Empire acquires rights to Jim Henson screenplay

[Luke]

They obviously have a script, they are obviously "talking" about this, with statements of intent in the press release..... but if they dont approach this carefully it will blow.... If you could do a Jim Henson Biopoic WITHOUT the use of Puppets, Muppets and creatures, it would be a walk in the park..... but unfortunatly they have to feature those aspects in some shape, one way or another and with that come many hurdles, both legally and technically.

I just hope that whoever they hire as Puppet Performance co-ordinator is a perfectionist and manages to craft some unique performances from whoever he / she has to coordinate.

I guess if Henson/Disney don't get involved, as well as being nigh impossible to do without the proper Muppets, they'd also probably find it hard to get one of the major Henson connected puppet performance co-ordinators to touch the project as well - we all saw how that thing in France went even with one, but without trained Muppeteers.

I'd prefer Henson to be making it (if there was to be one) as then at least it'd be the official bio and nothing to wreck memory of him. I just see this as unlikely to ever make it to screens too - even if they got their own financial backing together they'd need Disney and Sesame Workshop, and i can't see the Henson family co-operating unless they were co-producers or something. The screenplay was probably snapped up because of Disney buying the Muppets and the people thinking they'd make some money off the back of any new Muppet popularity. I'm a bit shocked that the majority of people are all gung-ho for this and not even a bit concerned, because it blatently has car crash potential written all over it. It's nice to have someone on here who truly knows first hand what they're talking about Craig.

 

[superboober]

Just about any script could be a complete disaster. Then again, it could also be the one for the ages. It's all in the execution.

Certainly this could take years to come to any sort of fruition. But as long as they do it right, better late than never. We'll have to just wait and see.

 

[Bean Bunny]

I am suprised that there is no Walt Disney biopic as well.

 

[Speed Tracer]

Jim Carrey would actually make a great Richard Hunt.

 

[Luke]

Jim Carrey would actually make a great Richard Hunt.

Indeed he would!

 

[Beauregard]

Re Disney and the Muppet puppets...Kermit was featured in Mr Magorium's Wonder Eporium...and that was no Disney feature!

 

[dwayne1115]

and look at all the spots the Muppets have done on NBC which is owned by Universal. I wonder though if Disney still has some connections with other studios from the Roger Rabbit days.

 

[MuppetMarc]

I've actually been wishing one would be made for awhile. I think it would be a very touching and inspirational movie, as well as people would finally understand why Jim is my hero

 

[IgorPonweed]

Jim Carrey would actually make a great Richard Hunt.

Wow! I never thought about that. (Insert epiphany smilie here)

 

[Craig Crane]

Re Disney and the Muppet puppets...Kermit was featured in Mr Magorium's Wonder Eporium...and that was no Disney feature!

No, but watch the credits all the way through and you will see a credit acknowledging the use of the Kermit Likeness as being a copyright / trademark that belongs to Disney. Disney brought the Muppets lock, stock and barrel... any application for a license to use the characters, be it in a small part or as the key focal point in a biopic is going to come at a price that realises a return on their initial investment. Plus, they would also want absolute approval and even possible final cut on any material featuring Muppets... Its very hard to work under those conditions.

So, how much of your projected budget do you want to spend on that license? Im not sure if you all realise the actual business that goes innnto show business... but its harsh and at the end of the day, the bean counters only count beans. Sentiment gets left at the door, you can pick it up on your way out.

C'mon people, you have to realise that in order for this to work, Disney would need to be playing ball in such an uncompromised way that the film would be able to feature a lot of material that belongs to them. The only way for that to happen would be for them to produce such a film themselves, regardless of their already being a show in development.

If Empire see this through, then you need to watch a generic TV movie on Hallmark and that will give you the gist of whats in store. Pick a film about an entertainer or a terminally sick kid and thats pretty much the product you will end up with. No A-List cast members, not for $60 million dollars (about 30 million pounds)..... you'll get someone you once saw in another tv movie, about some guy you may or may not have heard about, directed by some guy who may have been assistant director on a bad episode of ER if you are lucky... Thats if you are REALLY lucky.

That is the plain truth of it it. I know you are all feverish and giddy about this, but the reality is that the output will be even more dissapointing than recent Muppet output, by Hensons and Disney combined... The only Jim Henson Biopic that would work would be one with Family participation and of course the full use of muppet archive materials and assets (the Muppets).

Yes, its a nice idea, but I think Empire have little hope of producing anything that will satisfy the fanbase. You'll be hard pressed to find anything to like about it, because you are already expecting way too much... Its for the domestic TV market with a hope for international sales, again for the mid week TV movie market.

I hope that in these comments I have not been disrespectful to Empire. I just want to highlight some of the very limiting factors and conditions they face. The very fact that there has been no press release from Hensons with regards to this mean that Empire are clearly going it alone with this... and that is yet another reason why I predict this film will either A; not happen, or B; Happen but not in the way you fans would like to see.

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3133118976/nm0001345

You need to do something very very special in order to portray this man and his work.... and I dont think he deserves a lacklustre tv movie of the week, sandwiched between Deal or no Deal, Celebrity Squares and When stunts go wrong.