Now that it’s been confirmed Labyrinth 2 has not been shelved, it would be a huge mistake for the legacy sequel not to make one crucial casting decision. Directed by famed puppeteer and filmmaker Jim Henson, Labyrinth tells the story of a teenage girl named Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) who must travel through an otherworldly labyrinth to rescue her baby brother from the evil Goblin King Jareth (David Bowie). Upon its release in 1986, Labyrinth was not a major commercial success, but over the years, the musical fantasy film has gained a cult following.
As a result of Labyrinth’s lasting legacy, a sequel went into development in 2016, with Fede Álvarez attached to direct and Nicole Perlman penning the script. A month after Álvarez dropped out in April 2020, Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson signed on to direct. In October 2023, Derrickson expressed uncertainty about the sequel’s fate, suggesting that the Labyrinth sequel was no longer happening. However, the late Jim Henson’s son Brian recently revealed that Labyrinth 2 is still in development. With this Labyrinth 2 confirmation update, one casting decision must be made in order for the legacy sequel to work.
Labyrinth 2 Can Pay Off An Original Casting Choice (& Solve Its Biggest Challenge)
Labyrinth 2 is in development and it’s already facing a huge challenge, but it can be solved by paying off an original casting choice.
Labyrinth 2 Needs Jennifer Connelly To Return As Sarah
Connelly’s appearance in the Labyrinth sequel is crucial
For Labyrinth 2 to succeed as a legacy sequel, Jennifer Connelly must reprise her role as Sarah. As the co-lead in the original film, Connelly’s appearance would be anticipated regardless, but her prospective return is especially imperative in these circumstances. Besides Connelly’s Sarah and David Bowie’s Goblin King Jareth, the only other human actors to appear onscreen in Labyrinth play minor roles. Most of the main characters in Labyrinth are creatures and monsters played by Henson’s puppets, and although it would still be exciting for the surviving voice actors and puppeteers to return, Connelly and Bowie are the most important.
However, since Bowie passed away in 2016, Labyrinth‘s leading man sadly won’t be able to return for the sequel. The role of Jareth the Goblin King may get recast in Labyrinth 2, depending on the direction of the sequel’s story. Still, without the original iconic actor, and with so few onscreen human actors in Labyrinth to begin with, Connelly is the only original cast member whose appearance in Labyrinth 2 would provide any sort of meaningful link to the first movie. If Connelly doesn’t return for Labyrinth 2, it would fail to fulfill its role as a true legacy sequel.
Will Jennifer Connelly Return For Labyrinth 2?
The status of Connelly’s involvement in Labyrinth 2 is uncertain but promising
Whether Labyrinth 2 serves as a traditional sequel that takes place decades after the events of the first film or as some sort of expansion of the Labyrinth universe, there needs to be a way for Connelly to return. Back in 2021, after Derrickson had already signed on as the director of the sequel, Connelly revealed that she’d had “conversations” about returning for Labyrinth 2 (via Collider). However, at the time, she wasn’t totally sure about where or if the sequel would “land,” implying that minimal progress had been made.
Although her involvement in Labyrinth 2 remains uncertain, Connelly spoke fondly of her experience working on Labyrinth alongside Henson and Bowie. “For me, working on it was such a joy,” Connelly recalled. “It was a really joyous experience in my life, so it’s a really special movie for me.” She even remarked that many fans of hers rank Labyrinth at the top of Connelly’s best movies. With Labyrinth 2 still tentatively moving forward, the fact that Labyrinth clearly remains close to Connelly’s heart is an encouraging sign that she might still be on board for the legacy sequel.
Labyrinth 2
- Director
- Scott Derrickson
- Studio(s)
- The Jim Henson Company
- prequel(s)
- Labyrinth
