“I joke about how they were always trying to kill me on that movie,” Noah Hathaway, recalling his turbulent experiences playing Atreyu in 1984’s “The NeverEnding Story,” said.

Along his journey, he meets brave Atreyu, the wise Morla, and the enigmatic Childlike Empress. To celebrate its 40th anniversary, "The NeverEnding Story" will return to theaters nationwide on ...