7 Things We Want To See In The New NeverEnding Story Movies

The NeverEnding Story is a magical children’s film that’s remained popular for generations, and now that it’s getting a remake, there are plenty of iconic scenes that must be included in the update. The original 1984 film was based on the novel by Micheal Ende and follows the story of Bastian, played by Barret Oliver. When Bastian finds a mystical book that holds a tale about the fantasy land of Fantasia, he becomes invested in the story and eventually becomes part of its ending.

It’s well-established that the first film of the original trilogy, The NeverEnding Story, is the best of the series, so the upcoming reboot will likely draw from the initial adaptation. Part of this is thanks to the director, as The NeverEnding Story is one of the best Wolfgang Petersen movies. His vision brought to life the beautiful animatronic animals who reside in Fantasia and the relatable story of Bastian, a child who feels out of place in the world. The filmmakers who take on the newest adaptation must balance faithful recreations of the film with updates for the modern era.

7
An Update On The Swamp Of Sadness

The most emotional part of the original movie

The NeverEnding Story reboot should match this scene from the original film instead of trying to remake it frame for frame. The book’s protagonist that Bastian is reading is named Atreyu, who Noah Hathaway plays. Atreyu is the brave and strong young man that Bastian wants to be, and he becomes deeply invested in his journey. Of course, Bastain realizes he has had that same courage all along, but it takes accompanying Atreyu on his adventures to realize this. Though Atreyu gets to live out every child’s dream of a legendary quest, it still comes with sacrifice.

He is tasked with finding the Childlike Empress of Fantasia (Tami Stronach) and giving her a new name so he can save Fantasia from the Nothing. The Nothing is an all-consuming darkness that will swallow Fantasia and make it disappear forever. One of the first steps is to cross the Swamp of Sadness, which sucks down anyone who succumbs to sorrow into its depths. It’s here Atreyu loses his loyal horse and well-loved companion, Artax. This scene is extremely emotional for a children’s movie, and something as poignant must be included.

6
Meeting Morla / Bastian Beginning To Enter The Book

Recreating the enormous turtle and doing justice to the original practical effects

Some of the nostalgia for movies like The NeverEnding Story comes from the love of the fading era of practical effects and how well they capture the magic of a fantasy world. The NeverEnding Story is rife with creatures like Morla the Ancient One. Morla is the massive turtle who holds the most knowledge in all of Fantasia. Morla is a significant set piece in the movie, but the similar creatures scattered throughout the film aren’t only essential because of their visual appeal but what they represent as characters.

Morla is neither good nor evil, merely ambivalent, like most creatures on Earth and in Fantasia. Since Fantasia represents and reflects human wishes, dreams, and fears, it holds all emotions and moralities equally. Additionally, during Atreyu’s interaction with Morla, Bastian starts to notice his impact on the book as if the characters can hear him. These subtle hints and foreshadowing are what create the mysticism of the world and help the audience understand that they’re just as much a part of the movie as Bastian is the book.

5
Meeting The Luck Dragon Falkor

The best-known creature in Fantasia

Every child dreams of riding a magical dragon, and Falkor delivers on every front. He’s lucky, he’s kind, and he looks a little bit like a big dog. The first meeting between Atreyu and Falkor is as magical and uplifting as The NeverEnding Story gets. Creating a puppet of Falkor that pays homage to the first one and finding an actor who can do the iconic voice justice should be a top priority for the filmmakers. Additionally, they have a great opportunity to increase the production value of the flying scenes.

In The NeverEnding Story, the practical effects are amazing, but the VFX and greenscreen technology leave something to be desired. Of course, the reboot won’t have this problem as the technology has advanced considerably, and the budget will be much larger. However, a careful balance must be struck because as far as visual effects today can push the boundaries of reality, The NeverEnding Story must be rooted in reality. The world must feel tangible to the audience as if they can reach out and touch it.

4
Gmork’s Monologue

The fading of human dreams and memories

There are many amazing lines of dialogue in The NeverEnding Story, but the terrifying wolf creature, Gmork, gives one of the best in the movie. He is a henchman of The Nothing and hunts Atreyu for the first half of the movie. When Atreyu finally faces him in battle, Gmork reveals to the audience what The Nothing is and how it came to be. The Nothing, like everything in Fantasia, was created by humans. Fantasia is disappearing because humans have stopped dreaming and wishing. Instead of hope and magic, their minds are empty.

This reality about The Nothing is a bleak realization and a direct comment on how the author, Ende, felt about society at the time of the book’s publication. As well as a significant moment in the film, this always calls into question what the updated film will choose to comment on. The issues of Bastian being bullied and having trouble fitting in are universal and timeless, but the new film would be wise to tie its message directly to a world issue.

3
Calling The Empress’ Name

The climax of the 1984 film

Finding the name of the Empress is the driving force behind the conflict in The NeverEnding Story, and it turns out it’s up to Bastian, not Atreyu, to call out her name. She begs and pleads with Bastian to save her and Fantasia, but he stops because of what his dad told him about living in the real world, and he cannot believe that the events of the story are real. However, Bastian pushes past his doubts and claims his fate as part of the story.

He throws open the attic window where he’s reading and calls out the new name, “Moon Child.” It’s the emotional climax of the movie, and although Atreyu faces more frightening beasts up until this point, it’s not until Bastian hesitates to save Fantasia that the stakes feel the highest. It’s a poignant moment because Bastian must set aside his uncertainty about himself and the world and take a leap of faith. In doing so, he sets himself up to be the hero of his own story.

2
Updating The Story For New Audiences

Taking what worked from the original and adding new elements

There are plenty of great fantasy movies like The NeverEnding Story, but what makes it stand out is how timeless the narrative is. Changing too much of the original story would be upsetting for viewers who fondly remember the movie from their childhood. However, the film must also capture the attention and imagination of children who are unfamiliar with the franchise and are being exposed to it for the first time. It would be interesting to see if the reboot decides to look back at Ende’s novel and follow that narrative more directly.

Children today face just as many struggles as Bastian did in 1984, and the influx of technology has made generations of kids more self-conscious than ever before. While The Neverending Story reboot will most likely translate Bastian’s story to the modern day, and that includes dealing with technology and social media in some ways, it shouldn’t rely on that as a driving force of the narrative. Escaping the technological world and being in a fantasy one is part of what makes a new adaptation of the film so appealing.

1
Bastian Riding Falkor

The final moments of the film and Bastian’s triumph

Part of why Bastian retreats into the world of The NeverEnding Story is because he is being bullied. The other kids and his father don’t understand why he is unconcerned with reality and what makes it so hard for him. However, escaping to the mystical land lets him live out his dreams and be the person he always was inside. These hardships relate to anyone, child or adult, who has felt like an outsider and longed for a world where things worked like a fairytale.

However, the film expands on this escapism and pushes back on it by having Bastian enter the narrative and take an active role in saving Fantasia and saving his own life. This development comes to a head at the end of the movie when Bastian enters Fantasia but then brings Fantasia to the real world while riding on Falkor. It’s a vindicating moment for Bastian and opens the door for future possibilities of Fantasia and reality blending even more.