Outlander star Caitriona Balfe joins Mark Hamill, Natalie Dormer in The Dark Crystal

Netflix has officially unveiled today the full cast for their upcoming adaptation of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and we certainly do think there’s a lot to be excited about. It shouldn’t be a shock that an adaptation of a Jim Henson classic (technically, this is going to be a prequel) would be in demand by many actors, but we consider this news all the proof you really need.

Before we get into sharing the full (and massive!) voice cast, check out the official series logline below:

Based on The Dark Crystal, Jim Henson’s groundbreaking 1982 feature film, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance tells a new epic story, set many years before the events of the movie, and realized using classic puppetry with cutting edge visual effects. The world of Thra is dying. The Crystal of Truth is at the heart of Thra, a source of untold power. But it is damaged, corrupted by the evil Skeksis, and a sickness spreads across the land. When three Gelfling uncover the horrific truth behind the power of the Skeksis, an adventure unfolds as the fires of rebellion are lit and an epic battle for the planet begins.

Now, here’s all of the names you need to know.

Gelfling characters are voiced by:

Rian – Taron Egerton (Kingsman)

Brea – Anya Taylor Joy (The Witch)

Deet – Nathalie Emmanuel (Game of Thrones)

Caitriona Balfe (Outlander)

Helena Bonham-Carter (The King’s Speech)

Harris Dickinson (forthcoming Maleficent 2)

Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones)

Eddie Izzard (Ocean’s Thirteen)

Theo James (The Divergent Series)

Toby Jones (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)

Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery)

Gugu Mbatha-Raw (The Cloverfield Paradox)

Mark Strong (Kingsman)

Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider)

The Skeksis & Mystics are voiced by:

Harvey Fierstein (Torch Song)

Mark Hamill (Knightfall, Star Wars)

Ralph Ineson (Game of Thrones)

Jason Isaacs (The OA)

Keegan-Michael Key (Key and Peele)

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (True Detective)

Simon Pegg (Mission Impossible)

Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine Nine)

Our final sentiment

This is a great cast, and while we’re not as familiar with the original work as we would like, there’s a lot to appreciate about the roster of people Netflix is putting together for this project. We should note that none of this will preclude Balfe, Samberg, Pegg, Hamill, or anyone else from some of their other work — voice-acting can be done to suit the individual performer’s schedule and there really is not anything further to worry about here. For now, our advice is rather simple — just enjoy the show when it comes out! This is Netflix expanding their animation lineup so that it appeals to a wide range of demographics.

In the official statement today, Cindy Holland, VP of Original Series for Netflix, had the following to say:

“To match the stunning visual world of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, we knew we had to entice some incredible voice talent to add dimension to the exquisite artistry of the puppeteers who bring the characters to life.  I am proud to say that this may be one of the finest casts assembled from the world’s favorite TV shows and movies, and I am now even more excited for fans to come back to Thra with us, and for new viewers to discover this world for the very first time.”

What do you think about this particular (and massive!) cast? Be sure to share right now in the comments! (Photo: Netflix.)