The last time we reported on dark and demented puppet film The Happytime Murders by Brian Henson (son of legendary Jim Henson), Lionsgate picked up the film and was planning to get the ball rolling quickly. The setting is in a world where humans and puppets exist as one, although the puppets are treated as lower class. When puppets from a hit TV show are systematically killed, a former detective puppet with a drinking problem takes on the case with his human sidekick. The film, which will definitely be aiming for an R rating, needs some key humans to fill leading roles, especially the main role of the sidekick. While many would assume that means a male, the role could certainly go to a strong female with charisma and attitude. Now Vulture is reporting that Cameron Diaz has an offer on the table for an undefined but starring role. Hit the jump to hear more on Diaz’s possible casting and for a full synopsis.

Lionsgate is aiming for a January start date, and one can assume that means the search for the human characters is already heating up. Diaz’s camp is reportedly excited to read the script, so it seems like she is likely to come on board soon. Her role isn’t defined and it would be kind of ridiculous to even speculate because so little is known about the film, but I don’t see her landing the lead role. However, if she does come on board it would help attract other big names to the project, which this film might not need but would be nice to utilize just the same.

“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.”

The script is by Todd Berger (Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five), who based it on a story he co-wrote with Dee Austin Robertson.  Brian Henson might be best known for directing an episode of TNT’s Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King called Battleground (a personal favorite that involves toys coming to life), and is producing with his sister, Lisa. Vulture leaves us with this nice tidbit from one of their spies: “This is definitely not a PG-13 movie. They’re not fucking around with this: It’s 'Go big or go home.'”