Every so often, you get those films that really seem to be simultaneously ahead of their time and of the time. The Dark Crystal may have done okay at the box office back in the 1980s, but it certainly seemed a bit ahead of its time with its willingness to go dark. It was something that made a huge impact on me as a kid, and I know I wasn’t alone, as the film has gone on to be a cult favorite.

We learned several months back that the property would be revitalized, and not only would it be back in terms of its mythology, but its use of puppets would be alive and well for all to enjoy, thank goodness. The announcement trailer was all kinds of cool, but apart from it being a real behind-the-scenes-type deal, it didn’t give us any details.

Now, Netflix has broken their silence with a huge casting update on the impending limited series The Dark Crystal: Age of the Resistance, and boy is it a doozy. Pretty much, they confirmed an all-star cast, which includes Taron Egerton, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Nathalie Emmanuel taking up lead roles as Rian, Brea, and Deet, respectively.

But they won’t be the only actors playing Gelfling characters. Not by a long shot:

Caitriona Balfe (Outlander)
Helena Bonham-Carter (The King’s Speech)
Harris Dickinson (forthcoming 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)
Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider)

And then we have actors playing Skeksis and Mystics:

Harvey Fierstein (Torch Song)
Mark Hamill (Knightfall, 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)
Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine Nine)

About the voice cast, 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 favourite 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.”

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.”

And as you can see by the images above, these puppets will be retaining their trademark uncanny valley goodness, and will likely to have you staring constantly at their faces wondering “why do I hate the way these look?”

Finally, here is the official synopsis for the fantasy show:

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.

So what do you think of all this? Are you happy to see The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance taking shape? Let us know your thoughts down below!

Don’t forget to share this post on your Facebook wall and with your Twitter followers! Just hit the buttons on the top of this page.

SOURCE: Netflix