It’s been quite a while since we’ve heard any sort of update on Power of the Dark Crystal, the previously announced sequel to Jim Henson’s 1982 animatronic puppet cult classic. Samurai Jack creator Genndy Tartakovsky was attached to direct the film at one point, but then it was reportedly put on hold and it looked like it simply was not going to happen anymore. Nevertheless, The Jim Henson Company continued to re-assure fans that it was still in development, and now this week they have unveiled some pretty big news with a press release.

Production on Power of the Dark Crystal will be moving to Australia, where it will be handled by Ambience Entertainment, a production arm of Omnilab Media. Tartakovsky is off the project, unfortunately, but in his place The Henson Co. has hired Australian filmmakers Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig (Daybreakers, Undead) to direct. The screenplay is being written by Craig Pearce (Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet). The plan is still to use a mix of live action, puppetry and CG, with the CG effects being handled by Iloura, one of the companies that worked on Spike Jonze’s Where The Wild Things Are. Artist Brian Froud will once again be acting as conceptual designer on the project. All in all, it sounds like things are moving in the right direction here, although the choice of The Spierig Brothers to direct is a bit of a surprise. Do you think they’ll be able to uphold the Henson legacy? Are you excited to see this sequel finally coming together?