We’ve kept our eye on The Happytime Murders because of how refreshingly twisted it sounds. The script by Todd Berger is set in a world where puppets co-exist with humans, but naturally, are second class citizens. One of these puppets is a private eye on the trail of a serial killer who is killing off the cast of the 80s television classic “The Happytime Gang.” That description sends my imagination to the moon and back, but as of tonight, we have a better foundation for such daydreams based on a pair of concept art images we’ve received. One is a headshot of Phil Phillips, our grizzled protagonist, cigarette in hand. The other shows Phil interacting with the realistic human environment in the middle of a playfully gruesome crime scene. (There’s stuffing everywhere!)
Okay, so maybe Katherine Heigl will star. But if there’s any movie where the intensity of her unlikeability could contribute to the tone of a movie, it’s The Happytime Murders. Brian Henson, son of Jim Henson, is directing. See the images after the jump.
Here’s the available synopsis:
In a world where puppets co-exist with humans as second class citizens, puppet private eye and disgraced ex-cop, Phil Phillips, is hot on the trail of the serial killer who murdered his brother and is now targeting the cast members of the famous 80s television show, “The Happytime Gang.” As the killings continue, Phil’s former flame, Jenny, is next on the list. It’s up to Phil and his ex-partner, Detective Edwards, to find the culprit, but as bad blood and old resentments resurface the clues start pointing to the only viable suspect, Phil himself. Now he’s on the run with only his wits and hard headed determination, as he tries to solve, “The Happytime Murders.”
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Puppets smoking? Puppets being murdered? And in what appears to be some sort of adult puppetorium? Just how dark and adult is this thing going to get?
Try to find Meet the Feebles. It’s about as hardcore as a puppet movie can get. You’ll never look at Peter “Lord of the Rings” Jackson the same way again.
I’m going to have to watch this movie, i am very much a fan of movies where humans and puppets or cartoons coexist.
So strange to have the one real person in the “Scene” all the other humans are drawn and then the random real person.
Love this, absolutely love it. Love Noir, and the premise is mouthwatering-ly original, i cant wait to see if it lives up
Sounds almost exactly like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? except you can replace cartoon characters with puppets.
Agree, sounds exactly like the original Who Censored Roger Rabbit novel but with puppets instead of comic strip characters…which is great btw. Have to trust the Henson name on this one
This may be the nerd in me talking, but this reminds me very much of the Angel episode Smile Time
i thought so too. and i agree with the roger rabbit similarity.
This looks hilarious!!
In other news, that muppet has a strong resemblance to Badger Shenanigans himself…
Disney has nothing to do with this so therefore the character is just a puppet, not a Muppet.
Also, your Katherine Heigl line: Witty. Funny. OH SO true.
This look freaking awesome. The concept art is going to be my new wallpaper. This needs to get made NOW!
I wanted to try to make this idea…damn it….
Wow…I cannot wait to see this!
“From the director who brought you ‘Muppet Christmas Carol’ and ‘Muppet Treasure Island’…”, you can just picture the marketing on this thing, it’ll have kids running out of the cinema screaming and traumatised, unless it’s an R-rated movie, in which case, this could just be the greatest movie in the history of civilisation, well, at least one heck of an idea, roll on the trailer…
I’m extremely excited about this project. Jim Henson would be so proud that Brian’s doing this. I hope to be in the theater on the day this film opens.