History Trivia / TheDarkCrystal

** Creator/GenndyTartakovsky--[[WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory which]] [[WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack you'll probably]] [[WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars recognize him]] [[WesternAnimation/SymBionicTitan on a]] [[WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania few projects]], mainly for Cartoon Network--was pegged to do a prequel in the mid-aughties, which, despite his dedication to strictly adhere to practical effects and puppetry, was dismissed by Creator/FrankOz as [[CreatorBacklash pointless]]. The project eventually fizzled and almost completely faded. Eventually, it morphed into [[Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance a TV series]] which will air on Creator/{{Netflix}}. Between then and now, in late 2013, Penguin Young Readers held a [[http://www.darkcrystal.com/authorquest.php contest]] for a prequel novel set in the Dark Crystal universe; the contest was won by JM Lee with ''The Ring of Dreams.''

%%* PlayingAgainstType: Compare this movie to other Jim Henson projects. [[DarkerAndEdgier Yeah.]]

* PlayingAgainstType: Compare this movie to other Jim Henson projects. [[DarkerAndEdgier Yeah.]]

** Creator/GenndyTartakovsky was pegged to do a prequel in the mid-aughties, which, despite his dedication to strictly adhere to practical effects and puppetry, was dismissed by Creator/FrankOz as [[CreatorBacklash pointless]]. The project eventually fizzled and almost completely faded. Eventually, it morphed into [[Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance a TV series]] which will air on Creator/{{Netflix}}. Between then and now, in late 2013, Penguin Young Readers held a [[http://www.darkcrystal.com/authorquest.php contest]] for a prequel novel set in the Dark Crystal universe; the contest was won by JM Lee with ''The Ring of Dreams.''

* ActingForTwo: [=skekSo=] and [=skekZok=] are both voiced by Jerry Nelson.

* ChannelHop: The movie was initially set to be distributed by Associated Film Distribution[[note]]a joint American distribution firm between Lord Lew Grade and ITC, which had co-produced ''Series/TheMuppetShow''; and record producer EMI and their film arm[[/note]] like ''Film/TheMuppetMovie'' was; but after the one-three punch of ''Film/RaiseTheTitanic'', ''[[Music/TheVillagePeople Can't Stop The Music]]'', and ''Film/TheLegendOfTheLoneRanger'', [[CreatorKiller AFD was essentially executed]] and its' remaining backlog, including ''Film/TheGreatMuppetCaper'' and this film, were sold to Creator/{{Universal}}; currently, the Jim Henson Company owns the rights and licensed it out to [[Creator/RCAColumbiaPicturesHomeVideo Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] for recent media releases ([[TheArtifact a remnant]] of the Henson/Sony partnership in the late 90s); it previously went through Thorn EMI Video (then successor Creator/{{HBO}} Video) and through Disney's Jim Henson Video label in the mid 90s. Universal still owns theatrical distribution rights to the film, as they will re-release the film through Fathom Events.

* ChannelHop: The movie was initially set to be distributed by Associated Film Distribution[[note]]a joint American distribution firm between Lord Lew Grade and ITC, which had co-produced ''Series/TheMuppetShow''; and record producer EMI and their film arm[[/note]] like ''Film/TheMuppetMovie'' was; but after the one-three punch of ''Film/RaiseTheTitanic'', ''[[Music/TheVillagePeople Can't Stop The Music]]'', and ''Film/TheLegendOfTheLoneRanger'', [[CreatorKiller AFD was essentially executed]] and its' remaining backlog, including ''Film/TheGreatMuppetCaper'' and this film, were sold to Creator/{{Universal}}; currently, the Jim Henson Company owns the rights and licensed it out to [[Creator/RCAColumbiaPicturesHomeVideo Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] for recent media releases ([[TheArtifact a remnant]] of the Henson/Sony partnership in the late 90s); it previously went through Thorn EMI Video (then successor Creator/{{HBO}} Video) and through Disney's Jim Henson Video label in the mid 90s.

** A sequel called "Power of the Dark Crystal" was planned for a long time. Set hundreds of years after the events of the first movie, Jen and Kira would have been the rulers of a peaceful new world which fell into darkness when a mysterious girl made of fire, together with a Gelfling outcast, stole a shard of the legendary Crystal in an attempt to reignite the dying sun at the center of the planet, resulting in the Mystics and Skeksis appearing once more. After being stuck in DevelopmentHell for years, the project was officially cancelled in movie form before being resurrected ''again'' in the form of a 12-issue comic miniseries by Creator/ArchaiaEntertainment.

* ChannelHop: The movie was initially set to be distributed by Associated Film Distribution[[note]]a joint American distribution firm between Lord Lew Grade and ITC, which had co-produced ''Series/TheMuppetShow''; and record producer EMI and their film arm[[/note]] like ''Film/TheMuppetMovie'' was; but after the disasters that were ''Film/RaiseTheTitanic'', ''[[Music/TheVillagePeople Can't Stop The Music]]'', and ''Film/TheLegendOfTheLoneRanger'', [[CreatorKiller AFD was essentially executed]] and its' remaining backlog, including ''Film/TheGreatMuppetCaper'' and this film, were sold to Creator/{{Universal}}; currently, the Jim Henson Company owns the rights and licensed it out to [[Creator/RCAColumbiaPicturesHomeVideo Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] for recent media releases ([[TheArtifact a remnant]] of the Henson/Sony partnership in the late 90s); it previously went through Thorn EMI Video (then successor Creator/{{HBO}} Video) and through Disney's Jim Henson Video label in the mid 90s.

** The Podlings were supposed to have many eyes coming out of their heads (since they were based off potatoes,) but that looked too unnerving, so it was scrapped.

