COOL all ages COSTUME CONTEST sponsored by DK Publishing and LEGO!

Games, prizes, balloons, a rockin cool BINGO game, a DJ, gaming demos, free art lessons...SO much to do! Be sure you're following us on Twitter, for our giveaway game, where we will be giving away some amazing prize packages to the lucky winners.

And, OH YEAH: don't forget the comics. Miles and miles of free comics!

Get here early, stay all day!!! JUST BE THERE!

For fairy tale folk there are a few offerings in the free category, including a special Labyrinth comic (which you can see a preview page of in this post) and for slightly older kids, there's Steampunk Goldilocks. There are a variety of other kids fantasy too, though, sporting the prince, princess and monster motifs common to what people think of as fairy tales today as well though, so check them all out (and hey - if you don't like what you ended up with, donate them!)

Also DK are an official sponsor of Free Comic Book Day for 2015!

DK have signed on to sponsor and contribute toward the marketing and promotion of Free Comic Book Day (FCBD), which takes places Saturday May 2^nd at participating comic book specialty shops across the US, Canada, and worldwide. DK will serve as a supporter of Free Comic Book Day offering a special edition comic book along with the opportunity to win prizes as they help shape and enrich the comic fans’ experience of the event.

DK will offer FCBD Fans the opportunity to win various graphic novels, comics, activity books, and additional prizes through contests hosted on the Free Comic Book Day Facebook page during April through July. 

There's a list of bona-fide kid-friendly comic book stores by state HERE, but seeing our local  book store isn't on there yet it definitely fits the bill, it's not a complete list. Although not all comic book stores participate, most seem to, so check out yours - and remember, the earlier you get there, the more likely you are to get the freebies you want the most...

Happy reading!

A Raw Icelandic "Beast" with Much Beauty

"Once upon a time, there was a hero, although she didn't know it yet. Her name was Bell. And she was destined to confront a Beast..."

There's a new film in the making which promises a very different take on Beauty and the Beast, journeying back to the fairy tale's roots and delving into the Mythic, in a way we haven't yet seen. It's titled, simply, Beast, but the movie promises to be anything but simple.

The Icelandic setting and all-Icelandic cast, along with "The Mountain", (aka Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) from HBO's Game Of Thrones, ratchet the epic factor up more than a few notches, as does the edginess of the Viking-esque time period of 'the year 800'. 

This is Bell is on a feminine hero's journey, one which would give Theseus a run for his money, so it's no coincidence that the mythic story of one of Theseus' great challenges, defeating the Minotaur at the center of the labyrinth, was a foundation for this movie.

Director Max Gold says:

"When Beast is released, fans can expect to see a darker, Icelandic take on the fairy tale that they’ve come to know and love--told from a feminine perspective.  

"A masculine hero’s journey usually involves the hero leaving home then conquering and/or killing his way through a series of obstacles. But a feminine hero’s journey happens in a different style. For example, Scheherazade tells stories to save her own life. Persephone empathizes with her captor in the underworld to earn some time above ground. The Theseus/Minotaur myth (lots of similarities to Beast) is actually also a more feminine version of the hero’s journey even though Theseus is male. For example, Theseus leverages his enemy’s size and strength to his own advantage. Or when facing Medusa, Theseus literally “reflects” in his shield to find her whereabouts. These are feminine means, which makes sense because Theseus’s father is Poseidon, god of the sea.  

"There’s this new buzz phrase, “strong female protagonist.” Most of the time “strong” just means “put a weapon in the female protagonist’s hand.” That does not make a strong female protagonist, it just makes a female protagonist who carries a weapon. In Beast, the story is told from Bell’s perspective and she uses her own courage and cunning to find her way. She is a deeply flawed character but is also willful. You will find out whether her strong will is enough when she comes face to face with her darker side. And yes, at some point she does also wield a badass sword!"

Apart from showcasing a selection of beautiful visuals here, the best way I could think to introduce you to the film is via a couple of their development films. First "Princess" Bell then Bell the Hero. If you don't have time to watch any of the videos, I still strongly suggest you take a look at the last 30 seconds or so of Bell the Hero (at the 1min35sec mark). It's amazing.Take a look:

While the film is definitely a "darker take" on the Beauty and the Beast tale, it's clear from corresponding with Max Gold, and getting peeks behind the scenes here and there, that every scene, including the bloodier ones, are all there with a purpose.

"Violence is a necessary part of a fairy tale; it always points to the death of potential consciousness that befalls those who don't pay attention. Our Beast is a hoard of energy that saps the land and causes the famine. Without this as an antagonist, the stakes of Bell's journey would be inauthentic.

“Bell’s psychological journey inward is as much a focus as her harrowing quest through the Icelandic wilderness. Bell is fleeing a brutal past; she is contending with a lot of inner demons. She is a deeply flawed character and we don’t shy away from putting those flaws up on screen, but she is also extremely willful. Her will and courage ultimately carry her through.”

From references of The Poetic Edda and Icelandic Sagas, along with nods to Jung and David L. Hart's "The Water of Life: Spiritual Renewal in the Fairy Tale" and labyrinthian metaphors, both with regard to the inner psyche and the forbidding Icelandic wildlands, this Beauty and the Beast retelling has some serious foundation to build it's story on. The attention to storytelling detail is also clear in every frame with both beautiful photography and specific framing that tells a story of its own (a quick look at the embedded videos will have you amazed that such an icy wasteland can be so very stunning!). 

