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Legend (1986) Cast and Crew

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Set in a timeless mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, this fantastic story follows a mystical forest dweller, chosen by fate, to undertake a heroic quest.

Legend (1985) - Full Cast & Crew

Actors and roles, crew of Legend (1985). Who was filming and what role he played.

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• Kinorium 6.3 1000+
• IMDb 6.3 73 078
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Legend — Cast & Crew

Sound director, special effects, visual effects, ridley scott.

David Bennent

Alice Playten

Billy Barty

Cork Hubbert

Peter o'farrell.

Annabelle Lanyon

Robert Picardo

Tina Martin

Ian Longmur

Michael crane, liz gilbert, eddie powell.

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William Hjortsberg

Tim Hampton

Joseph p. grace, arnon milchan.

Sid Sheinberg

Alex Thomson

Jerry Goldsmith

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On the Screen Reviews

The New Orleans Film Critic

Ridley Scott’s “Legend” (1985) is Iconic

With Tom Cruise, unicorns and Ridley Scott behind the lens, what could possibly go wrong? Apparently, it depends on who you talk to.

If Disney and the Grimm Brothers had a bastard baby, it would be Legend , and I couldn’t be more obsessed with it.

Legend is widely rumored to have been a source of inspiration for Shigeru Miyamoto’s classic game series The Legend of Zelda.  Some people may know it as the fantastical film that starred a young Tom Cruise, while others have absolutely no recollection of it at all. I’m part of the former, and I can proudly say that I believe in it’s strong cult status in the cinematic universe.

Many will argue, myself included, that Legend was ahead of its time, but it was a movie opening onto an audience not ready for it. It wouldn’t be until Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Ring’s trilogy that wizards and goblins would win over Hollywood and the masses.

Legend came after after Ridley Scott’s critically acclaimed horror  Alien (1979) and sci-fi noir classic Blade Runner (1982). Part of me always felt like Ridley sat down and just decided that he felt like making a fantasy film, and I’m kind of right.

Where does one begin to dissect how a perfectly campy 80s fantasy movie would be  a complete abomination at the box office and completely forgotten by the public? Maybe I could start with the chaos that engulfed production, or the simple fact that Ridley Scott decided to release Legend three weeks before the Tom Cruise mega-hit  Top Gun bouncing Legend out of every theater in America?

Legend wasn’t the first of it’s kind; the 80s was a haven for the fantasy genre, but few of the sword and sorcery flicks were ever hits…most barely making a profit. What did profit off of these movies, like Dark Crystal , Clash of the Titans and Willow was nostalgia. Whether or not you consider the lot a bad batch is your opinion, but there’s no denying their cult status in cinema.

The story-line is simple, albeit shallow to most, in that a young man must stop the Lord of Darkness from both destroying daylight and marrying the woman he loves.

From the outrageously spectacular set (that actually burned down toward the end of production stalling everything), to the lavish makeup (let’s be honest, CGI would solely be used now), there are many things I truly love about this movie. Every character is framed and designed so artistically (Meg Mucklebones, anyone?) that it’s impossible to pick a favorite…although Tim Curry’s Lord of Darkness is the immediate takeaway for most moviegoers.

Tim Curry as Old Testament terrifying Lord of Darkness is probably the MVP of this movie. Under layers of prosthetics (that took 5.5 hours to put on) from Oscar-winning make-up artist Rob Bottin (known for his work in The Thing ), you would never see this kind of artistry recreated in film today. CGI CGI CGI until you die would be the appropriate response for such complex costume design of this scale. I think we can all agree that they just don’t make them like the used to in a world now dominated by CGI.

When it comes to the ultimate argument, it’s whether or not you’ve seen the theatrical release or the director’s cut. The theatrical release bombed. Hard. Various cuts, endings and soundtracks exist for this film, but nothing seemed to attract audiences. The European cut, in theaters in December 1985, was 95 minutes and featured a Jerry Goldsmith orchestral score. The American release was several months later, in April 1986, trimmed to 89 minutes, and replaced the Goldsmith music with a more contemporary, up-beat synth sound with German electronic group Tangerine Dream. In my unpopular opinion, I’m a huge fan of the theatrical release, because I absolutely love the cheesy Tangerine Dream score and the extreme tight editing that the director’s cut lacked. Regardless, it’s been spoken that Legend was dead upon arrival once it hit theaters.

The final theatrical result may have been a stereotypical 80s fantasy, but this movie will forever remain a gem in my heart.

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Published by Courtney Young

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16 thoughts on “Ridley Scott’s “Legend” (1985) is Iconic”

Well…I haven’t forgotten about this film at all😊 I think it’s a highly underrated classic. And it’s great to see you put it in the spotligh here. Great post! 😊😊

Thank you! While I was researching it, I found so much hate for it…hence my “in defense for” in the title.

I’ve never actually seen this. Hmmmmmmmmm lol

It’s VERY campy and VERY 80s. If you can accept that going into it, you may just like it!

Ooh. This looks great. 80s movies are very special to me and I always enjoy the „nostalgic“ mood I get from watching them. Will look out for this one.

Check it out! I think it’s worth it for good 80s cheese 🙂

Definitely will do so.

Great blog post. I listen to a podcast called the retro cinema check em out here they podcast 80’s movies each Thursday & they did a podcast about Legend http://theretrocinema.com/070-legend/ and your blog post was wonderfully written and spot on about the film. Great work Courtney

Thanks, Nick! I actually listened to the retro cinema’s podcast episode on Legend after I wrote this! Great stuff there!

Oh how funny is that! They do such a great job the retro cinema people.

I was a kid when it came to TV and so have a soft spot for it though it was pretty dark for kids. Been meaning to research it for a while to see how it holds but there’s no denying it’s a great looking movie.

I saw it when I was a kid too…quite terrifying!

Great post! I actually haven’t seen this since the 80’s to be honest, but absolutely have fond memories of it, especially (and unsurprisingly) Tim Curry’s stand out performance. Thanks for rekindling my nostalgia, looks like I shall be heading to my local HMV this afternoon to see if they have this particular 80’s gem on Blu-Ray. 🙂

Thank you!!!

Watched it as a kid. Maybe 50 times. Definitely an all time classic. (And side note : That scene between Lily and the Lord of Darkness probably built a huge deal of my erotic imagination !)

