Every now and then you come across an upcoming project that really makes you hope and pray it hits theaters.  Such is the case with Happytime Murders, a dementedly dark tale by Todd Berger with Brian Henson (son of Jim Henson) at the helm.  The Jim Henson Co. picked up a spec script by Berger in October 2008, and the project finally seems to have a suitor.  Lionsgate has picked up the comedy-thriller that features puppets as second-class citizens, with a possible January start date in mind. Hit the jump for full plot details and why this film is on the prowl for a lead.

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The film is described as dark and adult, while featuring puppets, so just thinking of how the film might look gives me the creeps.  Yet, I still want to see it.  Here is how Heat Vision describes the story.

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.”

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The filmmakers will look for a star for the lead, and I can see quite a few people that would have an extreme interest in helping to bring this film to the silver screen.  Berger (Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five) created the script based on a story he co-wrote with Dee Austin Robertson.  Brian Henson, who directed an episode of TNT’s Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King called Battleground (a personal favorite), is producing with his sister, Lisa.  What do you think?  Interested?