The NeverEnding Story Remake Can’t Include THAT Scene From The Original (But Should Match It)

A remake of The NeverEnding Story is officially on the way, and while it can’t include the most iconic and generation-shaping scene from the original, it should certainly include a scene with the same emotional weight. Originally a 1979 novel by German author Michael Ende, the book was adapted into the beloved 1984 movie directed by Wolfgang Petersen. Rumors of a remake have been swirling for years, but it was recently announced that The NeverEnding Story is being rebooted as a new franchise.

In a statement, new producer Iain Canning explained that the story is both “timely and timeless” and that “part of the specialness of the book is that you can go back to it at different ages in your life and find different levels of meaning.” He’s certainly right. Both the original novel and 1984 adaptation had layers of meaning and weight. One scene from the movie, in particular, stands out as one of the most resonant and influential in ’80s kids movies, and the producers would be wise to remember the emotional lesson of that scene when rebooting The NeverEnding Story for a new generation.

The Artax Swamp Of Sadness Scene Is The Most Iconic In The NeverEnding Story

It devastated an entire generation of kids – in a good way

While there are plenty of memorable moments in the original NeverEnding Story, the scene that undoubtedly left the greatest mark was the scene in which Atreyu and his loyal horse, Artax, tried to cross the Swamp of Sadness. It was treacherous on its own: dead trees, an eerie mist coating the ground, and sudden bogs of sticky, thick mud designed to slow down and tire even the most dogged adventurer. But the aptly-named Swamp of Sadness had one other danger that wasn’t physical, but emotional: the swamp drained anyone who crossed it of their hope and their happiness, enticing them to just give up and let themselves sink beneath the mud.

That’s exactly what happened to Artax the horse, one of The NeverEnding Story‘s most beloved characters. It was an utterly devastating scene, one that wrecked a generation of ’80s kids. As Atreyu begged and pleaded for his beloved companion to not give up, and to not give into despair, Artax simply stopped fighting and sank beneath the mud. The beautiful and sensitive horse gave up and died once the fight was out of him. It was a brutal moment of reality in a movie that, to that point, had been fairly fluffy fantasy.

While ’80s kids’ fantasy movies certainly had no dearth of dark themes and shocking moments, the death of an innocent animal companion was arguably darker than had it been a human character to succumb to the depression of the swamp. It certainly made a more lasting impact on those who watched The NeverEnding Story as kids. For many, it was their first introduction to the concept of depression and despair, and the complex idea of death through emotional attrition. The complexity of the moment, Atreyu’s desperation, and the stark visuals of the snow-white horse drowning in thick black mud all combined to create a scene that still resonates.

The NeverEnding Story Remake Can’t Repeat The Artax Scene

It would feel like a hollow copy

Despite the Swamp of Sadness scene being so memorable, the new NeverEnding Story can’t reuse the scene or recreate it. It would simply feel like a cheap and hollow imitation of what came before. Movie remakes and sequels have often tried to recreate iconic scenes from movies past, and they’ve almost always fallen short of recreating the same emotion. Part of that is because it’s often hard to predict what scenes will truly linger with audiences and become part of pop culture’s greatest hits. It’s a strange alchemy of the audience, current trends, and the social currents moving through the collective consciousness of the era.

It’s why recreations of iconic scenes never live up to the original. Times change, audiences change, and, because most people have seen those memorable scenes multiple times, recreations simply don’t land with the same resonant impact. That’s especially true when scenes become embedded in the zeitgeist because they evoke strong emotions that create powerful memories. Some iconic scenes are iconic simply for their visual impact; others are iconic because they sucker-punch the audience with emotion at a formative moment. That’s the case for Artax’s death in the Swamp of Sadness scene, and why including it in any remake would be a futile endeavor.

The New NeverEnding Story Movies Should Include A Scene Of Equal Emotional Weight

Kids need to be treated seriously and not talked down to

While The NeverEnding Story remake and the newly-planned movie series shouldn’t include Artax’s death scene, that doesn’t mean it should strip the movie of all emotionally weighty moments. The original NeverEnding Story was dark, but modern kids’ movies aren’t, and it’s a detriment to the genre and an insult to kids themselves. Part of what made ’80s kids’ movies so memorable was that they didn’t pull punches or talk down to children. They were rife with dark moments and emotionally fraught storylines, possessing an emotional impact and lasting tangibility that most modern children’s movies lack. It’s a real shame, as kids have shown they’re able to handle more in their entertainment than adults give them credit for.

The new NeverEnding Story series can set itself apart in this regard by including a scene that is equally impactful in terms of serious emotion as Artax’s death. Doing so would not only ensure that the new movies don’t undercut kids’ ability to understand and process complex emotions, but also ensure that it remains true to the spirit of the original. There’s a reason the original adaptation of The NeverEnding Story was a box office success and beloved by multiple generations. The remake would do well to remember why.