The highly-awaited sequel to Jim Henson’s 1986 cult classic musical fantasy Labyrinth, starring Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie, is finally being made; though the new film is bound to beat the original financially, it will still have to overcome a few obstacles. Labyrinth has been adapted in other media such as books and video games, but now it will finally get a proper sequel.
While Labyrinth now holds cult status, it was a box office flop when it was originally released and was met with mixed reactions from critics, who mostly praised the aesthetic qualities of the film, but criticized the plot’s essence. Thanks to the large following the film now has, however, the sequel is finally being made three decades later and has a high chance of becoming a box office hit–unlike its predecessor–due to audience nostalgia.
Labyrinth 2 faces a major obstacle in curating an equally as unique charm as the original film, and one of the biggest issues regarding this aspect of the film is Bowie’s character, Jareth. Recasting this role will be a challenge as Bowie’s performance for many points to the core of Labyrinth. The sequel will also have to navigate balancing the 1980s aesthetic and vibe through modern media and for a modern audience. Additionally, like any other legacy sequel, there is also the problem of creating a film that isn’t super similar to the original or does nothing to expand the story.
Still Labyrinth 2 is sure to create a lot of buzz for filmgoers.
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