Captain Marvel Screenwriter Nicole Perlman Sets the Record Straight on Labyrinth Rumors

Jill Pantozzi | January 25th, 2016

Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel screenwriter Nicole Perlman set the record straight about the recent Labyrinth reboot rumors going around. First thing’s first – it’s not a reboot.

Back in October of 2014, there were reports Labyrinth was getting a sequel. Variety wrote:

It’s also working on a quartet of legacy titles in the Henson library — a “Fraggle Rock” movie that’s been in development at New Regency; a sequel to 1982’s “The Dark Crystal”; a sequel to 1986’s “Labyrinth”; and a movie based on the Emmet Otter character.

But just a day later, and after everyone had flipped out, Entertainment Weekly wrote:

Sources tell EW that’s not the full truth. While they are working on a Fraggle Rock movie and a Dark Crystal sequel, as the Variety article stated, there are currently no plans to reboot, revive, or make a sequel to Labyrinth. It’s one of those legacy titles that is floated at most meetings, but, sadly, nothing is actually in development at the moment.

Curiouser and curiouser.

But then suddenly last week The Hollywood Reporter dropped a report saying a reboot was happening. “TriStar has closed a deal with The Jim Henson Co. to produce a new iteration and has hired Guardians of the Galaxy co-writer Nicole Perlman to pen the script,” they said. “It is unclear if the new take is a reimagining of the story or a sequel, as it is being kept deep in the vault.”

While fans would have raised hell either way, the timing of such a report felt hugely insensitive considering star David Bowie’s recent death. On the same day of this report Perlman tweeted, “Not ‘rebooting’ anything, guys.”

Not "rebooting" anything, guys.

— Nicole Perlman (@Uncannygirl) January 23, 2016

The following day she went on to explain a bit further. “Henson Co & I started talking in late 2014, so the timing of these rumors is so upsetting. I would never seek to profit from Bowie’s death,” she said, which lines up with those 2014 reports (though EW calls it “another Labyrinth” in their more recent report). “Labyrinth is my favorite film from childhood, so I share your concerns that any continuation of the world be handled with love and respect.”

[UPDATE: I asked Perlman “You mentioned talking to Henson in 2014, was that the base of those old stories about a sequel in October of that year?” and she replied, “Nope — I met with them after that false story broke.”

Henson Co & I started talking in late 2014, so the timing of these rumors is so upsetting. I would never seek to profit from Bowie's death.

— Nicole Perlman (@Uncannygirl) January 23, 2016

Labyrinth is my favorite film from childhood, so I share your concerns that any continuation of the world be handled with love and respect.

— Nicole Perlman (@Uncannygirl) January 23, 2016

And finally she tweeted “Guys, please don’t fall for all the clickbait. No one is remaking “Labyrinth.” That movie is perfect as it is.

Guys, please don't fall for all the clickbait. No one is remaking "Labyrinth." That movie is perfect as it is.

— Nicole Perlman (@Uncannygirl) January 24, 2016

True enough, though different people have different definitions of what a “reboot” actually is. For some it literally means remaking a film (The Parent Trap), for others it’s more in line with jumpstarting a franchise or property that’s been dormant for a while (Batman Begins). The latter usually means leaving previous continuity behind so while it’s still unclear at this stage what this continuation of Labyrinth will bring, it’s safe to say it will connect with the original in some significant way.

Will it be a whole new adventure based in the same magical realm? Perhaps we’ll see Jennifer Connelly’s Sarah return in a passing of the torch or even acting as a new, beneveloent Goblin Queen!

We can only hope.

One last thing of note about the project considering Perlman is working on the script. THR wrote, “Lisa Henson of The Henson Co. will produce the project, which will be overseen at TriStar by Nicole Brown,” which would mean there’s three women already behind the project. Can we shoot for a female director as well? I ask for so little.