Fremantle & Neil Gaiman to Bring Back The Storyteller

Fremantle is working with Neil Gaiman on a reimagined version of Jim Henson’s ’80s anthology series The Storyteller for television.

Jim Henson created the original version of The Storyteller, inspired by his daughter Lisa’s university studies in folklore and mythology, in 1987 and directed multiple episodes. In the new series, The Storyteller will create a mystical world combining various fairy tales and folklore that have been passed down from generation to generation, designed for today’s co-viewing audience. Gaiman will write and executive produce the reimagined series.

“There is currently nothing like The Storyteller in the television landscape and the themes these stories will explore are even more critically important today,” said Dante Di Loreto, president of scripted entertainment at Fremantle North America. “We are honored to be working with Lisa Henson and her illustrious company to bring their esteemed property back to television, and to be yet again partnering with Neil on another project that will further showcase his brilliant narrative power.”

“The Storyteller has been a longtime favorite for our fans who appreciate the beautiful artistry and faithful visualizing of these classic tales,” said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. “ It has always been a special project for me as well, having worked so closely with my dad on the original concept. 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,” said 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.”

Gaiman is in postproduction with Fremantle on the second season of American Gods for Starz.