Coming attractions
Coming attractions
SepT 20, 2005
The Walt Disney Co. might now own the Muppets, but the Jim Henson Co. hardly finds its production cupboard bare. In fact, it has more projects in various stages of development -- and with more distribution and financing co-partners -- than at just about any other time in its history, headed by the much-anticipated Sept. 30 release of the art house fantasy feature "MirrorMask." Following is what the near future looks like in the Henson universe.
Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Adult
"Conversations With the Goddesses," "Gods & Goddesses in Love": This sounds like a genuine high-concept departure for the company: a one-hour drama series based on the self-help books of Agapi Stassinopoulos (sister of Arianna Huffington), who addresses contemporary issues by citing Greek mythology and archetypes.
"MirrorMask": The $4 million feature production finally is being released after having been written in 2002 and enduring about 18 months of postproduction. The visually rich film was co-written by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean and directed by McKean. Gaiman says he was paid so little to write the screenplay that his agent and lawyer couldn't figure out why he wanted to participate. His answer: "Because it's cool."
"Parasyte": This horror film, which centers on a man who has an alien parasite embedded in his hand, is being directed by Takashi Shimizu and produced by the Jim Henson Co. and Angry Films' Don Murphy.
"The Power of the Dark Crystal": Buzz already is building for this sequel earmarked for release in 2007, a mere 25 years after the original film played in theaters. Brian Froud, who worked on 1982's "Dark Crystal," is designing the look, and the screenplay is being written by David Odell and Annette Duffy.
A TV drama show based on the "MYTH" sci-fi book anthology: Robert Asprin wrote 14 "MYTH" books that depict a transdimensional battle against an evil magician (something to which many of us can relate). It's recognized internationally as one of the top sci-fi anthologies in print, according to Henson vp television Eric Poticha.
A mock rockumentary featuring the Muppets that sounds like a takeoff on 1984's "This Is Spinal Tap": Henson is partnering with Disney's Muppets Holding Co. on this project.
Children
"The Dark Crystal" (TV series): Geared for the Cartoon Network's "Toonami" anime block, it's being designed as a 2-D animated follow-up to "The Power of the Dark Crystal." Its "bible" is being designed by David Slack, who did the same for Cartoon Network's popular "Teen Titans" series.
"Fraggle Rock": Yes, the Fragglers might return in their very own original feature film, despite the fact that their TV series has been out of production since 1987. The project would find the puppets coming out into the human world in a story aimed at children and young adults. Henson has sold the Muppets to Disney, but the company still owns the Fraggle franchise.
"Frances": Henson has high hopes for a series of DVDs, followed by a preschool-skewing TV series, based on Russell Hoban's beloved series of books that tell the story of an irrepressible young badger. The first pair of DVDs is set for release in the spring through HIT Entertainment.
"Game Over": This Warner Bros. Pictures animated theatrical centers on characters who take over a video game and play through it on their own.
"Horse Power": This 2-D animated telefilm, being developed with the Cartoon Network, sets up a magical mythology around a group of heroic horses.
"My Dad Is a Robot Dog": This potential Disney Channel animated series, earmarked for 2006, centers on a family whose father accidentally has his brain implanted in a robot dog, forcing everyone else to deal with him as a metallic canine.
"Only Human": This effects-heavy live-action feature, developed with Sony and produced by Andrew Lazar, is described as "'Superman' in reverse." It finds a human family shooting a baby into space when they think the world is about to end, only to have the child land on a planet where everyone has superpowers but him. Bummer.
"The Ugly Duckling": This animated feature film, which Henson is developing independently with writers Matthew Jacobs and Jule Selbo, is described as a fun, modern interpretation of a timeless fable that centers on an awkward teen.
"The Witch's Children": This live-action feature, written by Aline Brosh McKenna and in development with Warner Bros. Pictures, centers on a witch who leaves the gothic world to raise her children in the suburbs of America.
Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Adult
"Conversations With the Goddesses," "Gods & Goddesses in Love": This sounds like a genuine high-concept departure for the company: a one-hour drama series based on the self-help books of Agapi Stassinopoulos (sister of Arianna Huffington), who addresses contemporary issues by citing Greek mythology and archetypes.
"MirrorMask": The $4 million feature production finally is being released after having been written in 2002 and enduring about 18 months of postproduction. The visually rich film was co-written by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean and directed by McKean. Gaiman says he was paid so little to write the screenplay that his agent and lawyer couldn't figure out why he wanted to participate. His answer: "Because it's cool."
"Parasyte": This horror film, which centers on a man who has an alien parasite embedded in his hand, is being directed by Takashi Shimizu and produced by the Jim Henson Co. and Angry Films' Don Murphy.
"The Power of the Dark Crystal": Buzz already is building for this sequel earmarked for release in 2007, a mere 25 years after the original film played in theaters. Brian Froud, who worked on 1982's "Dark Crystal," is designing the look, and the screenplay is being written by David Odell and Annette Duffy.
A TV drama show based on the "MYTH" sci-fi book anthology: Robert Asprin wrote 14 "MYTH" books that depict a transdimensional battle against an evil magician (something to which many of us can relate). It's recognized internationally as one of the top sci-fi anthologies in print, according to Henson vp television Eric Poticha.
A mock rockumentary featuring the Muppets that sounds like a takeoff on 1984's "This Is Spinal Tap": Henson is partnering with Disney's Muppets Holding Co. on this project.
Children
"The Dark Crystal" (TV series): Geared for the Cartoon Network's "Toonami" anime block, it's being designed as a 2-D animated follow-up to "The Power of the Dark Crystal." Its "bible" is being designed by David Slack, who did the same for Cartoon Network's popular "Teen Titans" series.
"Fraggle Rock": Yes, the Fragglers might return in their very own original feature film, despite the fact that their TV series has been out of production since 1987. The project would find the puppets coming out into the human world in a story aimed at children and young adults. Henson has sold the Muppets to Disney, but the company still owns the Fraggle franchise.
"Frances": Henson has high hopes for a series of DVDs, followed by a preschool-skewing TV series, based on Russell Hoban's beloved series of books that tell the story of an irrepressible young badger. The first pair of DVDs is set for release in the spring through HIT Entertainment.
"Game Over": This Warner Bros. Pictures animated theatrical centers on characters who take over a video game and play through it on their own.
"Horse Power": This 2-D animated telefilm, being developed with the Cartoon Network, sets up a magical mythology around a group of heroic horses.
"My Dad Is a Robot Dog": This potential Disney Channel animated series, earmarked for 2006, centers on a family whose father accidentally has his brain implanted in a robot dog, forcing everyone else to deal with him as a metallic canine.
"Only Human": This effects-heavy live-action feature, developed with Sony and produced by Andrew Lazar, is described as "'Superman' in reverse." It finds a human family shooting a baby into space when they think the world is about to end, only to have the child land on a planet where everyone has superpowers but him. Bummer.
"The Ugly Duckling": This animated feature film, which Henson is developing independently with writers Matthew Jacobs and Jule Selbo, is described as a fun, modern interpretation of a timeless fable that centers on an awkward teen.
"The Witch's Children": This live-action feature, written by Aline Brosh McKenna and in development with Warner Bros. Pictures, centers on a witch who leaves the gothic world to raise her children in the suburbs of America.
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