Fathom Events is bringing Jim Henson and Frank Oz’s landmark fantasy The Dark Crystal back to theaters tomorrow and Wednesday, and advance response has resulted in an additional two screening dates the following week and expansion into 700 theaters nationwide. A member of the Class of 1982, The Dark Crystal just celebrated its 35th anniversary. The ambitious story of The Dark Crystal takes place in the world of Thra, which has been torn by a fracture in a great magic crystal, which caused two races to be created: the tranquil Mystics, or urRu, and the evil Skeksis, who all but destroyed Thra’s native species, the Gelflings. The Mystics have summoned Jen, one of the last surviving Gelflings, to find the lost piece of the crystal. The quest sends Jen on a classic adventure to try to restore harmony and peace to Thra. Don’t wait–get tickets now here at the Fathom Events website before tomorrow’s screening sells out.
We recently revisited Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal with a groundbreaking look at the film and co-directors Jim Henson and Frank Oz in Caseen Gaines’ The Dark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History, a new deep-dive into the film reviewed here at borg.com. According to Henson’s daughter Cheryl Henson, The Dark Crystal was Jim Henson’s most personal work. This is a great time to have The Dark Crystal fresh in our memory, as we expect to see a 10-episode Netflix follow-on series hopefully by the end of 2018. The Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance does not yet have a release date.
Yes, we’re just as excited as Fizzgig–The Dark Crystal was the reigning favorite fantasy film of all time for legions of moviegoers before Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings came along. The film features performances by Jim Henson as Jen (voiced by Stephen Garlick), Kathryn Mullen as the Gelfling Kira (voiced by Lisa Maxwell), Frank Oz as the astronomer Aughra (voiced by Billie Whitelaw), and Dave Goelz as Fizzgig (voice of Percy Edwards), with Henson, Oz, and Goelz also performing as the Skeksis. Kiran Shah also performs the body of Jen, Kira, and Aughra. With a screenplay by Dave Odell (The Muppet Show), The Dark Crystal also features a majestic score by Trevor Jones (Excalibur, Labyrinth). Along with Yoda creator Frank Oz, the film was produced by Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back producer Gary Kurtz.
The Dark Crystal returns to U.S. theaters Sunday, February 25, 2018, and Wednesday, February 28, 2018, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time (both days) and Saturday, March 3, 2018, at 2 p.m. and Tuesday, March 6, 2018, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., featuring an exclusive interview with Lisa Henson. Then The Dark Crystal will debut on 4K Ultra HD and return to Blu-ray and Digital editions March 6, 2018, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Check out the Fathom Events website here for updates, locations, and tickets, and get tickets for tomorrow now before it’s sold out.
C.J. Bunce
Editor
borg.com
