“The Neverending Story” to Continue with New Film Series Adaptation Following Iconic '80s and '90s Versions

“The story is both timely and timeless, and really has an opportunity to be told in a fresh way,” co-producer Iain Canning told 'Variety'

The Neverending Story is getting a new film series!

Based on the 1979 fantasy novel of the same name by late German author Michael Ende, The Neverending Story became a worldwide phenomenon after the release of The NeverEnding Story film in 1984. It was followed by two sequels, in 1990 and 1994.

Michael Ende Productions and See-Saw Films are slated to produce the new series, with the latter group's Iain Canning telling Variety, "The story is both timely and timeless, and really has an opportunity to be told in a fresh way."

“And part of the specialness of the book is that you can go back to it at different ages in your life and find different levels of meaning," the producer added.

"So how wonderful that we have this opportunity to do a fresh perspective that will have new layers and meanings," Canning went on. "We just believe that every generation deserves their own journey into Fantastica."

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The novel follows a boy named Bastian, and is described in a synopsis as "a classic tale of one boy and the book that magically comes to life."

"When Bastian happens upon an old book called The Neverending Story, he's swept into the magical world of Fantastica — so much that he finds he has actually become a character in the story!" the synopsis continues. "And when he realizes that this mysteriously enchanted world is in great danger, he also discovers that he is the one chosen to save it."

Barret Oliver starred as Bastian in the first film, while the late Jonathan Brandis took over the role in the sequel and Jason James Richter in the third movie. Other recognizable characters from the original 1984 film include warrior Atreyu (Noah Hathaway), The Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach) and, of course, the iconic Luck Dragon Falkor.

The NeverEnding Story had a bit of a resurgence in 2019, after its theme song, by British pop singer Limahl, played an important role in the season 3 finale of Stranger Things.

Related: 'The NeverEnding Story' Star Tami Stronach Who Played Childlike Empress Is Returning to the Screen at 48

Michael Ende Productions' Ralph Gassmann told Variety that they have "been completely overwhelmed with interest from the television and film industry in recent years."

“But it was only about four to five years ago when we felt it was right to go back to Fantastica with new, fresher attention," he explained. "So then we looked at hundreds and hundreds of requests and just thought, let’s see if we find a potential partner amongst them that is so compelling that they make us jump into the boat with them and go on this crazy adventure."

"But we knew we had to do it right and find the right partner, and luckily See-Saw was amongst them," Gassmann added.

See-Saw is a production banner known for its films like The Power of the Dog and Lion, as well as TV series Slow Horses and Heartstopper.

Ende’s executor Dr. Wolf-Dieter von Granau, granted the rights to the partnership with See-Saw, per Variety. The latter's Canning and Emile Sherman will co-produce alongside Michael Ende Productions' Gassmann and Roman Hocke, according to the outlet.

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