The Happytime Murders is definitely one of the more intriguing projects that’s been doing the rounds in Hollywood. The basic premise is a bit Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but with puppets existing alongside humans instead of toons – although still keeping the rather film noir vibe.
However while Roger Rabbit was a family flick, this is decidedly more adult, and while some have suggested it’ll head for a PG-13 rating, others reckon it’s strictly R-rated puppet madness. What really makes this intriguing is that it’s coming from The Henson Company, with Jim Henson’s son Brian directing. What would Kermit think (and don’t worry, the Muppets won’t be going grown-up in this, as they’re now owned by Disney and so not part of this)?
Lionsgate signed up for the movie last month, with hopes to start shooting in January, and that means they need to find some human cast member pretty quick. While it’s pretty early days, Vulture reports that Cameron Diaz has been offered a starring role in the movie, although there’s no news on whether she’ll accept.
The basic concept of the film is that it’s set in a world where puppets are second-class citizens, but just as likely to get into booze, drugs and sex as any of their human counterparts. When the puppet cast of 1980s children’s TV show The Happytime Gang begins to get murdered one by one, a disgraced LAPD detective-turned-private eye puppet (who has a drinking problem), takes the case with his former human partner. It’s been descibed as Avenue Q meets LA Confidential, which is quite a mash-up.
It’s a bit of a risk to make, especially for The Henson Company, which has built its reputation on family-friendliness, but it’s also the sort of Muppet movie many always secretly hoped Jim Hneson would create one day. Although whether it’ll approach the sheer puppet depravity of Peter Jackson’s Meet The Feebles is yet to be seen.