It was 1984 when our imagination flew into the kingdom of Fantàsia; the magical world populated by fairy-tale creatures The Neverending Story. The most loved fantasy of the Eighties debuted in West Germany exactly on April 6, 1984. Employing a budget of 25 million dollarsit was the most expensive German film ever made (until then). Directed by Wolfgang Petersenthe famous director originally from Emden who passed away at the age of 81 in 2022, the film is based on the homonymous bestseller for children by Michael Ende which has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. The history of the metanovel, or a “book within a book”, has conquered generations. Who among us has never dreamed of escaping from elementary school bullies on the back of a flying dog or cried rivers of tears for the poor horse Artax, swallowed up in the Marshes of Sadness!?
With 100 million dollars in revenue, The Neverending Story became a smash hit that spawned two less-than-memorable sequels: The Neverending Story 2 (1990) e The Neverending Story 3 (1994). However, he remains immortal the main song of the film The NeverEnding Storyperformed by the British Limahl, former leader of Kajagoogoo, and written by Keith Forsey with music by George Moroder. Today, The Neverending Story is ready to return to fulfill our wishes with a TV series for streaming platforms. Copyright permitting. Yes, because at the time the film adaptation sent its own writer into a rage who wished the producers the plague. Forty years later, we discover what happened to the young protagonists of our childhood fantasy.
Barret Oliver as Bastian
The introverted protagonist with a fervent imagination and iconic bowl-cut. Together with him we sighed for every page we read and dreamed of seeing his every wish come true: because the more he expressed them, the more splendid the kingdom of Fantàsia would become.
What is Bastian doing today?
Former teen actor of the 80s, he was the star of DARYL, Cocoon and the short Frankenweenie by Tim Burton. He left Hollywood to join the Church of Scientology, before becoming a contemporary artist and specializing in a particular vintage photographic technique known as “Woodburytype”. Today, at the age of 51, Barret Oliver continues to live in Los Angeles where he teaches photography and writes books on the subject. His works are exhibited in museums and galleries.
Noah Hathaway as Atreyu
The boy warrior of the Greenskins tribe, recruited by the Child Empress to defeat the Nothing. United with little Bastian, we cried bitterly for Atreyu and his steed Artax, swallowed up by the Marshes of Sadness. The same horse from which the then 12-year-old actor fell, disastrously, on the set of the film. An accident that caused him several spinal problems.
Noah Hathaway today
Today, he is 53 years old and you are a tattoo artist. In 2016, he appeared in a Spotify commercial, reprising his iconic role. He flies through the clouds on the back of Falcor sporting more bearded looks than fans can remember.
Tami Stronach is the Child Empress
Iranian naturalized American, 12-year-old Tami made her acting debut in the ethereal role of the little sovereign of the kingdom of Fantàsia.
Tami Stronach today
Today, at age 52, the former child deity is a choreographer for a New York dance company, the Neta Dance Company. Married to Greg Steinbruner since 2010, she had a daughter, Maya. Together with her husband she produced Man & Witcha fantasy film inspired by the Eighties, where they both star together with their daughter.
Gerald McRaney is Bastian’s father
Little Bastian’s widowed father gains great popularity in the role of Major McGillis in the sitcom At your orders, dadin which he will find himself dealing with three stepdaughters.
Gerald McRaney today
The television actor earned a Screen Actors Guild nomination for House of Cards as billionaire Raymond Tusk – boss of a company specializing in nuclear energy – and took home an Emmy for playing Dr. Nathan Katowsky. Pearson’s gynecologist in This Is Us.
Thomas Hill as Carl Conrad Coreander
Away from Coreander, his most famous character is that of Jim Dixon (Chester’s best friend) in the TV series Well done Dick who he played 33 times, between 1982 and 1990. The gruff librarian who jealously guards The Neverending Story on the dusty shelves he passed away in 2009 due to cancer. He was 82 years old.
Falkor the luckdragon
The mythical “circling dog” that hurtles towards the Ivory Tower is a 13 meter animatron of pink fur and 6,000 colored plastic scales. It was built with aircraft steel. The film version is halfway between a Golden Retriever and a dragon.
Falkor today
Today, the Fortunadrago is the main attraction of the Bavaria Filmstadt in Geiselgasteig near Munich. The same studios where it was filmed The Neverending Story.
Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
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