The NeverEnding Story’s Childlike Empress Is Starring in an ’80s Fantasy Tribute Film

The NeverEnding Story’s Childlike Empress Is Starring in an ’80s Fantasy Tribute Film

The Jim Henson puppets.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Tami Stronach is starring and executive producing a new children’s fantasy film called Man & Witch. This will be the first major role she’s had since her debut in 1994’s The NeverEnding Story, where she played the Ivory Tower-dwelling Childlike Empress ” a character a generation of fans became obsessed with (just look up the cosplay tips). The film ” which will also star Lost’s Michael Emerson ” was written by co-star (and Stronach’s husband) Greg Steinbruner and is about a witch (Stronach) who loses her heart to a “hapless goatherd” who she’s tasked with breaking a powerful curse.

[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2020/06/our-25-favourite-summer-blockbusters-of-the-1980s/” thumb=”https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/23/e1zjomwhxaidjecg9dcm-300×169.jpg” title=”Our 25 Favourite Summer Blockbusters of the 1980s” excerpt=”For the first time in most of our lifetimes, your local movie theatre won’t have a summer blockbuster season. The covid-19 pandemic took care of that, pushing most of the big-budget popcorn films scheduled for this year’s summer months into fall, spring, or even next summer.”]

It’s fitting that Stronach is returning for a film that’s described as a “heartwarming homage to the lo-fi fantasy films of the 1980s,” considering that’s where she set her roots. It’s also where co-star Astin made his start, acting in some of the most iconic movies of the 1980s, like The Goonies and Rudy. In Man & Witch, Astin will play the character of Dog, one of a few puppet creations that the Jim Henson Creature Shop will be making for the production. The talking animals, which also include a sheep and goose, will be played by a mix of real animals and Jim Henson puppets.

This project is coming on the heels of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, which has yet to announce a (seemingly unlikely) second season, but it’s a good time for old-school puppetry to make a comeback. Production on Man & Witch is set to start this fall, pending any possible covid-19 delays, and no expected release date has been announced.

[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2020/06/an-ancient-dark-crystal-mystic-comes-to-life-for-the-first-time-in-a-new-book-of-thra/” thumb=”https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/19/dy9vnkkd90t1hj5fxy3s-e1592520243974-300×164.png” title=”An Ancient Dark Crystal Mystic Comes to Life for the First Time in a New Book of Thra” excerpt=”The world of Thra is full of incredible beings and creatures, from major civilisations like the Gelfling and the Skesis, to humble landstriders and adorable (and occasionally horrifying) Nurlocs. Now, a new book wants to detail Thra’s grand bestiary ” and Gizmodo has an exclusive look inside.”]


The Cheapest NBN 50 Plans

It’s the most popular NBN speed in Australia for a reason. Here are the cheapest plans available.

At Gizmodo, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.