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• Cast & crew
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• A young man must stop the Lord of Darkness from destroying daylight and marrying the woman he loves.
• In a mystical forest bathed in sunlight, the fate of Creation hangs in the balance. Only when the sinister forces of evil have slain the last unicorn on Earth will the wicked Lord of Darkness have the power to cast the world into an endless night. With his horrible goblins scouring the virgin land to capture the magnificent creatures, it's up to pure-hearted forest dweller Jack and his beloved Princess Lili to undertake an impossible quest. Together, they must defy the abyss and restore harmony to the universe. But as they soon realise, the struggle between light and darkness demands sacrifice. Can two valiant mortals overturn the dark plans and re-establish the eternal balance of the cosmos? — Nick Riganas
• Darkness (Tim Curry) seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns. Jack (Tom Cruise) and his friends do everything possible to save the world and Princess Lili (Mia Sara) from the hands of Darkness. Enter a world of unicorns, magic swamps, dwarfs and rainbows. — maschzentertainment
• A demon who seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns and marrying a fairy Princess is opposed by the forest boy Jack (Tom Cruise) and his elven allies in this magical fantasy. Two different versions of this movie feature soundtracks by either Tangerine Dream or Jerry Goldsmith. — Keith Loh <[email protected]>
• A magical adventure which features elves, demons, and other mythical creatures. The Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry), the personification of evil, plans to disperse eternal night in the land where this story takes place, by killing every unicorn in the world. Although he looks unbeatable, Jack (Tom Cruise) and his friends are disposed to do everything to save the world and Princess Lili (Mia Sara) (who Darkness intends to make his wife) from the hands of this evil monster. — Chris Makrozahopoulos <[email protected]>
• The Lord of Darkness ( Tim Curry ) alone in his chamber, calls his minion the goblin Blixx ( Alice Playten ). He confides to Blixx that he wishes to kill the last two unicorns so that darkness will fall upon the world, allowing him to emerge from his cave where he is shielded from the sunlight that is his enemy. He cannot approach the unicorns, he tells Blixx, because only the pure can find them. Only someone innocent and pure, such as the Princess Lily ( Mia Sara ), can attract the unicorns. He sends Blixx and his two companions, Pox ( Peter O'Farrell ) and Blunder ( Kiran Shah )to set a trap with orders to bring the unicorn's horn back to him. The scene shifts to Princess Lilly all innocence and mischief, heading to the enchanted forest. Along the way the playful young teen visits her friend Nell ( Tina Martin ) a kindly peasant who lives at the edge the woods. She warns Lilly that visiting the woods is not a princess-like activity, but Lily goes anyway, leaving as quickly as she arrived amid Nell's warnings of things to forest things avoid. Lily's real plan is to visit her beloved Jack( Tom Cruise ), a forest child and trusted friend to all the creatures that live there. Unknown to the two lovers, Blixx and his companions have found them and although the goblins are repelled by the teens' beauty and goodness, they follow Jack and Lily knowing that the youngsters will sooner or later attract the targeted unicorns. Unaware of the danger, Jack and Lily play in the forest glades together like children. Then Jack tells her that he has a special surprise, taking her to see the last two unicorns - a mare and a stallion. These are sacred animals, guardians of purity, innocence and all that is good. Mortals like Jack and Lily are not permitted to see--let along touch them, but Lily, delighted by their beauty and against Jack's warning--approaches them and gently pats one on the nose. Although the unicorns appear to be as pleased by Lily as she is by them, she has unwittingly made them vulnerable. Blix, hiding from sight, seizes the opportunity presented by Lilly's charm of the unicorns, to fire a poisoned dart into the flank trusting stallion. Stung and in pain, the stallion gallops away followed by the mare. Blix's party gives chase while unknowing, Lilly, delighted by the experience, but puzzled by the unicorns sudden departure, returns to Jack. But Jack is very angry at her for desecrating the unicorn with her human touch. Lily, though not at all contrite, apologizes teasing Jack by telling him that she will marry the man that finds her ring. She tosses the ring and it falls into a pond. Jack leaps to his feet and dives into the water to retrieve it. Meanwhile Blix and his party overtake the dying stallion and cut off the magical horn. Without the power of the stallion the world plunges into sudden, severe winter. The onset of a blizzard and the howling winds drive Lily to seek shelter. Meanwhile, below the surface of the pond Jack seeks unsuccessfully for Lily's ring. Out of breath, he swims to the surface but his way blocked by thick ice. Using the last of his strength to smash though, he crawls, gasping, to the shore, perplexed by the sudden snow and cold. Lilly, meanwhile, seeks refuge at Nell's house, but finds everyone and everything inside frozen solid. Hearing approaching riders, she hides in the loft when Blix and his triumphant party arrive seeking food and loot. Listening from her hiding place she overhears them bragging about what they have done and realizes it was her sin that provided them the opportunity. As they leave to deliver to horn to Lord Darkness she vows to follow them and make everything right again. At the same time Jack encounters a group of fairy folk led by the pan-like Honeythorn Gump ( David Bennent ). and his companions, two dwarves, Screwball ( Billy Barty ) and Brown Tom ( Cork Hubbert ) and Oona ( Annabelle Lanyon ) - a Tinkerbell-like pixie who only appears as a firefly sized point of light. The fey are also confused by the sudden change of climate. Upon careful questioning by Gump, Jack admits that he took Lilly to see the unicorns. Gump is outraged but forgives Jack when he realizes that Jack's motives had only been driven by love. Jack and rest of the group discover the mutilated body of the stallion and the still living mare. Gump tells Jack that a hero is needed right things. Jack protests that he is not a hero, but Gump leads him to a cave leaving Brown Tom to guard the mare. While the others wait outside Oona guides Jack into the cave to find armor and weapons that he will need. There, Oona reveals to Jack that she is able to assume the form of a beautiful wood fairy and tells him to keep her secret. Around the camp-fire that night Blix torments his companions with the magic of the horn when the cloaked form of Lord Darkness appears. Blix, trying to avoid Darkness's wrath, drops the horn and it is picked up by Blunder who tell Darkness he will use the horn's power to take over Darkness's throne. Unfortunately, he has greatly overestimated what the horn can do. Darkness seizes the horn and forces Blunder back to the underground lair. Still angry, Darkness orders Blix to capture the Princess and the mare. Lilly, who has been following the goblins, witnesses this exchange and races back to find the mare. She runs into Brown Tom and warns him of Blix's approach. She is too late and although Tom puts up a good fight, he is knocked cold and the Princess and the mare are captured and taken to Darkness's underground palace. When Jack, Gump, Screwball and Oona return they revive Tom and he tells them what has happened. The group sets