** Creator/GenndyTartakovsky was pegged to do a prequel in the mid-aughties, which, despite his dedication to strictly adhere to practical effects and puppetry, was dismissed by Creator/FrankOz as [[CreatorBacklash pointless]]. The project eventually fizzled and almost completely faded. In late 2013, however, Penguin Young Readers held a [[http://www.darkcrystal.com/authorquest.php contest]] for a prequel novel set in the Dark Crystal universe. The winner was JM Lee with ''The Ring of Dreams.''

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: As seen in some of the DVD extras, the Skeksis were originally going to speak an "alien" language. This was kept up through the first preview, which was a disaster. All Mystic and Skeksis vocals were dubbed in between the first and second showing for executives. A lot of Skeksis words were kept in the novelization.
** The Podlings were also supposed to have many eyes coming out of their heads (since they were based off potatoes,) but that looked too unnerving, so it was scrapped.

** The biography of Creator/JimHenson reveals that the change was probably for the best. Henson was convinced that the visuals alone would be plenty to figure out what the Skeksis were saying, but was proven wrong when he showed a rough cut of the Chamberlain's banishment to Series/TheMuppetShow writer Creator/JerryJuhl, who was soon ''begging'' him to have them speak English so people could understand what the hell was going on.
** Creator/GenndyTartakovsky was pegged to do a prequel in the mid-aughties, which, despite his dedication to strictly adhere to practical effects and puppetry, was dismissed by Creator/FrankOz as [[CreatorBacklash pointless]]. The project eventually fizzled and completely faded.
** This may not be entirely dead. In late 2013, Penguin Young Readers held a [[http://www.darkcrystal.com/authorquest.php contest]] for a prequel novel set in the Dark Crystal universe. The winner was JM Lee with ''The Ring of Dreams.''

** GenndyTartakovsky was pegged to do a prequel in the mid-aughties, which, despite his dedication to strictly adhere to practical effects and puppetry, was dismissed by Creator/FrankOz as [[CreatorBacklash pointless]]. The project eventually fizzled and completely faded.

** A sequel called "Power of the Dark Crystal" was planned for a long time. Set hundreds of years after the events of the first movie, Jen and Kira would have been the rulers of a peaceful new world which fell into darkness when a mysterious girl made of fire, together with a Gelfling outcast, stole a shard of the legendary Crystal in an attempt to reignite the dying sun at the center of the planet, resulting in the Mystics and Skeksis appearing once more. After being stuck in DevelopmentHell for years, the project has officially been cancelled.

* ChannelHop: The movie was initially set to be distributed by Associated Film Distribution[[note]]a joint American distribution firm between Lord Lew Grade and ITC, which had co-produced ''Series/TheMuppetShow''; and record producer EMI and their film arm[[/note]] like ''Film/TheMuppetMovie'' was; but after the disasters that were ''Film/RaiseTheTitanic'', ''[[Music/TheVillagePeople Can't Stop The Music]]'', and ''Film/TheLegendOfTheLoneRanger'', [[CreatorKiller AFD was essentially executed]] and its' remaining backlog, including ''Film/TheGreatMuppetCaper'' and this film, were sold to Creator/{{Universal}}; currently, the Jim Henson Company owns the rights and licensed it out to Creator/SonyPicturesHomeEntertainment for recent media releases ([[TheArtifact a remnant]] of the Henson/Sony partnership in the late 90s).

* PlayingAgainstType: Compare this movie to other Jim Henson projects. [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DarkerAndEdgier Yeah.]]

** GenndyTartakovsky was pegged to do a prequel in the mid-aughties, which, despite his dedication to strictly adhere to practical effects and puppetry, was dismissed by FrankOz as [[CreatorBacklash pointless]]. The project eventually fizzled and completely faded.

** This may not be entirely dead. In late 2013, Penguin Young Readers held a [[http://www.darkcrystal.com/authorquest.php contest]] for a prequel novel set in the Dark Crystal universe. The winner was JM Lee with ''The Ring of Dreams.''

** This may not be entirely dead. As of late 2013, Penguin Young Readers held a [[http://www.darkcrystal.com/authorquest.php contest]] for a prequel novel set in the Dark Crystal universe. The winner was JM Lee with ''The Ring of Dreams.''

** GenndyTartakovsky was pegged to do a prequel in the mid-aughties, which, despite his dedication to strictly adhere to practical effects and puppetry, was dismissed by FrankOz as [[CreatorBacklash pointless]]. The project eventually fizzled and completely faded.

** The biography of Creator/JimHenson reveals that the change was probably for the best. Henson was convinced that the visuals alone would be plenty to figure out what the Skeksis were saying, but was proven wrong when he showed a rough cut of the Chamberlain's banishment to Series/TheMuppetShow writer Creator/JerryJuhl, who was soon ''begging'' him to have them speak English so people could understand what the hell was going on.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: as seen in some of the DVD extras, the Skeksis were originally going to speak an "alien" language. This was kept up through the first preview, which was a disaster. All Mystic and Skeksis vocals were dubbed in between the first and second showing for executives. A lot of Skeksis words were kept in the novelization.
** The Podlings were also supposed to have many eyes coming out of their heads (since they were based off potatoes), but that looked too unnerving, so it was scrapped.
** The biography of Jim Henson reveals that the change was probably for the best. Henson was convinced that the visuals alone would be plenty to figure out what the Skeksis were saying, but was proven wrong when he showed a rough cut of the Chamberlain's banishment to Muppet Show writer Jerry Juhl, who was soon ''begging'' him to have them speak English so people could understand what the hell was going on.