Shout! Studiosis bringing two ofJim Henson’s dark fantasy classics back to life and more magical than ever this fall. New Limited Edition 4K UHD and Blu-ray Collector’s Sets forThe Dark CrystalandLabyrinthwill be available on November 19, just in time for the holidays for anyone looking to return to the planet of Thra or the Goblin King Jareth’s lair. Packed with artwork and other unique goodies relating to each film, the boxes are made to not only contain the remastered editions of the movies but also show off the collectibles found in each set. Both will be released alongside new Warmart-exclusive limited Steelbook editions of the two movies with stunning new artwork.
Released in 1982,The Dark Crystalmarkeda notable departure from Henson, who was best known for the family-friendly Muppets ofSesame StreetandThe Muppet Show. While not beloved at the time for its darker tone, thegroundbreaking puppetry and animatronicswith help from co-directorFrank Ozcombined withBrian Froud’s unique fantasy designs helped itbecome a cult classicwith Henson, Oz, andKathryn Mullenperforming as many of the characters. The film follows Jen, the last survivor of a race known as the Gelflings, whosets out on a spooky journeyto find a shard of the dark crystal that can restore balance to the world and ultimately save it from the evil Skeksis species. The box set comes with five art cards, a sticker, and a 28-page book filled with Froud’s concept art, production stills, and an essay, but the biggest bonus is a 1:1 glass replica of the crystal shard itself that can be displayed in the wraparound box.
Labyrinthwould follow in 1986 and would once again combine Henson’s puppetry with Froud’s conceptual design in the Muppet whiz’s final feature directorial effort. The resultwas another more mature cult favoritethat starred a youngJennifer Connellyopposite pop iconDavid Bowieand featuredMonty PythonregularTerry Joneswriting the screenplay. Connelly played the sixteen-year-old Sarah who is whisked into the world of one of her fantasy books and given thirteen hours to solve the Labyrinth ofthe Goblin King Jareth(Bowie) to save her baby brother. Along the way, she finds friends among the many inhabitants she meets, making for a colorful coming-of-age journeywith darker undertonesthat highlights the creativity of Henson, Froud, and everyone from the Creature Shop. The box set pays homage to the film with similar art cards and a book likeThe Dark Crystal, but instead of a shard, it contains Jareth’s magic crystal ball with the title of the movie etched inside and a wooden base for display.
‘Labyrinth’ and ‘The Dark Crystal’ Come With a Treasure Trove of Special Features
Completing these treasure troves of Henson fantasy goodness is the wide array of special features that come packed on each disc. Included with both movies are making-of featurettes exploring the intricate behind-the-scenes efforts, as well as storyboards, deleted scenes, and audio commentaries with Froud, Henson’s sonBrian Henson, and others. The discs also come with several featuresexploring the legacy of the filmsand Henson himself years after their release. While much of the content has appeared on past releases, the collector’s editions and Steelbooks also feature exclusive new footage from Fan Q&A events with Brian Henson, Brian Froud’s son and Sarah’s baby brother inLabyrinth,Toby Froud, andLisa Henson, as well as a contact juggling tutorial to mimic Jareth’s smooth moves with his crystal ball.
Visit the officialShout! Factory websiteto pre-order theLabyrinthandThe Dark CrystalCollector’s Sets while supplies last or visit Walmart to secure a Steelbook copy. Before the movies come home on November 19, check out the full list of special features for each below.
‘Labyrinth’ Special Features
Disc One (4K UHD):
Disc Two (Blu-ray):
‘The Dark Crystal’ Special Features
Disc One (4K UHD)
Disc Two (Blu-ray)
Sixteen-year-old Sarah must solve a labyrinth to rescue her baby brother when he is taken by the Goblin King.
