Fremantle to Revive Jim Henson’s ‘The Storyteller’

Fremantle has announced that the company is developing a reimagined version of Jim Henson’s 1987 anthology series “The Storyteller” for television. The original series retold various European folk tales, particularly ones considered obscure in Western culture, created with a combination of actors and puppets. Author Neil Gaiman will write and executive produce this version.

“The Storyteller has been a longtime favorite for our fans who appreciate the beautiful artistry and faithful visualizing of these classic tales. It has always been a special project for me as well, having worked so closely with my dad on the original concept,” said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. “Neil Gaiman is an expert in traditional folklore and mythology, in addition to himself being the modern ‘storyteller’ for our times. It is especially exciting to have Neil’s reimagining of the series brought to life by our Creature Shop, allowing us to share these classic stories with a whole new audience all around the world.”

“Jim Henson was always ahead of his time,” added Neil Gaiman. “He found ways to retell folk and fairy tales for a televisual generation. The original The Storyteller was a brilliantly written, directed and told set of stories. It’s a terrifying and inspiring task to reinvent what Jim Henson did for the golden age of television we are in right now, and I’m honored that The Jim Henson Company would entrust me with the task of bringing back the storyteller and his magical stories, and sending him out into the world for a whole new round of tales.”
 
“The Storyteller” will be produced by Fremantle in association with The Jim Henson Company, with Lisa Henson serving as executive producer and Blanca Lista as co-executive producer.  Gaiman, who has a long-standing relationship with Fremantle, will also serve as executive producer. He currently is in post-production with Fremantle on the second season of “American Gods” for STARZ and will also executive produce the company’s upcoming project, “Gormenghast,” an episodic series based on the critically acclaimed fantasy book series by Mervyn Peake.