Jim Henson Company To Produce R-Rated Puppet Action Comedy Co-Starring Jamie Foxx, ‘The Happytime Murders’
The Jim Henson Company name is traditionally synonymous with such beloved children’s properties as “The Muppets,” “Fraggle Rock,” and the characters on “Sesame Street.” But now, they’re set to produce “The Happytime Murders,” an R-rated action comedy with puppets that might feature Jamie Foxx, currently in early negotiations to co-star in the film. According to Deadline, “The Happytime Murders” follows the puppet stars of an iconic TV show who are family friendly on screen and are anything but off screen. When many of these stars end up killed, it’s up to two mismatched detectives – an uptight, no-nonsense professional human and a hard-drinking puppet with a connection to the victims – to solve the case.
Though Foxx is best known for his dramatic roles in films such as “Ray,” “Collateral,” and “Django Unchained,” he initially started his career in comedy. He first starred as a main cast member on the Wayans Brothers’ sketch series “In Living Color” and then briefly had his own sitcom “The Jamie Foxx Show.” It was when Foxx was cast in Oliver Stone’s 1999 film “Any Given Sunday” that his dramatic career began to take shape. “The Happytime Murders” would be Foxx’s major return to comedy.
Written by Todd Berger, Dee Robertson, and Erich and Jon Hoeber, “The Happytime Murders” will be directed by Jim Henson’s son Brian Henson. There is no release date set.
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