Rumours are circulating that Nosferatu director Robert Eggers is being lined up to direct a reboot of the fantasy classic Labyrinth.
The 1986 cult film, directed by Muppets creator Jim Henson, produced by George Lucas, written by Monty Python star Terry Jones and starring David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King, has never had a sequel or a remake, but speculation has been rife for many years.
As far back as 2016, reports have been doing the rounds that a second instalment in the Labyrinth universe was in development, with Guardians Of The Galaxy co-writer Nicole Perlman said to be on board.
Then in 2017, it was announced that Don’t Breathe director Fede Alvarez had signed on to helm a spinoff film, with Henson’s daughter Lisa producing, but Alvarez dropped out in 2020.
Later that year, it emerged that Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson had been enlisted to direct, with original star Jennifer Connelly in conversation to return in her role as Sarah, the girl searching through the labyrinth to find her baby brother Toby.
But now, it appears that the film might have taken a different path, with Eggers, also known for The Witch and The Lighthouse, being linked to the project by noted Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider (via The Insneider).
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The report suggests that Eggers has signed on for the project with Sony Pictures, which he would also co-write with the Icelandic screenwriter and frequent Björk collaborator Sjón, who also worked on The Northman with Eggers.
Lisa Henson, according to the report, remains as a producer, alongside Home Alone and Harry Potter director Chris Columbus, and Alexander Skarsgård, who also starred in The Northman, and is known for Big Little Lies and Succession, is being tipped to take on the role of Jareth.
None of the reports have been confirmed by Sony or any of the individuals involved.
Eggers’ version of Nosferatu, a remake of the 1922 classic which in turn was based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, is out in US cinemas now and arrives in the UK on January 3. Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Emma Corrin star.
In a three-star review, NME wrote: “Unless you’re attempting something wildly radical, why bother? This take on Nosferatu may be essential viewing for fans of gothic horror but must be recommended with caution for everyone else.”