Brian Henson says working on Labyrinth strengthened his creative bond with his father

According to People, Brian Henson, 62, says working on his father Jim Henson’s 1986 fantasy film Labyrinth helped deepen their relationship; Henson served as the puppeteer coordinator, trained local puppeteers and provided the voice for one of the goblins in the film starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly.

Henson was 22 when he joined the production and brought a specialty in complicated animatronic characters developed from years learning puppetry, mechanics and performance on set. He had already worked in England on films such as Return to Oz and says the Labyrinth experience made him feel he belonged for his work rather than his last name, allowing the pair to collaborate as “friends and colleagues.” He also says he learned a great deal about character development from his father, who tended to avoid overly sweet characters and followed his own curiosity when creating figures.

The Jim Henson Company is partnering with Fathom Entertainment to re-release Labyrinth in theaters between January 8th to 11th. Henson calls the re-release an opportunity to see the film’s craftsmanship on a big screen—“If you're watching it on a TV, you're not seeing half of it”—and to share the experience with an audience, turning a screening into an event.

Key Topics

Culture, Brian Henson, Jim Henson, Labyrinth, Fathom Entertainment, Puppetry