Robert Eggers Is The Perfect Director For Labyrinth 2

Nosferatu director Robert Eggers will be directing a sequel to the cult classic Labyrinth for Tri-Star Pictures. After years of development, with filmmakers such as Fede Álvarez and Scott Derrickson previously attached, it appears that the visionary behind acclaimed genre films including The Witch, The Lighthouse and The Northman will reintroduce audiences to the original fantasy world created by Jim Henson.

Released in 1986, Labyrinth was a passion project by Jim Henson, whose previous directorial credits included The Great Muppet Caper and The Dark Crystal. It starred David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly in the lead roles. Given his work in popularizing puppetry as a legitimate art form to mainstream audiences thanks to the success of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock, Henson immersed audiences into his original musical fantasy world with innovative puppetry and in-camera visual effects. Although the film under performed at the box office at the time, it gained a cult following through subsequent home video sales and television broadcasts. Nearly 40 years after its original release, Tri-Star is looking to bring a long-awaited sequel to life, and with Robert Eggers at the helm, it is clear that they made the most exciting creative choice in hiring one of the most exciting directors working today.

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An Impeccable Track Record

Robert Eggers first burst onto the scene in 2015 with his horror film, The Witch. The film starred Anya Taylor-Joy, in her breakthrough role. Released by A24 in the U.S. and Elevation Pictures in Canada, the film was critically acclaimed and grossed $40.4 million on a budget of only $4 million. The film’s success immediately turned Eggers into one of the most exciting new filmmakers, particularly within the horror genre.

With the momentum of The Witch on his side, Robert Eggers’ next project The Lighthouse boasted some exciting prospects. Actors Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe both approached Eggers for future collaborations, thanks to their admiration for The Witch. The two would then take on the lead roles in The Lighthouse, delivering some of their most acclaimed performances in their respective careers. Released by A24 in the U.S. and VVS Films in Canada in 2019, the film was critically acclaimed, grossing $18.3 million on an $11 million budget, and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography.

Robert Eggers’ third film, The Northman, would be his biggest creative endeavor at the time of its release in 2022 by Focus Features. Led by Alexander Skarsgård, featuring a supporting cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, and Willem Dafoe among others, the film was a massive leap in scale for Eggers, with major action sequences and produced on a budget that cost more than his previous two films combined. Much like his previous two films, the film was critically acclaimed but under performed at the box office. However, the film found its audience thanks to successful streaming numbers.

Nosferatu Changes Everything

With three acclaimed genre films under his belt, Robert Eggers has already proven himself as one of the most exciting filmmakers of the modern landscape. However, it is his most recent film, Nosferatu, that serves as perhaps his most undeniable calling card as a creative force in the industry. Released by Focus Features in 2024, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Willem Dafoe, the film was a critical success, and by far Eggers’ most successful film, grossing $166.4 million on a budget of $50 million. The film is also nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

The critical and commercial success of Nosferatu is undeniable proof that Robert Eggers is becoming a recognizable creative force for critics and genre audiences alike. An R rated gothic horror film performing as well as it has not only signifies audiences’ appetite for the genre on the big screen, but also a desire to see visionaries like Eggers be granted opportunities to bring stories of this scale for theatrical release.

Like Henson, Like Eggers

While one might look at Robert Eggers’ filmography and not immediately make any comparison to Jim Henson, perhaps they should avoid their signature respective creative tones, and pay closer attention to their respective craftsmanship. Of course, Eggers’ films do not project a tone that mirrors any of the colorful, playful energy seen in The Muppets, but the attention to detail and meticulous filmmaking is similar to the legendary Henson, and would make the perfect fit for Labyrinth 2.

In all four of his films, Robert Eggers showcases a knack for in-camera practical effects regardless of what the budget allows. In The Witch and The Lighthouse, Eggers effectively utilizes his resources for enthralling, singular cinematic endeavors on a smaller scale. In particular, The Lighthouse makes a case of showcasing his relentless creativity in which its small, intimate scale is integral to that film’s artistic integrity.

In The Northman and Nosferatu, Robert Eggers’ resources are significantly expanded, and he thrives with such epic scale. Whether it is through the battle sequences in The Northman, or the elevated production design in Nosferatu, Eggers’ creative imagination proves that the massive canvas of a bigger budget allows him to immerse audiences into his stunning worlds, which is as Jim Henson as it gets.

Timeless Filmmaking

Overall, Tri-Star could not have picked a more exciting filmmaker than Robert Eggers to bring Labyrinth 2 to life. Although plot details regarding the upcoming sequel remain unknown, there is no doubt that Eggers’ previous filmography proves that he is the type of strong visionary that can truly honor the passion and vision first introduced to audiences by Jim Henson in 1986, and above all, Eggers being at the helm can make this more than just another run-of-the-mill legacy sequel and be something more.

Robert Eggers’ career is still young, but with four acclaimed films under his belt and an undeniable skill behind the camera, his filmmaking sensibilities reflect the same love for genre worldbuilding and immersion that Jim Henson had. Regardless of how Labyrinth 2 turns out, with Eggers at the helm, it will at least be a film with some exciting creative flair.

Nosferatu

Release Date

December 25, 2024

Runtime

132 Minutes

Director

Robert Eggers

Writers

Robert Eggers

Cast

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  Bill Skarsgard

  Count Orlok

• 

  Lily-Rose Depp

  Ellen Hutter

• 

  Nicholas Hoult

  Thomas Hutter