I haven’t seen a dark Muppet movie since the part in A MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL where Tiny Tim dies and Ebenezer Scrooge finds his own grave, but apparently it’s something that’s garnered enough interest to actually be made. HAPPYTIME MURDERS has just been picked up by Lionsgate, and with it comes a pretty excellent plot description.
“Happytime” takes place in 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 with his former human partner. Think “Avenue Q” meets “L.A. Confidential.”’
This would be awesome enough as is, but it gets even more badass when you learn this is from Brian Henson, son of Muppet guru Jim Henson. And just to clarify, this is NOT the Jason Segel Muppet movie that’s coming winter 2011, it’s a different project entirely.
The film is currently searching for a lead, and I wonder what duo will play Muppet voice and human partner. I highly doubt that this could possibly be using the actual Muppets we know and love, right? I can’t imagine Kermit the Frog shooting Gonzo in the back with a Glock while the Cookie Monster does blow off Miss Piggy’s ass.
Speaking of “adult” Muppets:
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