Puppet serial killer?
Oct. 15, 2008
Well the horror genre is very familiar with serial killing puppets. There's been a mess of psychotic bastards taking the form of could-be lovable puppets. But today we've got news about a movie where, instead of doing the killing, the puppets are the ones being killed! Dun dun dun!
Funny thing is I'm being completely serious. Want the kicker? It's coming from The Jim Henson Company. Could we be seeing Kermit with a chalk outline? I doubt it. Let me get into the brass tacks for you all.
The Hollywood Reporter dropped the word on The Jim Henson Company starting production on HAPPYTIME MURDERS. The movie will follow a mix of human characters and puppets in the Henson style of irreverence and parody. This is a world where humans and puppets co-exist, with the puppets viewed as second-class citizens. When the puppet cast of an '80s children's TV show called "The Happytime Gang" begins to get murdered one by one, a disgraced LAPD detective-turned-private eye puppet -- with a drinking problem, no less -- takes on the case.
Obviously we've got hints of WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? here. Though it seems like Henson Co. will be going with something much darker, though a bit comedic, with HAPPYTIME MURDERS. Brian Henson, who's no stranger to directing Muppet movies, is on board to direct.
The script was penned by Todd Berger, who came up with the idea alongside Dee Austin Robertson. Robertson is executive producing while Brian Henson, Lisa Henson, and Jason Lust produce. We'll be keeping an eye on HAPPYTIME MURDERS and hope for something that catches our attention.
Jennifer Tilly has a thing for killer puppets.