out for the palace, but must first cross a swamp. There, Jack runs into the troll-like Meg Mucklebones ( Robert Picardo ). She threatens to eat Jack, but he distracts her with her own image in his mirror-like shield until he can use his sword to cut off her head. This is the first real challenge Jack has faced and he is quite overwhelmed when he realizes he has bested a powerful enemy. Still, enemies more powerful still lie ahead. Arriving at the castle the group stumble through a trap door, down a slide, and into cages of the palace's kitchen. There we learn that Darkness and the goblins are not above cannibalism. Various creatures in other cages await their turn to be made into meals by the kitchen staff, a pair of trolls. In the next cage they find Blunder, who beneath his armor is actually a creature closely related to the dwarves. Just as they are becoming acquainted one of the giant trolls appears and seizes Blunder as the main ingredient of a meat pie. Jack asks Oona to retrieve the keys to their cell but Gump points out that she is too small to carry them. Jack then reveals Oona's ability to assume human size. Oona is outraged at Jack's betrayal of her secret, but he tells her that if he keeps her secret they will all die. Gump, angered at Oona, demands to know why she has kept this information from him, but she challenges him that her secrets are her own to keep. She then turns to Jack seductively and even after using her glamour to assume Lily's form, finds that Jack will not sway from his own true love. Although she is angered by his rejection, she knows that he is the only hope against Darkness, so she retrieves the keys and sets her companions free. They escape the kitchen and split up to search for Lilly and the mare. Meanwhile, Darkness is complaining to an unseen father that he is distracted by Lily and doesn't understand why. The father's voice, emanating from the fireplace, states that Lily attracts him because she is so pure. He suggests that Darkness seduce Lily and corrupt her. Lily has been brought to the palace's throne room where Darkness' servants have laid out things things to tempt her: There is food, beautiful jewelry and a faceless dancing form wearing a revealing black dress. At first Lily is frightened but soon the seductive spell begins to affect her, luring her to dance with the black shrouded figure. A sudden flash finds Lily dancing alone, garbed in the sparkling black dress; a fit queen for the Lord of Darkness. Believing his techniques have worked on her, Lord Darkness enters the chamber through a mirror. He is a seven foot tall, hairless, muscular being with crimson skin, yellow slit-pupil eyes, hoofed feet and crowned with three foot long ebony bull's horns. Terrified Lily squirms away from him. Darkness, however, keeps his distance and tells Lily he only seeks her conversation. Slowly, Lily's confidence returns as she realizes Darkness' attraction to her. Soon, Darkness, not Lily is the one who's being played. When he tells Lilly the dress and jewels are her wedding presents she stands up to him and tells him it will never happen. Even his frustrated rage no longer frightens her. Outside the room Jack and Gump overhear Darkness tell Lilly his plans to sacrifice the mare at sunset to bring eternal darkness to the world. Overconfident, Darkness reveals the one thing that can hurt him: sunlight. This inspires Jack with an idea. They rejoin Screwball and Brown Tom who have located the mare in the dungeon. Jack leads the group to steal the shiny silver platters from the kitchen to use to reflect sunlight down the chimney, though the palace and into the underground lair. The group returns to the kitchen and there release a grateful Blunder from the pie in which he was the main ingredient. Blunder eagerly switches sides to join the intrepid heroes. Unfortunately moving the heavy giant platters awakens the kitchen trolls and a battle ensues, ultimately won by Jack using his new heroic skills and a lot of luck. Screwball, being the smallest, volunteers to climb up the chimney carrying one of the platters so that it might catch the sunlight to reflect down into the lair. The rest of the group place more platters at strategic points throughout the underground palace. Lily, meanwhile, has convinced Darkness that she will marry him willingly on one condition. She wants to be the one to kill the mare! Ecstatically he agrees. Screwball and the final plate make it to the surface but unfortunately the elderly Screwball is so exhausted by the climb he has fallen asleep at the the chimney opening. Jack and Gump find the site of the intended sacrifice and slip inside while Oona flies frantically to find Screwball to see what is taking so long. Hiding on a ledge above, Gump and Jack observe the beginning of the ceremony. Darkness, holding the stallion's horn proclaims his intent to use it to kill the female. Proudly, he passes the horn to Lilly, who stands beside him, for all intents appearing the perfect wife for the master of evil. Gump, convinced she has joined Darkness, tells Jack to shoot her with an arrow. But Jack, trusting in his love for Lilly, hesitates. Fulfilling his trust, Lilly severs the mare's chain, shouting at the unicorn to flee. Enraged, Darkness strikes Lilly into unconsciousness. Jack leaps to her defense but he is no match for Darkness's strength, magical power and psychologically aimed taunts. Meanwhile, Oona finds and awakens Screwball. Together they angle the final platter to reflect sunlight down the chimney shaft. The light darts through the palace corridors and blows the doors off the dungeon and striking Darkness and opening an abyss behind him which threatens to suck him in. The evil lord, caught and weakened by the sunlight, clings to one of the pillars until Jack to cuts off his hand. Unable to hold on any longer Darkness drops unicorn horn and is swept into the starlit abyss. His last words to Jack are that he cannot be destroyed because there can never be light unless there is also Darkness. Gump brings the stallion's horn back with them and replaces it on the stallion's head. The stallion awakes fully restored and is joined by the mare. With that, the world is released from its relentless winter. All is back to normal except that Lily does not waken. Gump tells Jack that she is under a deep spell. Jack once more leaps into the pond and this time emerges holding Lily's ring. He slips it onto her finger and kisses her. His love awakens her, but she is changed by her experience. While still good and pure as before, she now respects the powers of the wood. They leave the wood together while their fairy friends wave farewell. The final shot is of Darkness, still alive in an unknown place, laughing as he plans his revenge. Alternate endings :- There are three different versions of the film's conclusion: In the American theatrical version, Jack and Lili assure each other of their love and watch the unicorns reunite, and they run off into the sunset together, hailed by the forest fairies and the unicorns. Darkness watches them from the void, laughing. The European theatrical version also ends with both Jack and Lili running off into the sunset, but without Darkness's final appearance. In the Director's Cut, Lili wakes with Jack trying to convince her she was merely dreaming, but she is ultimately unconvinced. They confess their true love for each other, but Lili realizes they live in two different worlds. She puts the ring on his finger and tells him to treasure it, then asks if she can come back tomorrow. Jack says he will always be there for her and Lili returns to her home to her responsibilities. Jack happily runs off into the sunset, hailed by the forest fairies and the revived unicorns.

