Scott Derrickson To Direct ‘Labyrinth’ Sequel

Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson is going underground.
Deadline reports the filmmaker, who walked away from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness over creative differences, has signed on to helm TriStar’s Labyrinth sequel. Into the Dark‘s Maggie Levin will script the film, based on Jim Henson‘s 1986 fantasy film about a young girl (Jennifer Connelly) who allows her baby half-brother to be abducted by goblins. Chasing their after their all-powerful king, Jareth (David Bowie), she ends up in a labyrinth filled with strange creatures and existential perils.
The film was something of a dud on release — it was also Henson’s last film as a director — but like so many other odd 1980s films, it found a strong following on home video and cable. And its sizable cult makes it a potential profit center for a new Labyrinth franchise. The Jim Henson Company’s Lisa Henson will produce while Brian Henson will serve as an executive producers.
As we understand it, both Jareth and Connelly’s character will sit this story out. A totally understandable decision as Bowie, sadly, no longer exists on this plane and Connelly’s Sarah would have long put fantasy behind her. Like many follow-up films, we imagine it will largely retell the same story with new characters who could continue on in a franchise mode like Star Wars or the Marvel Cinematic Universe.