After That ‘Stranger Things’ Scene, Netflix Needs to Reboot ‘The NeverEnding Story’

Stranger Things 3 has given us so much this summer: a fully-realized Eleven, sweet Slurpee prince Alexei, the queer ally we didn’t know we needed, and–most memorably–an elaborate reference to The NeverEnding Story that we will never forget. But of all the memorable Stranger Things 3 moments (how have I forgotten Hopper’s Magnum P.I. makeover?!), it’s that last one that I feel has real legs outside of the Stranger Things-verse–and they’re teeny, tiny, fluffy, white legs that soar over our heads powered by luck.

Now is the perfect time for Netflix to reboot The NeverEnding Story.

Seriously, now is the time! Not only is the film experiencing a resurgence in popularity thanks to that spotlight moment in the Stranger Things season finale, but the film’s 35th anniversary is this summer. People are finally thinking about The NeverEnding Story again, and for once they’re not remembering it for being the movie that scarred a generation by making us watch a beautiful horse drown in a swamp of black tar!

There’s also the fact that The NeverEnding Story, a sprawling all-ages fantasy shrouded in darkness, fits right in with Netflix’s whole vibe. This is the streaming service that gave us The Umbrella Academy, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and Dark among many other off-kilter binges. It’s also reviving The Dark Crystal with a prequel series later this summer. Netflix is super into ’80s fantasy movies that were way too dark for their target audience!

For those that are only familiar with The NeverEnding Story as a phrase that Dustin and Suzie sing to each other via walkie talkie while an apocalypse looms in the background, know that it is very Netflixy. The story focuses on a lonely boy named Bastian who ditches bullies and school one day to hide out and read a mysterious old book. As he reads it, from his school’s attic which has to be the weirdest place to go while skipping school, a strange synchronicity happens between events unfolding in the book and around him. Soon he realizes that the book is responding to his feelings and communicating directly with him. He’s part of the NeverEnding Story!

Oh–and there’s a narcoleptic bat, a giant turtle with a cold, a luck dragon that loves ear scratches, and a pair of truly terrifying statues that blast you to ash if you feel even the tiniest bit of self doubt (wow, kind of a precursor to social media, isn’t it?). The NeverEnding Story is a German fever dream, which is why it was the perfect sick day movie for kids born in the ’80s.

The NeverEnding Story would work perfectly as a Netflix series because the original 1979 novel has never been faithfully adapted in its entirety. The 1984 film only covers the first half of the novel and the 1990 sequel pulled elements from the second half but mostly told a new story. Give creators a whole season to tell this tale! Like, did you know that Atreyu was supposed to have green skin? I did not until just now! Give us green Atreyu!

There have been attempts to adapt The NeverEnding Story to TV before, including an animated series in 1995 and a live action series in 2002. Both only lasted one season and both aired on HBO (which explains why I did not know they existed). Neither can be called even kinda faithful to the Michael Ende novel. There is a nothingness here that Netflix can fill.

So what’s the holdup? Apparently the rights to The NeverEnding Story are tied up in red tape so thick not even Rockbiter could chomp through it. Super producer Kathleen Kennedy spoke about the complications back in 2012. Before she was hired as president of Lucasfilm, Kennedy was trying to get a NeverEnding Story remake off the ground, but it was impossible. It’s entirely likely that Netflix would have to put a lot of legal muscle behind securing the rights.

But come on–if any streaming service or network has the muscle or money, it has to be Netflix. And Stranger Things figured out the rights to Limahl’s catchy AF title track, so maybe that’s a sign that the rights-holders are willing to play. They need to be, because the time is finally right for The NeverEnding Story. Netflix needs to jump at this opportunity, and maybe all they need is a little luck.

Where to watch The NeverEnding Story