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Recent movies have created sort of a generic fantasy universe of Muppets and swamps, strange beasts and evil tyrants, damsels and heroic lads, and ancient prophecies and mythical legends. It's a world inspired by ingredients from "Lord of the Rings," the "Star Wars" movies, Dungeons and Dragons gamesmanship, tales of King Arthur and the latest gimmicks from the special-effects people.

In a movie that works, these ingredients can be exciting and delightful. "Legend" does not work.

The movie is a British big-budget, special-effects extravaganza by Ridley Scott , the director of " Alien ." It tells of a time long, long ago, when unicorns roam the Earth and the powers of light and darkness are at war. An evil prince named Darkness lives in caverns far beneath the Earth, scheming to blot the sun out of the lives of all the planet's creatures and to rule the gloom forever.

Earth itself is a sylvan place, filled with flowers and little glades and grassy clearings - but also with dread swamps and moldy fens. Young lovers can kiss for an afternoon in a bath of sunshine, but fearsome storms come up suddenly and lash the land with their fury. A race of evil little druids lives in the woods, and they spread mischief wherever they venture. Their favorite pastime is frightening the unicorns.

Into this setting come our heroes, Jack and Lili. Jack ( Tom Cruise ) is a hero whose mission in life is to vanquish Darkness and allow the sun to prevail. Lili ( Mia Sara ) is the young woman he meets and falls in love with, but she is lured into the underworld and seduced by an exotic priestess into seemingly becoming evil. Will Jack save Lili and defeat Darkness? Or will the movie end unhappily? Can we vote more than once? Let it be said that "Legend" is an impressive technical achievement. Scott is a perfectionist who takes infinite pains to make things look right.

The problem is, the world of "Legend" is itself wrong for this material. To some degree, this is a fairy tale, and it needs a certain lightness of tone, a plucky cheerfulness, to work. Like many recent sword and sorcery movies, it is so effective in rendering evil, so good at depicting the dire, bleak fates facing the heroes, that it's too dreary and gloomy for its own good.

Performances tend to get lost in productions like this. I particularly noticed how easily Cruise got buried in the role of Jack.

Here is the talented young actor from " Risky Business ," where he came across as a genuine individual, and this time he's so overwhelmed by sets and special effects that his character could be played by anybody.

Tim Curry , from " The Rocky Horror Picture Show ," makes an effective Darkness; I liked his style. But, once again, the makeup people have done such a good job with his blazing eyes and gigantic horns that, in a way, almost any actor could be lurking inside there (only Curry's sensuous lips give him away).

Despite all its sound and fury, "Legend" is a movie I didn't care very much about. All of the special effects in the world, and all of the great makeup, and all of the great Muppet creatures can't save a movie that has no clear idea of its own mission and no joy in its own accomplishment.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Legend (1986)

Tom Cruise as Jack

Mia Sara as Lili

Tim Curry as Darkness

David Bennent as Gump

Alice Playten as Blix

Billy Barty as Screwball

Directed by

• Ridley Scott

Produced by

• Arnon Milchan

Screenplay by

• William Hjortsberg

Photographed by

• Alex Thomson
• Tangerine Dream
• Terry Rawlings

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Legend - Full Cast & Crew

• 30   Metascore
• 1 hr 29 mins
• Fantasy, Family, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction
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A peasant hero battles a demonic underworld prince who seeks to plunge the world into an ice age. When the evil prince captures a fair maiden, the hero rallies an army of elves to save her, and defeat his diabolical foe once and for all.

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Legend: how the tom cruise and tim curry fantasy movie became a cult classic.

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Every Ridley Scott Movie Ranked From Worst To Best (Including House of Gucci)

Jennifer lawrence's upcoming movie couldn't be a better combo of her previous roles, jennifer lawrence adds another movie to her slate as she's set to star in graphic novel adaptation from a24.

• Legend, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Tom Cruise, is a unique cult classic fantasy film that stands out in both their filmographies.
• Despite being a box office flop, the film gained its cult status through its stunning visuals and the exceptional performance of Tim Curry as the Lord of Darkness.
• The director's cut of Legend, released in 2002, with its different ending and original score, helped solidify its cult classic status by offering a morally gray narrative and questioning the concepts of good and evil.

While a number of '80s movies have become cult classics, one of the more curious films to receive such status is the 1985 film Legend starring Tom Cruise. Directed by Ridley Scott, Legend is an epic fantasy adventure film that follows a young man named Jack (Tom Cruise) who must confront and defeat the Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry) as he plans to curse the entire world with eternal night by killing all the unicorns in this realm and taking their horns. Along the way, Jack encounters various creatures and a princess named Lili (Mia Sara).

After he made Alien , Scott wanted to make a fairytale film. He teamed up with author William Hjortsberg and the two worked closely together for five weeks on the first draft of what would become Legend . Soon after, Scott started principal photography on his iconic sci-fi film Blade Runner (via Starburst Magazine ). By the time Scott had completed Blade Runner , he and Hjortsberg went through 15 drafts before settling on what would serve as the official Legend script. And while Legend may not be nearly as popular as either Alien or Blade Runner , it had enough unique aspects that allowed the Tom Cruise fantasy adventure to become a cult classic.

Ridley Scott is one of Hollywood's most influential sci-fi directors; from Exodus to Alien, here's every one of his movies ranked from worst to best.

The Only Fantasy Film Ridley Scott and Tom Cruise Worked On

Part of why Legend became a cult classic is that it stands out in both Ridley Scott's and Tom Cruise's catalog, serving as the only fantasy film either has worked on. While some of Scott's films have fantastical elements, most notably his biblical epic Exodus: Gods and Kings , Legend is the only pure fantasy movie that Scott has directed. Considering that a lot of Scott's filmography consists of high-concept science fiction movies, big-budget historical action epics, intense crime dramas, or horror films, something like Legend completely stands out. The uniqueness of this kind of movie in a filmography like Ridley Scott's makes it worth seeking out.

Similarly, Legend is the only pure fantasy movie that Tom Cruise has starred in. While it can be argued that his reboot of The Mummy has fantastical elements in it, like Scott, he has never again worked on a pure fantasy film. Cruise's filmography primarily consists of either high-adrenaline action movies like Top Gun: Maverick or Mission: Impossible , science fiction films like Oblivion or Edge of Tomorrow , or artistic character dramas like Eyes Wide Shut or A Few Good Men . Therefore, like Scott, Tom Cruise being in a film like Legend is a reason why it is appealing.

Legend Bombed At The Box Office

Like many other movies that become cult classics, Legend was a flop — Tom Cruise's only real box office bomb . The film had a $25 million dollar budget and only made a worldwide total of about $23.5 million despite having been the number one movie at the box office for two weeks when it was released in 1985 (via The Numbers ). The fact that Legend performed so poorly at the box office could be a big reason why neither Scott nor Cruise attempted to make another fantasy movie. However, regardless of how it did financially, Legend eventually gained its cult status when it was seen on home video.

Legend Was Poorly Received Despite Some Positives Aspects

Legend received mostly negative reviews, with criticisms of it being incoherent, messy, and overall lacking a sense of identity or purpose. Roger Ebert described Legend as "... a movie that has no clear idea of its own mission and no joy in its own accomplishment ." (via RogerEbert.com ) Ebert's TV partner and fellow critic, Gene Siskel, was even harsher towards Scott's fantasy film, stating " I don't want to remember any more about Legend than to make sure I include it in my 'worst films of 1986' list and never rent it when it comes out as a video cassette ." (via Chicago Tribune )

However, even the harshest critics cannot deny some admirable aspects of Legend as many of the positive reviews praise the film for its gorgeous visuals. Through a combination of the cinematography, set pieces, and most importantly the makeup effects, Legend was dazzling to look at. Several critics stated that Legend 's visuals and makeup prosthetics alone were enough reasons to see it. A big reason why the movie had such great makeup effects is because of the involvement of makeup effects artist Rob Bottin, who is best known for his work on films like The Howling , Robocop , and The Thing .

