“They Did Ask”: Why 1 Original NeverEnding Story Star Didn't Return For 1990 Sequel Explained In New Comment

Summary Tami Stronach declined to return for The NeverEnding Story sequel to prioritize a normal childhood.

Legal battles and age issues led to a cast replacement for the 1990 sequel of the fantasy film.

Only Thomas Hill reprised his role in the sequel; Tami Stronach pursued dancing and theater instead.

Original The NeverEnding Story star Tami Stronach reveals why she did not return for the classic’s 1990 sequel. Based on Michael Ende’s 1979 novel of the same name, The NeverEnding Story film series began with its first release in 1984. The fantasy film featured Tami Stronach as the Childlike Empress, along with other talented acts like Noah Hathaway, Sydney Bromley, Moses Gunn, Barret Oliver, and Gerald McRaney. Stronach received a lot of praise and attention for her performance in the movie, however, she did not return for the 1990 sequel.

Now, in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stronach explains that she was asked to be in The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter; she, however, declined. She further explains that her parents were really concerned about her having a normal childhood at teh time, so they advised her to focus on other things until she was more mature to make a decision about her career path. Read her full comment below:

“They did ask me to be in the sequel, and we said no. My parents really wanted to prioritize me having a normal childhood and felt strongly that if I wanted to pursue this path, it should be something that I chose to do as a young person in my 20s. I totally respect that decision, and I’m not sorry at all for my years of dancing.”

Tami Stronach Was Not The Only Original Star Missing From The 1990 Sequel

The Second Film Faced Setbacks

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The NeverEnding Story movie adapted Michael Ende’s novel of the same name about a young boy named Bastian, who steals a book titled The NeverEnding Story. Bastien begins reading this book that tells the adventures of a young warrior on a dangerous quest through the fantasy land of Fantasia and halfway into reading, Bastien somehow becomes a part of the story. While the movie was a critical and commercial success, Ende was not pleased with the adaptation, and he subsequently sued the production company.

The sequel featured new acts like Jonathan Brandis, Kenny Morrison, John Wesley Shipp, Clarissa Burt and Alexandra Johnes, who replaced Tami Stronach as the Childlike Empress.

The legal battle that ensued put a stop to plans for a sequel, as Ende insisted he be included in future film treatments of his novel. By the time the legal issues were resolved, most of the cast that featured in the original The NeverEnding Story had become too old, so most of them had to be replaced. The sequel featured new acts like Jonathan Brandis, Kenny Morrison, John Wesley Shipp, Clarissa Burt and Alexandra Johnes, who replaced Tami Stronach as the Childlike Empress.

Related 7 Characters Who Need To Return For The NeverEnding Story Remake Not much is known about the upcoming reboot of The NeverEnding Story, but many characters from the original film must make an appearance.

Thomas Hill, who starred in the original The NeverEnding Story as Carl Conrad Coreander, was the only actor to reprise his role in the sequel. Following Stronach's decision to turn down a return to the film series, she opted for a career in dance instead. She returned to acting in 2002, this time in the theater, starring in the stage adaptation of James Crace’s award-winning novel Signals Of Distress.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter