A biopic highlighting the life of Jim Henson titled, Muppet Man, is in the works at Disney and The Jim Henson Company. While studying at the University of Maryland, Henson created Sam and Friends, a five-minute puppet comedy television show featuring the initial version of the beloved character, Kermit the Frog. More than two decades after Sam and Friends began, Henson’s The Muppet Show premiered in 1976, which won four Primetime Emmys throughout its five-year run. Although The Muppet Show only lasted five years, the Muppets have remained prominent characters in pop culture, even after Henson’s death, due to various spinoff shows and movies, including Muppets Now, which premiered on Disney+ last year.
Disney is now partnering with The Jim Henson Company to create Muppet Man, which will be a biopic mainly focusing on the challenges Henson faced as he strove to bring the Muppets to mainstream television, according to Deadline. Henson’s daughter, Lisa Henson, will be a producer for Muppet Man; she is also producing Netflix’s upcoming Pinocchio film. Michael Mitnick is signed on to write Muppet Man’s screenplay, which will be based on Aaron and Jordan Kandell’s earlier script that never made it to the big screen. Mitnick’s most recognizable writing credit is for 2014’s The Giver, which starred Brenton Thwaites, Meryl Streep, and Jeff Bridges.
There’s no word yet regarding who will play Henson in Muppet Man, but it’s likely safe to assume that Muppets, such as Kermit, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and Miss Piggy will all be able to clear their schedules to play younger versions of themselves. However, their looks have evolved over the years, so they might require some CGI help like Will Smith in Gemini Man.
Source: Deadline