The Labyrinth: Rise of The Goblin King 

Before he ruled the Labyrinth, Jareth was just a boy desperate to be loved.

The heartbreaking origin story of the Goblin King and the sacrifice he made that led him to a life he could never run back from.

"You have no power over me"

-Sarah, The Labyrinth 1986

In this gripping spinoff, I would love to take you on a journey down memory lane that explores the tragic background of one of the most mysterious villains in film history. Jareth, The Goblin King! The arrogance, charisma and ‘do whatever it takes’ attitude that Jareth radiates makes him even more intriguing as a villain that deserves his own origin story!

I believe it's time to create a prequel and rediscover more of the 'David Bowie' magic in a new musical adaptation. Yes, I understand he is gone, but many 80’s legends have come back to us through extraordinary talents of today. Also bring back those awesome Muppet characters that both horrified and befriended us through the screen. This movie would promise fans a nostalgic adventure through one of my most beloved fantasy worlds – Yes, I watched this movie a fair bit as a tween!

This time, however, we will discover the emotional traumas of a little boy whose fate was irrevocably altered by love and jealousy, which ultimately led to “The Rise of the Goblin King.”

“Your eyes can be so cruel”

-Jareth says to Sarah

Jareth, a little boy of just six years old, should be ecstatic, as it is Christmas Eve. However, this year, all the attention is on his twin brother, Davy, who is unwell due to his ongoing diabetes acting up with all the Christmas sweets. Davy is often unwell, taking up all their mother's time and, in Jareth's eyes, all her love too! Jareth, overwhelmed by jealousy and feeling overshadowed, recklessly wishes that his brother would just simply vanish. He is horrified when his wish almost instantaneously comes true. Davy vanishes right behind him.

Jareth's mother demands he tell her where they were playing hide and seek. Little Jareth's eyes well up with tears, his throat lumpy but dry as he chokes up the words "I… I… swear… he was right there," promising her he never left the closet.

“You remind me of the babe!”

David Bowie' from The Labyrinth Soundtrack.

The cupboard door creaks open, but only a little red scarf lies limp on the floor. Jareth is immediately whisked away to his stale-smelling and uninviting Aunt Carol's house as his parents go into a panic, desperately trying to find the sick youngster who critically needs his insulin.

Feeling alone and burdened with guilt, he realizes that retrieving his brother from the land of the goblins is the only way to fix Christmas and bring his family back together. He convinces himself that he must be brave, and once he returns with Davy, his mother will finally shower him with all the kisses and cuddles that his brother receives every time he comes home from the hospital.

"That's not it! Where'd she learnt that rubbish? It doesn't even start with "I Wish"!

"I wish the Goblins *would* come take you away. Right now."

Goblins, The Labyrinth 1986

When Jareth enters the land of the goblins, it is not quite the same as we all recall. This once whimsical place with all those quirky characters is dark and has a billowing sense of evil surrounding every corner. The Labyrinth is completely different, overrun with terrifying creatures who share his fear and confusion. Every step makes the hole in his chest fall deeper and deeper into his stomach. This is where Jareth learns the power of singing through his fears.

This is a journey that no boy his age should ever experience. However, Jareth continues to move onward, driven by his love for his mother and the commitment he made to bring his brother back. He finds his way through the ever-changing labyrinth, guided only by the faint echoes of his brother's cries. He knows that time is of the essence, but his own anxieties take him in circles… Or is the evil king engaging in a mental game? Jareth reaches the throne of the tyrannical and cruel king.
Jareth can see his brother locked away in a cell; the colour is leaving his face as his sugar levels fail. He leans into his brother and says, “Don’t be scared, just sing and I’ll find you.” Jareth pleads with the goblin king and explains his mistake, but his predecessor is not so forgiving.

Jareth is presented with an ultimatum by the evil king: either spare Davy the pain and switch places with him in the Labyrinth's eternal prison or return home through a portal the king has provided where he can live as an only child and receive all his mother's love to himself. In an act of selflessness beyond his years, Jareth chooses his brother’s life over his own. Davy disappears, without even a moment to say goodbye, leaving Jareth shackled beneath the castle.

"That's Not Fair!".

"You Say That So Often. I Wonder What Your Basis For Comparison Is".

The goblins, who were once slaves to the tyrannical king, feel sorry for Jareth because of his kind nature while he is alone in the dungeon. They help him escape and lead him to a mystical witch who bestows upon him powerful magic, ensuring he has the strength and powers to challenge the king. The goblins see Jareth as their only hope to overthrow the kingdom and restore the land back to the goblins. Jareth believes this is his chance to save himself too and finally go home.

As a result of these new friendships he has made, Jareth finds the confidence and courage to confront the Goblin King in an epic showdown. In a battle of wit and will, the boy overthrows the kingdom and frees the goblins from oppression. As a gesture of loyalty and gratitude, the goblins crown him their new king. However, he feels a mix of emotions after this triumph. For the evil king has destroyed the portal home before he met his end.

No matter how charming and kind Jareth is as a ruler, he will always be bound to this new world, and never again will he see the family he sacrificed his life for. This loss makes him both benevolent and bitter, which explains his fondness for children and his joy when Sarah enters his realm. It's a desperate attempt to fill the void left by his own lost childhood.

We end this story with the witch gifting Jareth his crystal ball. This is so he can always watch over his twin brother and visit their world but never be seen. She imprints magical stars in his eyes allowing him to travel through realms. In the next few scenes, we see him passing through time visiting our world like Peter Pan.

His brother never sees him, but knows he is there, and some nights sings to him just like he does whenever he is scared. His fears wash away as he looks to the sky and sees the stars twinkle like the glimmer in Jareth's eye.

This makes the ending not so depressing as we get to see Davy grow up, and grow into the legendary David Bowie and perform some classic numbers for his brother:

🎶 "There's a Starman waiting in the sky, he’d like to come and meet us, but he thinks he’d blow our minds, There's a Starman waiting in the sky, he's told us not to blow it, Cause he knows it's all worthwhile, he told me:

Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie.” 🎶

Perhaps a nod and a wink from the superstar and the legend himself - The Goblin King!

Now I know this character is a figment of Sarah's imagination, which makes this prequel a little tricky. However, with the surprise ending it alludes to a twist that perhaps the Goblin King may be a figment in all of our imaginations - as the hardest battles to overcome, are the ones within us.

"Everything that you wanted I have done. I have done it all for you!"

Jareth confesses his adoration for Sarah

Wrapping your head around the psychology of it all won't be the hardest part of this film. Finding someone as epic and as influential as the original rockstar will prove top be the most challenging endeavour for any filmmaker.