Tim Curry Gave A Great Performance

Another aspect of Legend that even the biggest detractors praised was Tim Curry's performance as the Lord of Darkness. Despite only appearing in the last 20 minutes and heavily covered with makeup and prosthetics, Curry received much acclaim for truly embodying this evil, sadistic character and has been cited by many as the best part of the movie. While Curry has played similar types of villains and creatures before, he is completely unrecognizable as Darkness and gives a hugely entertaining yet thoroughly terrifying performance.

The Director's Cut Helped Legend Become A Cult Classic

Similar to the multiple director's cuts that Blade Runner received , a big reason why Legend became a cult classic is the unrated Director's Cut released in 2002. There are two main differences between Legend 's theatrical and director's cut, and the first is that the latter offers a more bittersweet ending in which Jack and Lili go their separate ways instead of riding off into the sunset. The other big change is that the Legend director's cut uses the original Jerry Goldsmith score that was kept in for European audiences rather than the music by Tangerine Dream, Jon Anderson, and Brian Ferry that was in the US theatrical release (via Cinefantastique ).

Overall, while the theatrical cut provides a more clear-cut, good vs. evil story, the Legend director's cut provides a more morally gray narrative. In the director's cut, the ideas about good and evil are consistently questioned as the protagonists are flawed individuals who make mistakes and may not be the pure embodiment of good, but will still rise to the occasion at the end of the day. In the same vein that Blade Runner became a cult classic when an improved version of the movie became available, Legend received a similar status and praise for doing the same.

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Directed by Ridley Scott

There may never be another dawn.

Set in a timeless mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, this fantastic story follows a mystical forest dweller, chosen by fate, to undertake a heroic quest. He must save the beautiful Princess Lili and defeat the demonic Lord of Darkness, or the world will be plunged into a never-ending ice age.

Tom Cruise Mia Sara Tim Curry David Bennent Alice Playten Billy Barty Cork Hubbert Peter O'Farrell Kiran Shah Annabelle Lanyon Robert Picardo Tina Martin Ian Longmur Michael Crane Liz Gilbert Eddie Powell Mike Edmonds

Director Director

Ridley Scott

Producers Producers

Arnon Milchan Tim Hampton

Writer Writer

William Hjortsberg

Casting Casting

Mike Fenton Jane Feinberg Marci Liroff Donna Isaacson Jeremy Zimmermann Noel Davis

Editor Editor

Terry Rawlings

Cinematography Cinematography

Alex Thomson

Assistant Directors Asst. Directors

Garth Thomas Bill Westley

Executive Producer Exec. Producer

Joseph P. Grace

Production Design Production Design

Assheton Gorton

Art Direction Art Direction

Norman Dorme Leslie Dilley John Fenner Jim Morahan

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Stunts stunts.

Eddie Powell Vic Armstrong Paul Grant

Choreography Choreography

Arlene Phillips

Composers Composers

Jerry Goldsmith Edgar Froese Johannes Schmölling Christopher Franke

Sound Sound

Roy Charman Chris Greenham

Costume Design Costume Design

Charles Knode

Makeup Makeup

Rob Bottin Peter Robb-King Nick Dudman Lois Burwell Jane Royle Pauline Heys Linda DeVetta

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Barbara Ritchie Betty Glasow Eithné Fennel Joan White

Embassy International Pictures Legend Production Company Universal Pictures 20th Century Fox

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

English Italian

Releases by Date

26 aug 1985, 28 aug 1985, 04 oct 1985, 07 nov 1985, 21 nov 1985, 13 dec 1985, 02 jan 1986, 20 feb 1986, 18 apr 1986, 12 oct 1986, 22 aug 1987, 01 jan 2013, 01 jun 1991, 03 apr 2002, 21 may 2002, 25 jan 2006, 31 may 2011, 01 feb 2012, 29 feb 2012, 11 oct 2016, 14 sep 2008, releases by country.

• Theatrical PG
• Theatrical L
• Theatrical U
• Theatrical 12
• Theatrical G
• Premiere Venice Film Festival
• Theatrical PG12

Netherlands

• Physical 12 DVD
• Physical 12 Blu-ray
• Theatrical 18
• Theatrical 11
• Physical 11 DVD
• Physical 11 Blu-ray
• Physical PG MCA/Universal Home Video #80193 [VHS] 89 minutes
• Physical PG Ultimate Edition DVD
• Physical PG Ultimate Edition Blu-ray / DVD - Director's Cut
• Digital PG Digital HD
• Physical PG DVD - Pop Art Edition

94 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by matt lynch ★★★½ 1

yeah i know but just look at it.

Review by Joe ★★★½ 7

Why did Tom Cruise grab the armored top but not the pants?

Review by Ian West ★★★★½ 31

A link to the past.

Very strong chance that this may be the most visually appealing movie as far as my tastes go—beautiful on all fronts with lush scenery, hypnotic visual atmos soundwaved with euphoric tones courtesy of Tangerine Dream, the best goblins and melty faced creatures I’ve ever seen, and the single scariest image from my youth that I would eventually become obsessed with—Darkness.

A friend recently said that this will probably be the best Legend of Zelda movie that we’ll ever get and I’m inclined to agree. Hits all the beats I look for in a movie like this without being 4 hours long which almost gives the the vapors as much as that TD score. I was…

Review by sarah squirm ★★★★★ 3

don’t show me a movie unless it looks like this and is scored by tangerine dream with a credits song by BRYAN FERRY !?!

this is what we call a GLITTER MOVIE!!!!

Review by Jordan Beaumont Anderson ★★★½ 3

What else do you people want? This fucking thing has:

- Tim Curry wrapped in a thousand pounds of sexy latex. - Tom Cruise hugging a fox. - A Tangerine Dream score played with one elbow. - Lengthy unicorn pornography. - "I could eat her brains like jam." - Tom Cruise wearing a scale mail dress. - There's a fucking character named Honeythorn Gump. - Mia Sara, nailing her performance and still being the second prettiest. - A swamp witch played by Robert "Innerspace Cowboy" Picardo. - Tom Cruise squatting. A lot. - Billy Barty, being a goddamn delight. - A sex dungeon made by Disney. - An entire sequence devoted to throwing enormous frisbees. - The plot of at least three D&D campaigns I've played. - A way cooler fairy than that Julia Roberts Hook garbage.

