7 Characters Who Need To Return For The NeverEnding Story Remake

The NeverEnding Story captured the hearts and minds of children and adults alike in 1984, and if the reboot wants to pay homage to the original, it must include characters from the first movie. The film drew inspiration from the novel of the same name by Michael Ende, and his estate has greenlit the reboot, meaning the upcoming film series could be even more faithful to the source material. While the original movie strayed from Ende’s story at times, it did capture the emotional truth of the tale and left an impact on anyone who watched it.

The story revolves around Bastian, a young boy who is bullied in school and recovering from the death of his mother. It’s then that he discovers a book, The NeverEnding Story, that draws him so far into the story’s world he becomes part of the adventure. Though elements of modern kids’ movies make The NeverEnding Story reboot worrisome, there is hope for the upcoming franchise, as the studio behind it, See-Saw Films, has dealt with heavy material before. The NeverEnding Story is meant for children, but that doesn’t mean it shies away from the realities of life.

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Bastian

The protagonist, and reader who enters the story

Bastian is the main character of the film and book of The NeverEnding Story. Right now, it’s unclear if the upcoming movie series will be a direct reboot and tell the same story or introduce new characters for a new era in a new tale within the universe of the past film and book. Regardless, there is no story without Bastian, as he is the stand-in for the audience and the lens through which young children see themselves within the story. Bastian reminds the audience they are part of the story and can be a hero.

The point of tales like The NeverEnding Story is to be an outlet for children and adults to see they aren’t insignificant in the world, and they create their own stories. Bastian is given the power to recreate Fantasia at the end of The NeverEnding Story because it’s built through human wishes and dreams. Losing the ability to hope and dream is the worst fate in The NeverEnding Story. Bastian almost pushes away his belief because of the people around him. It’s never been harder to hold onto belief, and these themes must play as large a role as Bastian.

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Childlike Empress

She is the ruler of Fantasia, who is fading and needs a new name

Much of the conflict in The NeverEnding Story is in the journey to find the Childlike Empress. In the story, Fantasia is fading because of an evil force called The Nothing that is consuming the land. The hero, Atreyu, is told that if he finds the Childlike Empress, ruler of Fantasia, and gives her a new name, then Fantasia will be saved. However, trying to find her proves to be quite a challenge that requires great bravery and sacrifice. She has limited screen time in the movie and is referred to more often than she is seen.

However, this doesn’t make her any less important and has the reverse effect of making her eventual appearance carry additional weight. The power of the idea of her and the act of finally reaching her palace is just as motivating as her physical existence. This conceit mirrors the way Fantasia is built on ideas and dreams, making the Childlike Empress the embodiment of the story’s themes. Additionally, the idea that a powerful Empress who rules over a magical domain could be a child appeals to kids watching and allows them to identify her.

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Atreyu

The hero of Bastian’s story and reflection of his inner self

Atreyu is everything Bastian wants to be and is a projection of his dreams. There is a beautiful moment in the film when Atreyu looks into a mirror that reveals the true representation of his inner self, and it’s Bastian looking back at him. Bastian is shocked by this, and it’s a great example of the subtle ways the movie starts blurring the line between the frame story and the tale within Bastian’s novel. Though Atreyu is living the adventure, the events are just as impactful on Bastian and the viewer because Atreyu represents anyone who’s part of the story.

The child actor who takes over the role of Atreyu has big shoes to fill, as he takes up the majority of the screen time and is in many nerve-wracking situations. Of course, there’s no actual danger on set, but portraying realistic anxiety and courage in simulated situations can be difficult. Though Atreyu first appears like the ideal hero who can handle anything, he goes through serious trauma and hardship on his journey, which humanizes him and makes the audience empathize with him.

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Gmork

The evil henchman of The Nothing in the form of a wolf

Part of what makes The NeverEnding Story one of the best magical fantasy movies is the creatures who inhabit the world of Fantasia. The Gmork is not a creature to be loved but feared. However, that doesn’t make him any less compelling or necessary to the plot. Antagonists are just as central to a narrative as heroes, and Gmork is a voice for The Nothing as his follower. It’s through Gmork that Atreyu and Bastian learn the true nature of The Nothing and what will happen to Fantasia if they don’t stop it.

Gmork explains that The Nothing was created through the dreams of humans. Humans are what create Fantasia with their beliefs, but their beliefs are fading, and their dreams are being replaced by nothing. Though this is a crushing reveal, Atreyu is not dissuaded and continues his journey. Even though Gmork is chasing Atreyu and represents anger and fear, the fact that Atreyu knows Gmork is on his tail keeps him moving. It’s characters like Gmork that make Fantasia feel real and contribute significant danger and stakes to the narrative.

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Falkor

A source of wonder and joy for Atreyu and Bastian

Few magical beasts are as synonymous with The NeverEnding Story as Falkor the Luck Dragon, and excluding him from the next movies would be a disservice. His character design will also be a delicate task to handle, as his appearance in the 1984 movie is so distinctive. He’s a kind, calming presence who imbues every scene with his unending optimism. Aiding Atreyu in his quest and saving him from the swamps of sadness, Falkor is a vital hero of the series.

After Bastian saves Fantasia and recreates his friends, he rides Falkor into his world, illustrating the thin line between realities. He chases down the bullies who were targeting Bastian at the beginning of the movie and delights in having the chance to spend time with Bastian. It will be interesting to see how the reboot takes on Bastian’s experience with bullying and the trials of the real world, as well as the fantastical elements of Fantasia. Additionally, it’s up to the filmmakers to decide to include Falkor crossing the boundary between realms.

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Morla

The ancient turtle and keeper of knowledge

Morla lives in the swamps of sadness, and it’s for this reason that Atreyu and Artax venture into the foreboding depths of the swamp. Also known as Morla The Ancient One, the turtle is supposed to have extreme wisdom that came with age, and Atreyu hopes Morla will tell him where the Empress’ palace is. Unfortunately, his hopes are dashed as Morla doesn’t know and is unwilling to help with the journey. However, a significant moment for Bastian occurs during the meeting between Morla and Atreyu.

Bastian screams upon seeing/reading about the imposing appearance of Morla, and both Morla and Atreyu can hear him. It’s an inkling for both Bastian and the viewer that he has a greater effect on the story than he believes. Atreyu is disappointed that Morla isn’t a better help, but Morla’s apathy is in line with the larger themes of the story. It’s apathy and a lack of belief that cause The Nothing to arise, and only caring and determination can stop it.

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Artax

Atreyu’s trusty steed and best friend

The NeverEnding Story shouldn’t include the Swamp of Sadness scene from the original because there’s no way a remake could recapture the emotions of the 1984 scene. However, it must include Artax and a representation of the swamps. It’s a terrible loss when Artax dies, but Atreyu needs to experience loss, and this despair reflects what Bastian is going through after the death of his mother. Since he is on his way to Morla to gain knowledge, the world asks something of him in return, and it takes his closest friend, Artax.

Artax’s demise is one of the saddest animal deaths in film history and is one of the moments that viewers remember best of the entire plot. This is because of its impact on Atreyu due to the bond he shares with his horse. Additionally, Bastian is just as impacted by Artax’s death, and it’s a touching lesson to children that it’s okay to cry and that grief is a natural part of life. However, this scene has been cited as an indication of how dark The NeverEnding Story is, and the reboot should not look away from this darkness.