Spierig Brothers to Direct "Power of the Dark Crystal" for Henson and Omnilab

Australian based Omnilab Media and The Jim Henson Company will bring the much anticipated and long-awaited sequel, "Power of the Dark Crystal" to the big screen in stereoscopic 3D.

It was also announced today that Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig (writers and directors of "Undead" and most recently, "Daybreakers") have come aboard to direct the project; and, as previously reported, the screenplay for the feature has been written by Craig Pearce ("Moulin Rouge," "Romeo + Juliet") and is based on an original script by Annette Duffy and David Odell. Legendary fantasy artist Brian Froud will reprise his role as conceptual designer of the film, which will use a stunning mix of live action and traditional puppetry combined with visual and special effects produced entirely in Australia. Omnilab-affiliated Iloura ("Where the Wild Things Are," "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark") has already begun work on the film's complex CGI elements. With this team in place, next steps will be to secure worldwide distribution.

"Power of the Dark Crystal is an exciting and ambitious undertaking and, having worked on previous projects with the top-notch talent and crews that Australia offers, we know we have assembled the right team to deliver the sequel to one of the most enduringly popular titles in the Henson library. Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig are sure to create a film that will continue the legacy of the original and exceed the expectations of our loyal fans," said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. "We are especially enthusiastic to be working with Omnilab Media, a strong and growing force in worldwide film finance and production."

Michael Spierig said, "We feel a tremendous amount of responsibility in telling this story with the same meticulous care that Jim Henson and Frank Oz gave the 1982 original." Added Peter Spierig, "This is a chance to take the world of puppetry into the modern age by using modern techniques (like motion capture CGI) and the tried and true methods (like puppetry and animatronics) to create a one hundred percent real world that is unique to 'The Dark Crystal'."

I will be sure to keep you updated as more information is released regarding this highly-anticipated feature film.