Review by Tears_in_Rain ★★★★★ 57

Anyone who has more than a passing familiarity with my reviews, should be aware of the fact that I don't believe in objective film analysis. My reviews and ratings are an expression of my subjective feelings on a film at that particular moment in time. But, even if I did review films objectively, this is one of those films where I would find such a task impossible. This was one of those defining films for me. As with Alien and Blade Runner , there's just something about the aesthetic of Ridley Scott's early output that resonated with me in my formative years. It's one of those films I can watch endlessly and, every time I do, for 89 minutes, I feel…

Review by FilmApe ★★★★ 6

There are whale noises playing over slow-mo shots of unicorns in a forest...how could this be any less than a four star movie?

Review by Sydney🚀 ★★★★★ 14

This movie just makes so much sense to me. Everyone say thank you Rob Bottin

Review by emma ★★★★★

glitter budget off the shits

Review by comrade_yui ★★★★★ 7

a rare ornate gem of a film, easily among the best of ridley scott's work, back when his visuals were lush & overwhelming in detail instead of stringent and aseptic. legend coasts along on intuitive ethereal vibes, a tactile set-bound fantasia of slime-slick goblins, capricious fairy glamour and deliriously fervid colors, all sweetly wrapped within the buttery-smooth synths of tangerine dream's perfect score. the kind of movie where no one wears pants and tom cruise's face is constantly smothered in a thick sheen of glitter. a pure sensory experience.

Review by Rafael "Parker!!" Jovine ★★★½ 11

Action!: The Scott Brothers – How To Get Screwed By Spielberg Twice W/ Ridley Scott

The movie that feels like a slap in the face and a “fuck you” to everyone who told Ridley he shouldn't use the unicorn in Blade Runner.

After having this movie on Prime for almost a year now, and hearing about the movie for quite some time, I finally decided to watch this somewhat bizarre fantasy movie that followed the iconic "Blade Runner". In a sense, it feels like a radical departure from the film noir, but then you realize that's not entirely the case. The film's cinematography and camera work share a lot in common with his previous project. With his display of creativity…

Review by Patrick Pryor ★★★★★ 6

The best drippy goblin I've ever seen in my life. More fantasy movies with gross drippy goblins and nightmare facial prostheses and elaborate lush otherworld sets and Tangerine Dream synth scores, please.

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Film Details

Brief synopsis, cast & crew, ridley scott, david bennent, billy barty, technical specs.

Fairy-tale romance about a princess and the young man who takes her into an enchanted forest to view the magical unicorns, but things go awry when the malevolent King of Darkness seks to ensnare the princess for himself.

Alice Playten

Cork hubbert, peter o'farrell, annabelle lanyon, robert picardo, tina martin, ian longmuir, elizabeth a gilbert, eddie powell, betty adamson, christopher alderson, nick allder, henry alvarez, max alvarez, jon anderson, vic armstrong, martin asbury, david barron, george beavis, bobby belnap, margaret beserra, john bettis, john blakeley, lola boomer, michael boone, dwight bottin, patricia brewer, david r brooks, allan bryce, lois burwell, david cadwallader, john j campbell, pat cardamone, michael a carter, zena carter, elisabeth charlesworth, roy charman, jerry chinn, graham chruchyard, bob clearmountain, michael clifford, ralph cobos, richard coleman, tony cordoon, alexander courage, martin crane, perry davey, rhett davies, gordon davis, linda devetta, leslie dilley, norman dorme, tangerine dream, nick dudman, katalin elek, louis elman, karen elton, fernando favila, jane feinberg, eithne fennell, mike fenton, gunnar ferdinandsen, john ferran, bryan ferry, laura filip, william finch, rosemary sylvester fisher, tammy fites, andrea fontaine, camille forgy, susan forrest, john r foster, martin fowley, julian francis, geoff freeman, tony freeman, glenn freemantle, eddie garcia, anthony georghiou, day helen gill, nick gillard, barbara gillett, betty glasow, richard glass, jerry goldsmith, john goodwin, assheton gorton, barnaby gorton, peter govey, danny graber, joseph p grace, chris greenham, verner gresty, joe griffith, kenny groom, tim hampton, william hargreaves, hugh harlow, graham v hartstone, john v hartstone, pauline heys, michael hill, john hilling, william hjortsberg, andrew holder, kevin hudson, martin hume, lance hunter, malcolm huse, ronald hutton, donna isaacson, jack johnson, dave jordan, allen killick, peter swords king, jordan klein, martin a kline, charles knode, philip knowles, sherry koskie, nick kubicki, iya labunka, sandra langdale, fiona latto, nicolas lemessurier, marci liroff, robert lobetta, lee electric ltd, janet lucas, colin lyles, claudio mancini, phil mantione, lauren marems, john markwell, martin maryon, john mccloughlin, peter mcdonald, john mcgoldrick, laura mckenzie, gavin mckinney, karen mclean, penny mcvitie, richard medina, peter melrose, arnon milchan, chuck montoya, james morahan, max mowdray, wally nelson, robert newman, shaun o'dell, harry oakes, becky ochoa, robert olivas, anne parsons, ken pattenden, dennis pawlik, melvyn pearson, jorge pelaez, clive pendry, wesley peppiatt, patrick philbin, award nominations, best makeup, miscellaneous notes.

Released in United States Fall April 18, 1986

Began shooting April 7, 1984.

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Tom Cruise and Tim Curry Starred in This Unforgettable Fantasy Cult Classic

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10 Greatest Swordsmen in Middle-earth, Ranked

Ryan reynolds criticizes decision to sew up deadpool's mouth in x-men origins: wolverine, 10 most underrated '80s movies of all time, ranked.

Legend (1985) is an overlooked yet epic dark-fantasy film that stars two unlikely legends: Tom Cruise and Tim Curry . Ridley Scott directs the film, and many of the scenes contain clear inspiration from his other popular franchise, Alien . Legend also didn't receive commercial success during its initial release, but it is a cult classic, especially after the unrated director's cut was released.

The premise features a young woman, Princess Lili (Sara), who has romantic feelings for a young forest man, Jack in the Green (Cruise). The two meet in secret; however, unbeknownst to the lovers, the Lord of Darkness (Curry) sends unicorns into the forest to cast the world into eternal night, killing anyone in the way. In the midst of this, Lili and Jack are separated, and she's taken to Darkness's dungeon, where he attempts to seduce her. Therefore, Jack bands together with unlikely friends to rescue Lili and save the world, thus delivering two stand-out characters from iconic actors in a film that deserves a re-watch.

RELATED: Brendan Fraser Knows Why Tom Cruise's The Mummy Reboot Flopped

Did Tom Cruise's Character in Legend Inspire Zelda's Link?

