The world of Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal is about to get a lot bigger—and more star-studded than ever. On Monday, Netflix unveiled some of the cast for its upcoming puppet prequel series, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, featuring leads Taron Egerton, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Nathalie Emmanuel, whom Game of Thrones fans might know best as Missandei. And the supporting cast is equally impressive.
Henson’s original 1982 film takes place in the world of Thra—populated by creatures including Gelflings, sage Mystics, and villainous Skeksis—and has become a cult classic. Multiple graphic novels and Y.A. novels have expanded the world, telling origin stories and sequel story lines, and now the new Netflix series will focus on what happened before the action of the movie. Per Netflix’s logline, the new series “returns to the world of Thra with an all-new adventure. When three Gelfling discover the horrifying secret behind the Skeksis’ power, they set out on an epic journey to ignite the fires of rebellion and save their world.” Egerton, Taylor-Joy, and Emmanuel will play those three Gelfling heroes—Rian, Brea, and Deet, respectively.
The Gelfling count a lot of other stars among their ranks, including, [deep breath]: Helena Bonham Carter, Natalie Dormer, Eddie Izzard, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mark Strong, Alicia Vikander, Caitriona Balfe (who stars as Claire in Outlander), and Toby Jones (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy). And as for the Skeksis and Mystics? They’re just as star-powered, with actors including Mark Hamill, Keegan-Michael Key, Simon Pegg, Andy Samberg, Jason Isaacs, Harvey Fierstein (Torch Song Trilogy), Ralph Ineson (best known as Dagmer Cleftjaw in Game of Thrones), and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (Lady Dynamite) in their ranks. And Aughra, the ancient embodiment of Thra, will be voiced by Donna Kimball (The Happytime Murders).
