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Jim Henson Biopic Gets Greenlit! Or Does It?

by Alex Billington
February 5, 2008

The production and distribution rights to a screenplay titled Henson have been acquired by Empire Film Group. Henson is a biopic that chronicles the life and achievements of Muppets creator Jim Henson. The script was written by Robert D. Slane and will go into production in late summer with a $30 million budget. I wouldn't initially be that interested in a biopic about Henson, but after a closer look, this is definitely a film I'll keep my eye on.

Jim Henson, who passed away at age 53 in 1990 from pneumonia, is an incredibly recognizable name in entertainment. Henson was the famous puppeteer who created "Sesame Street" and "The Muppet Show" and later went on to make movies like The Muppet Movie, The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth. The script for Henson covers the life of puppeteer, filmmaker and entertainment mogul Jim Henson, from his early fascination with television as a teenager, through his spectacular career and life achievements.

A director for the film nor any actors have yet to be been chosen, but they anticipate hiring a major director and a notable cast. It's intriguing to see Henson's life turned into a feature film rather than a documentary, but considering the possibilities and an apparently great script, that might be a good thing. Empire's execs comment on the film below.

"This is a major project about an entertainer of legendary stature and worldwide acclaim," said Dean Hamilton-Bornstein, CEO of Empire Film Group. "The script is superb and should provide a terrific roadmap for a completed film that will satisfy both mainstream audiences and critics. We're very excited about this acquisition and the commercial caliber of this project."

"Jim Henson is one of the best known and most beloved entertainers of all time," said Empire Home Entertainment President Eric Parkinson. "His story is inspiring, tragic, heartwarming and epic, and will make for an important and entertaining motion picture. This is the sort of movie that Empire will be pursuing as we build the company into a leading independent studio."

Any thoughts for who might play Jim Henson? And would it be too much to create or at least bring back some of Henson's original puppets to use in the film? We'll keep you updated on the progress of Henson, including who is cast or who gets the directing job. One thing's for sure - Frank Oz needs to be involved in some way!

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