Before Cruise became known as the summer action star people know him as today, he starred in this unique tale filled with faeries and unicorns. The character Jack is a symbol of purity, and Lili tempts him to want more than friendship. Dressed in a whimsical tunic and face glitter, Jack defies logic by defeating Darkness to win her back. By the Legend's end, Lili and Jack learn that their purity is worth protecting, as it keeps them safe from harm.

The impact of Cruise's innocent character may be grander than most think because there is a theory in the fantasy and gaming world that suggests Legend's Jack inspired The Legend of Zelda creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, to create The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Some claim Miyamoto mentioned this in an interview , but resurfacing the details has proven difficult. Regardless, the similarities are present, as Jack wields a bow and arrow while he travels through the dungeon to save Lili. This feels akin to Link and his video game adventures.

RELATED: Christian Bale's American Psycho Inspiration Wasn't a Slasher - It Was Tom Cruise

Tim Curry Radiates Power and Intensity as Legend's Darkness

Curry gives a fantastic performance as Lord of Darkness, and the actor even sat in makeup for eight hours to create the unforgettable look. According to Monsters of Makeup , Scott wanted Curry's character to be "very sexy," so they designed a red, devil-like appearance for the creature. Unfortunately, Curry accepted the role before the makeup design was complete, and he tried to fight against the cat-like contacts, but lost. The costume also included sharper teeth, large horns, hooves and claws.

Despite the difficulties with makeup, Curry gives an excellent performance. Darkness enters Legend with an intimidating presence, towering over Lili as he offers her eternal life with him. Curry is well-known for other tantalizing characters, including his performance as Dr. Frank N Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show , and that carries over here as Darkness' voice radiates evil, providing an unforgettable experience for the viewer, much like Curry's performance as Pennywise in the original television film IT .

RELATED: The Best Movie Musicals for the Spooky Season

Why Legend Should Be Revisited as a Cult Classic

As mentioned above, Legend carries heavy themes about purity and carnal desires. Lili is a tool Darkness attempts to use to spread evil throughout the world. Although she bravely fights against his temptation, Jack offers assistance to help her escape the strains of the evil dungeon. In the theatrical release, Lili and Jack even end up together, but in the director's cut, they go separate ways to maintain their innocence. Either way, they learn the value of remaining pure and not giving in to instinctual impulses.

Many people might have forgotten this fantasy film, but it remains a cult classic for Scott, Cruise and Curry fans. Cruise brings a more timid performance than what audiences would continue to see from him in the future. Meanwhile, Curry carries the expertise he's learned throughout his career by taking on unique, memorable roles. Their pairing works well to tell the whimsical tale and embrace the powerful themes.

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Tom Cruise Still Talks to ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ Director About Making a Sequel, Even 10 Years Later; Doug Liman Says: ‘We Love That World’

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Tom Cruise is apparently still interested in “ Edge of Tomorrow 2,” according to director Doug Liman . Speaking to Empire magazine , Liman said that he recently rewatched the 2014 action movie with his leading man, and the two continue to be in touch about the long-planned sequel.

“No, we keep talking about it,” Liman said when asked if “Edge of Tomorrow 2″ is dead. “We love that world.”

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“I haven’t necessarily always had the good fortune of having movies that have huge opening weekends,” Liman told Empire. “‘Bourne Identity’ lost to ‘Scooby-Doo’ [on] its opening weekend. And ‘Swingers’ came and went from the theaters. What I’ve come to understand is, I’m making movies for the long term. I’m an ego-driven guy, I’d like to get accolades now. But I also recognize that, if I was given the choice, I’ll choose making films that people 50 years from now are still watching.”

Warner Bros. announced in 2019 that it was officially developing an “Edge of Tomorrow 2,” but there’s been no concrete updates since then. Cruise recently signed a dea l with Warner Bros. to develop movies, which has led many fans to wonder if that will include a sequel.

Emily Blunt appeared on Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast last December and revealed she also has continued talks with Liman about a sequel.

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'Haunted Mansion': Danny DeVito Did the Funniest Thing LaKeith Stanfield Has Ever Seen

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• LaKeith Stanfield and Rosario Dawson revisit the first horror movies they saw as kids.
• Stanfield discusses a scene in Haunted Mansion where one of Danny DeVito's performance choices had him in stitches.
• Dawson recalls the time she and Tiffany Haddish acted out ALL of the Haunted Mansion characters for Jamie Lee Curtis.

LaKeith Stanfield and Rosario Dawson get to swing big in all the best ways in Justin Simien ’s new Haunted Mansion movie. Not only is the film a heartfelt and delightful romp for anyone who adores the iconic Disney ride, but it’s also an ideal choice for young moviegoers looking to experience their very first scary movie.

The story sees Dawson’s Gabbie move into a new home with her young son, Travis ( Chase Dillon ) — an enormous secluded mansion that happens to be haunted by a significant amount of ghosts. In an effort to cleanse the place of all these unwanted residents, Gabbie turns to a priest ( Owen Wilson ), a psychic ( Tiffany Haddish ), a college history professor ( Danny DeVito ), and Stanfield ’s paranormal investigator turned New Orleans tour guide for help.

With the movie making its way into theaters nationwide on July 28th, I got the chance to sit down with Stanfield and Dawson to talk Haunted Mansion , favorite horror films, and real-life ghost encounters. Hear all about Dawson’s love of The Omen and Arachnophobia , a certain something DeVito did on set that had Standfield in stitches and loads more in the video interview at the top of this article or in transcript form below.

PERRI NEMIROFF: I’m obsessed with horror movies and love the idea that this one is going to be the first for many young moviegoers out there, so I want to know, what was your first? Not necessarily the movie that terrified you, but rather the first one that had you in awe of the thrill that you could experience in the safety of a theater?

LAKEITH STANFIELD: I think The Lion King for me. Yeah, that was amazing. Just this grandiose experience with music and all of these larger-than-life characters. Just Africa as the backdrop, it felt like being seen young, you know? I think the main actor, the child actor, [Jason Weaver], being Black, I could hear Blackness in his voice and it made me feel connected to it and made me feel like I was being seen on a large stage, and perhaps my family was too. So that was really special, and there was just a lot of love in it and I felt like I related to so many of the themes in the movie. So yeah, that was a special one.

ROSARIO DAWSON: Your first horror movie.

STANFIELD: First horror movie?

Still a beautiful answer! [Laughs]

STANFIELD: Oh, was that the question? [Laughs]

There were some scary scenes in The Lion King . I mean, I was traumatized!

DAWSON: [Laughs] It is! I thought you were gonna go there. It was traumatizing. For me, I was like, if you’re gonna go there, I was like, Bambi , you know? I was like, oh my god!

Bambi ’s a good example, too!

