The NeverEnding Story immortalized onscreen in the original film only tells half of the story in the book.
When we first meet Bastian, both in the movie and the book, he has taken refuge in a vintage bookstore after running away from some school bullies. There, he stumbles upon an unusual book titled The NeverEnding Story that he's instantly drawn to. After running off with it without paying, Bastian holes himself up in his school's attic to read the tale that follows a young warrior named Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) as he sets out on a treacherous journey to find a cure for the ill Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach) who rules over a fantastical land that's being destroyed by a malicious force called The Nothing.
In both the movie and the book, Bastian fervently follows Atreyu's obstacle-filled odyssey until it becomes apparent that Bastian has also become part of the narrative. He must accept that he now plays a role in The NeverEnding Story — he is the one who can save the empress. All he has to do is actively join the adventure and give her a new name, which he does. Here's where the movie ends.
But the book continues on, with Bastian getting sucked into the pages and using his imagination to shape the world around him. But every time he makes a wish, he loses an earthly memory. This leads to him down a dark path as he slowly forgets who he is and where he came from.
Enter the 1990 film The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, which tackles the second half of the book. While none of the original NeverEnding Story movie cast returns, many of the same characters are featured — including Bastian, Atreyu, the Childlike Empress, and, of course, Falkor. Meanwhile, a third film, The NeverEnding Story III: Escape From Fantasia, was released in 1994, but it follows a new story line that has nothing to do with the book.
