On July 20, 1984, Warner Bros. released the fantasy film “The NeverEnding Story.” It was directed and co-written by the late Wolfgang Petersen (“Poseidon”), based on a 1979 German-language novel by Michael Ende. The cast consistents mostly of children and tells the story of an isolated boy, Bastian Bux (Barret Oliver).
The Plot
Bastian’s life seems ordinary until he is transported to a fantasy world through a mysterious book. In this realm, he meets Atreyu (Noah Hathaway), the Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach), and the Luck Dragon Falkor. As it turns out, Bastian is their only hope to save their world from a force called the Nothing.
While “The NeverEnding Story” wasn’t a huge box office hit when it was released in the US. It did well enough in Germany to spawn two sequels. Over the decades, its following in the US has grown and many millennials view it as a beloved childhood film.
In celebration of its 40th anniversary, casting director Penny Perry and dancer/actress Stronach did separate interviews about the making of the film and its planned reboot.
The Cast
A unique thing about “The NeverEnding Story” is that the cast is predominantly unknown child actors. “Wolfgang likes to work with real kids, so we were looking for people who had an essence of that character,“ Perry explains.
As you can imagine finding such a talented group of young performers was a challenge. “It was Barret Oliver, who played Bastian, and Noah Hathaway, who played Atreyu,” said Perry about her casting choices. “I also did a search for the Childlike Empress, and we found Tami. She was in a dancing group out of San Francisco, and she came in. She had never acted before, and she was just breathtakingly beautiful.”
“There were a lot of kids considered. Barret had this vulnerable, lovely quality, and I put him in another movie right after that, Cocoon,” Perry adds. “Noah had this worldly aura about him, and that’s why he was so perfect for Atreyu. Looking for the Empress was the hardest. We found Tami toward the end. She has a quality that’s very difficult to find.”
“I was in an acting class in San Francisco, and my acting teacher was friends with the casting director and one of the producers, so they were planning to have a lunch date,” explains Stronach. “She saw the tail end of my class and asked if I would audition. I fell in love with the material instantly. Then there was another audition in L.A. and a final one in Germany.”
“The NeverEnding Story II”
In 1990, “The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter“, directed by the late George Miller was released. The sequel recasts Bastian with Jonathan Brandis, Atreyu with Kenny Morrison, and the Childlike Empress with Alexandra Johnes.
“They did ask me to be in the sequel, and we said no. (Laughs.),” said Stronach about not reprising her role. “My parents really wanted to prioritize me having a normal childhood and felt strongly that if I wanted to pursue this path, it should be something that I chose to do as a young person in my 20s. I totally respect that decision, and I’m not sorry at all for my years of dancing.”
“I really have very fond memories of Wolfgang Petersen,” she adds. “I wrote to him when I was trying to decide if I should go into dance or acting in my 20s. He was like, “Come to L.A., and I’ll help you.” I decided to go do modern dance.”
Since the movie, Stronach has mostly focused on her dancing. Until earlier this year when she returned to acting in Michael Hines’s “Man and Witch: The Dance of a Thousand Steps.” However, she embraces the legacy of “The NeverEnding Story,” traumatic scenes and all.
“I did show particular moments to my daughter when she turned 8, and that was really fun,” says Stronach. “I can’t watch the horse scene. I go get popcorn.” [But if you dig emotionally damaging scenes in pop culture you may want to check out this planter. We aren’t here to judge your decor.]
“The NeverEnding Story” Reboot
Like many beloved IPs from the 1980s and 1990s, “The NeverEnding Story” has a long-gestating reboot in the works. And Stronach fully supports bringing this story back to life.
“There was a huge bidding war in Hollywood and in markets abroad,” she explains. “I just thought it would never happen. I have so many people that I speak with who love The NeverEnding Story, who tell me that no one should touch it, that it’s a travesty. But I really don’t agree. The whole point of it is to inspire creativity and to make sure that every person keeps the kid and the dreamer in them alive. Retelling stories feels like a natural extension of that.”
“I can’t believe The NeverEnding Story is still in people’s hearts, that it still matters so much to people,” she marvels. “I feel so honored to have been part of something that has had this sticking power, and I don’t think anyone can predict that. Maybe having a Luck Dragon in your film helps you with that.”
We hope the remake of “The NeverEnding Story” has a Luck Dragon on its side as well.
