Movies
‘Happy’ Puppets and ‘Murder’ for Lionsgate and Henson
I LOVE when a studio does something daring and rolls the nice. Lionsate will be getting behind Happytime Murders, a comedy thriller written by Todd Berger and to be directed by Brian Henson (son of Jim Henson). Happytime takes place in a world where humans and puppets coexist, with the puppets viewed as second-class citizens. When the puppet cast of 1980s children’s TV show “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 the case with his former human partner. Think Avenue Q meets L.A. Confidential. Hopefully more “Greg the Bunny”. Berger wrote the script from a story he wrote with Dee Austin Robertson. The project has been in development at the Jim Henson Co. since 2008, when it picked up the script as a spec. Lionsgate’s acquisition gives the risky project — a dark adult story featuring puppets — a shot at getting made, with insiders talking about a possible January start, depending on when a star can be found for the lead.
Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day, Freaky) is staying busy here in 2024, directing not only the werewolf movie Big Bad but also an upcoming thriller titled Drop.
The project for Blumhouse and Platinum Dunes is being described as a “fast-paced thriller,” and Deadline reports today that Violett Beane (Truth or Dare) has joined the cast.
Newcomer Jacob Robinson has also signed on to star in the mysterious thriller. Previously announced, Meghann Fahy (“White Lotus”) will be leading the cast.
Landon recently teased on Twitter, “This is my love letter to DePalma.”
Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach wrote the script.
Michael Bay, Jason Blum, Brad Fuller and Cameron Fuller — “who brought the script in to Platinum Dunes” — are producing the upcoming Drop. Sam Lerner is an executive producer.
THR notes, “The film is a Platinum Dunes and Blumhouse production for Universal.”
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