We’ve had two new Muppet movies during the time The Henson Company has been trying to develop a Fraggle Rock movie. Variety reports that the film is back in development at New Regency and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception, Looper, Dark Knight Rises, 500 Days of Summer) has signed-on for a lead role.
It’s unknown if he’ll be playing a Fraggle or a human who discovers them but he did give the trade a quote on his love for the the Henson Company and muppets.
“The first screen personas I ever loved were Henson creations, first on ‘Sesame Street,’ and then on ‘Fraggle Rock,’” Gordon-Levitt said. “Jim Henson’s characters make you laugh and sing, but they’re also layered, surprising, and wise. From Oscar the Grouch, to Yoda, to the Fraggles. I’ve never stopped loving his work, even as a young frisky man, and on into adulthood. Collaborating with Lisa Henson makes me confident we can do something that Jim would have loved. I’m grateful and excited to be working with New Regency on this project.”
Fraggle Rock was a Canadian muppet series that originally aired on HBO in the United States and the CBC in Canada. The short-lived series focused on the adventures of cave-dwelling creatures called Fraggles who have to deal with the industrious Doozers and furry giants called Gorgs.
They’re also musically inclined which might explain Joseph’s casting since he’s also quite the song and dance man. I’m sort of hoping they end-up hiring other singing actors for the rest of the roles or professional musicians.
While I was growing-up live-action puppet shows were all the rage with series like The Muppets and Sesame Street becoming bigger than cartoons. There was even a huge holiday special where all the muppets including the Fraggles mingled.
Their show also had one of the most catchy theme songs of TV shows of the 80s.
SOURCE: VARIETY