It’s a great year for the Dark Crystal fandom. Starting late summer, we can expect not one, not two, but three more stories set in the world of Thra.
Two of them are confirmed prequels, with the first taking place long before the era of Jim Henson’s 1982 cult masterpiece. A 12-issue comic book series, it’s called Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and io9 reports it will be written by Adventure Time’s Nicole Andelfinger, with Matias Basla (Sparrowhawk) as the artist.
Here’s the synopsis:
Return to another world, another time, Before the Age of Wonder. The Skeksis rein over Thra, but there are distant echoes of rebellion. Gelfling and unlikely heroes emerge to champion what is good and just, but their paths to legend started long ago. Epic tales of adventure, magic, and mystery send us back in time to the Age of Resistance to witness the untold histories that forged these protectors of Thra.
Then we have Netflix’s long-awaited series, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, which takes place after the comics but before the events of the original film. The IMDb synopsis describes how it will follow “three Gelfling [who] discover the horrifying secret behind the Skeksis’ power, and set out to ignite the fires of rebellion and save their world.” Taron Egerton, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Anya Taylor-Joy play the three protagonists: Rian, a “Gelfling castle guard of the Stonewood Clan”; Deet, a “Gelfling prophet of the Grottan Clan”; and Brea, a “Gelfling princess of the Vapra Clan.” Other previously reported stars include Caitriona Balfe, Helena Bonham Carter, Natalie Dormer, and Mark Hamill, while an announcement on Wednesday revealed that Lena Headey, Benedict Wong, Awkwafina, and Sigourney Weaver (voicing a mysterious character called the Myth-Speaker) will join the cast.
Watch the first teaser:
If you still can’t get enough Dark Crystal content, then we’re happy to report the Skeksis and Gelflings are taking over your Nintendo Switch as well. Polygon reports that the 3D “tactical strategy game” is called The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics, and will feature original characters, storylines, and settings not seen in the film or series. It’s not clear when the game takes place, but Polygon says it’s inspired by the prequel series.
That brings us all the way to the original Dark Crystal, which takes place during the “Age of Wonder.” According to a synopsis on the fandom’s wiki, “A thousand years ago, this land was green and good, until the Crystal cracked. For a single piece was lost; a shard of the Crystal. Then strife began, and two new races appeared: the cruel Skeksis… the gentle Mystics.” Raised by the Mystics in a world ruled by the Skesis, Gelfling orphan Jen thinks he’s the last of his kind. Jen’s adoptive people send him on a quest to find a lost shard of the titular crystal and heal it, and on the way, he meets a fellow Gelfling who also thought she was the last one left.
The comics will be released by BOOM! Studios on September 25, while the series will arrive on Netflix on August 30. There’s no release date for the game yet, so keep an eye on this page for any more updates. In the meantime, head to the comments and share what other Dark Crystal content you’d like to see.