STANFIELD: It's all about perspective, after all. [Laughs] First horror? I didn't start watching those until a little bit later, but I think maybe Exorcist was the first one I saw. I didn't see it in the theater, but that one was one that stuck with me for a long time.

DAWSON: I love that because at The Exorcist I was like, “I could walk like that!” [Laughs] I grew up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. I'm from Coney Island, too, so it was like the tattooed person and bearded lady, and then I get to the Lower East Side and it's like tattoo-faced people with tons of piercings everywhere. Just people being unusual and not the normal kind of personalities you always see on screen except for when I would watch these sort of horror, kind of showy, more campy kinds of stories. So I always really loved them. There was something so fascinating to me about them. Those themes that were more intense, especially as a young person, feeling like I was not being babied, you know? And even though you're not supposed to talk about death or any of these different kinds of things, that's the kind of stuff – so in Poltergeist and The Exorcist . I think the first movie I went with my friends, we had roommates when we were living in San Francisco, I was 11 years old and we went to go see Arachnophobia . That movie!

That's a great example.

DAWSON: Whoo ! And I'll never forget watching The Omen and feeling like I finally understood my brother. He clearly was the antichrist, and being really upset that he didn't have 666 on the back of his head because I had thought it explained so much. And Legend ! I remember watching Legend as a kid and seeing Tim Curry barrel-chested and hooved and horned and all this stuff, and then it was like sparkly Tom Cruise. I love me a unicorn, but kill the unicorn because Legend is where it's at! The sparkly dude? No! I remember being like, “I’m not like other girls!”

This is a great list you just rattled off there. I love it! And I love the idea that this could be a horror starter for a lot of kids out there.

DAWSON: I love that, too.

I get very excited about that idea.

DAWSON: It's a proper one.

I also love talking about the value of a good scene partner and you're both surrounded by them in this movie so can you each give me an example of a time on the Haunted Mansion set when a scene partner gave you just what you needed and it helped you reach something in your own performance that you wouldn't have been able to without them?

STANFIELD: Danny in the scene where we're trying to describe The Hat-Box Ghost to a sketch artist. Danny [DeVito] is just sitting next to me and, you know, generally, I'm performing this way [gestures in front of him] because I'm talking to the person who's right in front of me. I might glance at him every now and again, but the general area of my performance is this way and Danny is sitting here [gestures to his side], and at one point, I look over at him [laughs], and his lip is just curled all the way back over his teeth. It was the funniest thing I'd ever seen, and I'm trying so hard not to laugh. It was the hardest thing I had ever had to do. And as soon as they said cut, I just start rolling. I'm on the floor like, this dude is hilarious! What is happening on the side of me that I'm missing because I'm going this way? So when we would go to subsequent shots I would make sure I look over there more often so I wouldn't be as surprised by the ridiculous things that he's doing, but that are just so amazing. He’s such a pro so I felt really grateful to be in that scene with him.

That’s a great example of a scene that plays really well in the trailer and doesn't get ruined by the trailer. It still is just as funny in the full feature. I love it!

DAWSON: For sure. I was just constantly blown away. I have to say probably one of my favorite scenes to do was Tiffany [Haddish] and I showing up for Jamie [Lee Curtis] doing her coverage. So we had done all of us and this ball, and the camera’s on us so it's okay and the script supervisor is reading the lines. But then when we turned it around, I'm there with Jamie Lee Curtis, who I absolutely adore so much. She’s there with little dots on her face and she's just repeating this monologue of stuff that she's got to say brilliantly every time with different textures and voices and experimenting and seeing where we were gonna land with Madame Leota. And it's me and Tiffany trying to act out all of us. So we're doing the scene and then I'm jumping down to Danny and trying to give her an eyeline for Danny being like, “$3? That's highway robbery!” And then coming back up for our eyelines and doing whatever. And it was just one of the funnest times, me and Tiffany just being absolutely delighted clearly working with this icon that we are so obsessed with, and just having so much fun and being amazed that we were being paid to do that. [Laughs] I was like, “I would pay you for this experience!”

I’ll end with this one because I love the idea of a ghost wink and I really believe that they happen. Have either of you experienced a ghost wink, and if so what was it?

STANFIELD: Yeah. These signs, these omens in your life that you come across. I'm really interested in numerology and dates and astrology and how the planets line up. I'll find on certain dates certain things happen that initiate things in my life that are really profound in one way or another and they seem to be linked to these people that I've known in my past who are no longer here. I sometimes try to speak to them just to see if that's the case. I'm always getting an answer in one way or another. It's interesting to think about. I've definitely seen some ghost winks before. [Winks at camera.]

Looking for even more Haunted Mansion talk? Catch my conversation with Jamie Lee Curtis and Tiffany Haddish below:

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Man pleads no contest in homicide of original mickey mouse club member dennis day, lev grossman’s arthurian novel ‘the bright sword’ to be developed as series by lionsgate tv & 3 arts.

By Nellie Andreeva

Nellie Andreeva

Co-Editor-in-Chief, TV

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EXCLUSIVE : Lionsgate Television and 3 Arts Entertainment have preemptively acquired the rights to bestselling The Magicians author Lev Grossman ’s new novel The Bright Sword for series development.

Set to be published July 16, The Bright Sword is described as “the first major Arthurian epic of the new millennium steeped in tradition, full of duels and quests, battles and tournaments, magic swords and Fisher Kings.”

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“My ambition with The Bright Sword was to completely reimagine the legend of King Arthur – to make it fresh, relevant and diverse, while at the same time hanging onto all the classic elements that fans like me love,” said Grossman. “I’ve worked with Erwin before so when he threw his hat in the ring, I knew he was exactly the right person to bring The Bright Sword to the screen. I’ve seen the incredible integrity, intelligence and effectiveness he brings to his work – he has that obsession with great storytelling and great characters that makes a project like this sing.”

Best known as the author of the bestselling Magicians trilogy – The Magicians, The Magician King and The Magician’s Land – which was adapted into the popular Syfy TV series, Grossman also has written children’s novels The Silver Arrow and its sequel The Golden Swift as well as the screenplay for the 2021 movie The Map of Tiny Perfect Things.

Grossman and Stoff previously collaborated on adapting The Silver Arrow . While that project didn’t sell, the two liked the experience working together.

Stoff is executive producing several series, including Lionsgate Television’s The Serpent Queen and The Hunting Wives for Starz as well as Blue Eye Samurai for Netflix and Doc for Fox. He also is producing the action-adventure film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die directed by Gore Verbinski.

3 Arts is majority owned by Lionsgate which in November increased its majority stake in the management and production company.

The Bright Sword joins other recently announced high-profile series in development at Lionsgate Television, including hostage drama The Envoy from The Rookie creator Alexi Hawley, a series based on the gambling scandal surrounding LA Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, and an English-language adaptation of Park Chan-wook’s film Oldboy.

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