The Neverending Story Is Being Rebooted as a New Live-Action Movie Series

comingsoon.net:

is being rebooted as a new live-action movie series.

Per Variety, Michael Ende Productions and See-Saw Films have announced plans to adapt The Neverending Story into a new series of live-action films.

“The news brings to an end the race for one of the hottest fantasy properties yet to be tapped for modern audiences,” the article states. “Variety hears that Ende’s estate had been fielding interest from across the globe over the last few years, including from studios and streamers.”

The Neverending Story is a fantasy novel by writer Michael Ende that was published in 1979. The book was previously turned into a 1984 fantasy film directed by Wolfgang Petersen that starred Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway, Tami Stronach, and Patricia Hayes.

“On his way to school, Bastian ducks into a bookstore to avoid bullies. Sneaking away with a book called The Neverending Story, Bastian begins reading it in the school attic,” the synopsis for the 1984 movie reads. “The novel is about Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by “The Nothing,” a darkness that destroys everything it touches. The kingdom needs the help of a human child to survive. When Bastian reads a description of himself in the book, he begins to wonder if Fantasia is real and needs him to survive.”

Iain Canning and Emile Sherman will produce the new Neverending Story movies for See-Saw Films, while Roman Hocke and Ralph Gassmann will produce for Michael Ende Productions.

The exact number of films that will be made will depend on the creative team attached to the project, Variety reports, as no director or writer has been announced at this time.

“The journey, in many ways, starts now,” Canning said. “There’s been a lot of anticipation from people who love this story about what the next steps would be. For us, we now need to speak to writers and directors and hear their passion for the material.”