Pre-Production
2004
Development starts on both The Dark Crystal II feature film, with David Odell and Annette Duffy hired as writers, and an animated The Dark Crystal prequel series.
September 2005
Pitching begins for Power of the Dark Crystal written by David Odell and Annette Duffy with Genndy Tartakovsky attached to direct.
September 2005
Brian Froud begins initial character designs.
2006
Marketing Brochure is created, including art and elements from The Power of The Dark Crystal, The Dark Crystal – The Animated Series, the Legends of the Dark Crystal manga, and Brian Froud’s the World of The Dark Crystal
November 2007
Jim Henson’s Legends of the Dark Crystal Vol. 1: The Garthim Wars manga by Barbara Randall Kesel published by Tokyo Pop.
2009
Power of The Dark Crystal pitch book created by Omnilab Media. Organized by director Michael Gracey with artwork by Pete Commins, Brian Estanislao, Matt Hatton, Adam Paquette, and layout by Aaron Kuswara.
2011
Discussions begin with Louis Leterrier about Power of the Dark Crystal.
2012
Dark Crystal: Age of Rebellion animated series color illustrated concept/pitch booklet is created. Described on the front cover as 26 half hour episode CG animated series Age of Rebellion is a prequel to The Dark Crystal movie.
Pitch describes the plot, characters and environment of animated series, as well as merchandising opportunities.
May/June 2013
Pitching The Dark Crystal: Age of Rebellion animated series to Netflix and Hulu.
June 18, 2013
The Dark Crystal Author Quest with Penguin Young Readers Group announced.
Entries accepted from October 2013 to January 2014.
July 7, 2014
J.M. Lee is announced as the Dark Crystal Author Quest winner. Lee would go on to become a writer on The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and write as series of YA novels that expand on the world of the show.
Summer 2015
Netflix passes on animated series but expresses interest in pitch for a primetime series.
May 2016
Primetime Dark Crystal series pitch to Netflix with Louis Leterrier as director and writers Jeff Addiss and Will Matthews.
June 28, 2016
Shadows of The Dark Crystal novel by J.M Lee, the first public foray into the world of Age of Resistance, is published and released by Penguin.
November 16-18, 2016
Dark Crystal series test in LA at the Henson soundstage.
DNeg works on CG animation. In the footage,Skeksis are puppets while Gelfing are entirely CGI animated.
March 2017
Dark Crystal: Age of Rebellion starts
pre-production.
Writers room opens with
Jeff Addiss, Will Matthews, Javier Grill-Marxuach, Joe M. Lee, Simon Racioppa, and Rich Elliott in LA.
Summer-Fall 2017
Age of Resistance puppet and costume build takes place in Burbank, CA.
August 15, 2017
First read-throughs for Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance scripts.
August – Sept 2017
Production team begins working out of the Langley UK studio. Set builds start and other pre-production activity for Age of Resistance.
Louis Leterrier and Rita Peruggi move to UK.
Production
November 27, 2017
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance begins shooting at studio in Langley, UK.
January 2018
Daniel Pemberton chosen as score composer.
January 2018
Documentary team hired to create behind the scenes program for Netflix: The Crystal Calls – Making the Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
March 2018
Voice cast begins to take shape, starting with Taron Egerton as Rian.
June 25, 2018
Casting offers for voice talent go out.
July 24, 2018
Fire breaks out on the Stone-In-The-Wood set at night. No injuries but several puppets and part of the set are damaged.
September, 2018
VFX Production, Editorial and In-House team move offices to Soho.
Final sets are struck as shooting finishes and loaded into storage or discarded.
September 11, 2018
Final shooting week starts – main unit scenes include Circle of the Suns, Crystal Desert Edge and Pink Petal Tree.
Fall 2018
Post-production work – editing, VFX, ADR, sound, music, etc.
October 5, 2018
Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance announcement at NY Comic Con. “Netflix and Chills” panel with Lisa Henson, Louis Leterrier, and others.
January 2019
Post-production continues.
Music recording takes place in Prague.
June 2019
Making-of documentary (The Crystal Calls) finished production.
August 22, 2019
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance books released by Penguin.
Series Launch
August 22, 2019
UK Premiere in London
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
August 23 – Sept 6, 2019
“Into Thra” exhibition at BFI Southbank, London including sets, figures, and costumes and puppet workshops, Q&A session and a behind-the-scenes gallery.
August 27, 2019
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance premiere at Museum of the Moving Image, NY.
August 30, 2019
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance starts streaming on Netflix.
September 11, 2019 – February 23, 2020
Creatures from the Land of Thra: Character Design for The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance exhibit at Museum of the Moving Image, NY.
January 29, 2020
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance “She Knows All the Secrets” wins Visual Effects Society award for Outstanding Special (Practical) Effects in a Photoreal or Animated Project.
February 4, 2020
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics video game released on all gaming platforms.
February 7, 2020
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance soundtrack released.