When you see this it's easy to recognize how important the awareness of the Land is in the movie as well. A sense of story grows out of it, just like it does for the Icelandic people, so it made sense when I learned that Max Gold had more than a passing appreciation for it as well.

"One of the patterns I began to notice in Icelandic folklore was that everything ties back to the land. The evil wizards who turn the sand black, or the elves who come from the lava rocks--all of them emerge from and return to the landscape. They are land spirits, or for the more objective they are anthropomorphisms. Take a drive through Westfjörds and when you come back tell me that you didn’t see faces in the rock staring back at you. There is a deep respect for and connection with the land in Icelandic cultural heritage, something akin to that of the original Americans before the Europeans unfortunately wiped them out.  

"Casting the film entirely Icelandic maintains an integrity of place that bleeds through the screen. Rather than rely on special effects, my visual team emphasizes the stunning landscape to catapult the audience head-on into this magic world. 

"My friend Helga introduced me to the Icelandic landscape painter called Kjarval. Kjarval was responsible for re-introducing the landscape to the Icelandic people by way of his paintings. 
Between Kjarval’s paintings and the folklore, the unique and rustic world inhabited by Beast and Bell comes to life. All of that said: not once did we “use” the landscape. Everyone on my team had a running joke: “the landscape used us.” My friend Max was carrying a 4x4 floppy up a hill and he actually blew away in the wind. Henry had to grab him and pull him back down!" 

This video below is slightly longer at over 3 minutes but you get to see a lot of that 'mythic foundation building' I keep referencing. 

Now that you know the context of the film and have seen an exploration of visuals and scenes, I'd like to add the trailer for you to view too. Just be warned: the trailer begins with some violence, which can be a shock if it's the first thing you're seeing. If any form of violence or gore bothers you, just don't watch the first 11 seconds. The rest is worth watching and at times breathtakingly stunning, I promise. (I do recommend you don't have kids around though - this is not for children.):

I've spent quite a bit of time looking into Beast and am more and more impressed the more I learn. The only trouble is that there isn't a guarantee it will be finished... yet. Despite the formidable talent and crew they have on board, this film is still an Indie project and is relying on crowd funding and support to get the picture done.

I'm not the only one who believes this film promises and excellent standard though. Beast was recently named a Kickstarter "Staff Pick" and they're more than half way to their goal. I'm sort of astonished that the monetary goal is so low, considering how high they have the bar set for production but they've already proven they can do a lot with a little. I'd dearly love to see this film complete and we've got just one week to help them make this possible.

This project will only be funded if at least $20,000 is pledged by Tue, Apr 7 2015 1:36 PM PDT. (As of this posting just over $13,000 has been pledged - only $7,000 to go!)

Being a Kickstarter, there are some really great incentives and rewards for helping out with donations. You can donate as little as a dollar or a few dollars and get some extra promotion yourself, and starting at the $30 mark you can receive a high res copy of the film yourself (isn't that close to what you'd pay for a Blu-ray these days anyway?)

The approach to this film is the sort of storytelling we want to see - exploring tales we love in a new ways with intelligence, reverence and excellence. Please consider joining me in supporting Beast. Even a small amount can make a huge difference.


BEAST: A DARKER RE-IMAGINING OF “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.”
SET ENTIRELY IN ICELAND.
Blind Hummingbird Productions
Beast stars Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, aka THE MOUNTAIN from HBO’s Game of
Thrones alongside a completely Icelandic cast.
Bell is played by newcomer Berta Andrea and Beast is played by Icelandic model Ingi
Hrafn. The film is shot by Cannes-showcased cinematographer, Ed Wu. Production
Designer: Haisu Wang (Steven Spielberg’s THE PACIFIC) Costume Designer: Ella
Reynis (GAME OF THRONES.)
Beast is written and directed by Max Gold, whose previous credits include the Golden
Globe-nominated Arbitrage (2012). Gold’s commercials, short films and video art
installations have received numerous accolades and international festival attention.
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/maxgold/beast-a-live-action-feature-
film-of-beauty-and-the
Trailer (official site): www.beast-iceland.com
Blind Hummingbird Productions: www.blindhummingbird.com
Twitter: @Beast_movie , @blindhummingbrd
Facebook: facebook.com/BEASTIceland , facebook.com/blindhummingbird

Additional sources: HERE, HERE, & the official website HERE

Bret McKenzie Developing Labyrinth-esque Comedy-Musical Fairy Tale

Bret McKenzie (left) with Flight Of the Conchords partner Jemaine Clement (right)

I stumbled across this little nugget of news yesterday...

Recipe for a Comedy-Musical Fairy Tale 
by Bret McKenzie (aka half of Flight of the Conchords, aka Austenland & LOTR actor, aka Academy Award winning songwriter)

Take:
- one part Labyrinth
- one part Princess Bride
- one part Muppets
Fold into one film.
Add:
- singing dragons
- singing monsters
- live people
(Caution: do not let monsters & dragons eat people without prior clearance)
Mix with liberal doses of Flight of the Conchords style wit
Add lashings of James Bobin's** writerly-expertise
Blend well.
Set to simmer in pre-production for many months.
-- Proceed with secret baking process (signed NDA*** required to view) --
[Note: Make Jim Henson proud.]
Do NOT set aside to cool.
Share immediately with friends.
Consume with enthusiasm.

** James Bobin was co-writer and director on The Muppets.
*** NDA - non-discloure agreement
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