Netflix reveals release date, new look at Henson’s Dark Crystal prequel series

On Tuesday, Netflix announced that The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, the prequel to Jim Henson’s 1982 cult classic, will premiere on Aug. 30.

The original movie takes place on an alien world filled with three different races, centering on a young hero’s quest to fix a magical object called the Dark Crystal. Though it marked a tonal departure from Henson’s usual works — the darker, more dramatic atmosphere wasn’t exactly the type of stuff you’d see on the Muppet Show — and opened to small box-office returns and critical reviews, The Dark Crystal gained a strong cult following in the years after its release.

A sequel floated around in development but was ultimately scrapped. Netflix announced this prequel series in May 2017. The show will take place some time before the events of the film, focusing on three Gelfling characters who set out to discover the secret of Skeksis’ power. Keeping in the Henson tradition, the characters will be puppets, not CGI.

Taron Egerton (Rocketman), Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch), and Nathalie Emmanuel (Game of Thrones) fill the main voice roles, with the larger secondary cast including big names such as Mark Hamill, Helena Bonham Carter, and Keegan-Michael Key. Directed by Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk), the series will consist of 10 hour-long episodes.

Check out the preview images below