Disney will not move forward with new Muppets series for streaming service

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Having left their mark on movies, television and so much more across the last few decades, The Muppets will unfortunately not get to bring as much of their charms as the world needs to the realm of streaming. Set to get back in action for a new series titled MUPPETS LIVE ANOTHER DAY on Disney+ from writer/executive producers Josh Gad (FROZEN), Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis (ONCE UPON A TIME), it’s being reported (via Deadline) that the series will not move forward after creative differences between the House of Mouse and the development team.

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Gad himself took to Instagram to clear the air a bit after the news broke, saying that he, Horowitz and Katsis decided to walk away from the project over the creative differences. He also opened up about the story and the direction they wanted to take, saying it would’ve taken place after THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN and was intended to be a miniseries that would “feel like a movie spread over 6-8 episodes”

Here’s his full statement and post:

Misinformation is my least favorite kind of information so I thought I’d take a minute to clarify some news that broke today. After a little over a year and a half of working on a project called “Muppets Live Another Day,” @adamhorowitzla #eddykitsis and I have decided, with a heavy heart, to walk away. Some times creative differences are just that. The project, with original songs by Bobby Lopez and Kristen Lopez was to be directed by the great Jason Moore, (director of “Avenue Q” and “Pitch Perfect”). It was meant to be a limited event series that picked up a year after “Muppets Take Manhattan” and was essentially about what happens after you’ve reached the end of the rainbow. It was going to be Muppets by way of Stranger Things and feel like a movie spread over 6-8 episodes.

Part of the joy for us, by placing the Muppets in the middle of the 1980’s, was to subvert and comment on our current love for all things nostalgia while at the same time allowing the characters to tell a story that would ultimately lead to and end in present day, revealing some secrets along the way. It has been one of the great joys of all of our lives to write words for these iconic characters. We wish this franchise all the best and thank our partners at Disney+ and ABC Studios for the opportunity to develop something so fun and outside the box. They have been nothing but supportive and terrific and we can’t wait to play again in other sandboxes. While it is sad, I have no doubt this franchise, under its new leadership will find new and wonderful stories to tell.

My only hope is that one day you can all hear the BRILLIANT music by Bobby and @kristenlopez5681 wrote for Kermit and company. The music is next level good. In the meantime, Adam, Eddy and I are already cooking up new fun ideas that we cannot wait to share. Until then, long live “The Muppets.” They have given us joy for over 40 years and I have no doubt they will continue to bring us joy for the next 40 years.

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As Disney looks deep into their catalog of tested successes – whether it be massive, ongoing series like Marvel and Star Wars or 00s-era kid classics like LIZZIE MCGUIRE – The Muppets are a popular property of theirs that they were looking to integrate into Disney+. This new series was one show they had in development and are also working on a reimagining of the classic THE MUPPET SHOW, which is an “unscripted” variety series and will feature special guest stars. Per the report, the variety show is still set to debut in 2020.

The Muppets have made their way back onto the big and small screen in recent years, with the fluffy gang having a very successful re-entry into movies with the Oscar-winning 2011 critical darling, THE MUPPETS, and the 2014 sequel, MUPPETS MOST WANTED. They also had a series on ABC in 2015, which lasted one season and 16 episodes.

While it does seem The Muppets will get to bring their brand of humor and joy to Disney+ in the form of that variety show, it's bummer they won't get to shine in a bigger, long-form series like what Gad and the team had planned. It sounds like it was coming from a real place of love and a desire to take the characters to both fresh and familiar places, and it's a shame we might not get to see what they cooked up. If there was any time we all needed to hear as much of Fozzie's new material as possible, now is it.