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The Weinstein Company Officially Making a Fraggle Rock Movie

by Alex Billington
May 13, 2008
Source: Variety

Although it was first rumored way back in late 2006, the Fraggle Rock movie hasn't actually gone anywhere until now. Announced today, The Weinstein Company is officially turning the Jim Henson series into a live-action musical feature film. Hoodwinked! director Cory Edwards has been hired to direct and write the script, with The Jim Henson Company itself producing. I don't know why Hollywood feels like this is the right time to restart the Jim Henson puppet craze, but we've already got a Muppets movie in the works and now this. Just like the series, the film with feature both human characters and Fraggle Rock puppets, including Gogo, Wembley, Mokey, Boober and Red. No real details on the exact story have been released, but do we really need anything besides a quick description for Fraggle Rock?

The Fraggle Rock TV series first premiered on HBO in 1983 and went on for 5 seasons and 96 episodes. Although I've never actually seen the show myself (I know, I know), the Fraggle Rock world was actually an allegorical world created by Jim Henson to "entertain and amuse while seriously exploring complex issues of prejudice, spirituality, personal identity, environment, and social conflict." Wow. You can read more on the whole series over at Wikipedia as always. This feature film seems to be a direct adaptation of the original series, without too many changes to the concept. And it seems The Weinstein Company just wants to "feature a broad range of family-friendly franchises," which is why they took particular interest in this.

Can someone please explain why 2009 is the year when Jim Henson's creations are all returning to the big screen? I understand that the puppets in Forgetting Sarah Marshall were well received even though they haven't been featured in any medium since 1999, but does that mean they'll still be successful in their return? So please tell me - if you were a fan of Fraggle Rock back in the 80's, are you actually going to take an interest in this movie? Can weird puppets still captivate audiences even twenty years later? I'm not actually opposed to this Fraggle Rock movie at all, I'm just intrigued by the idea of bringing back a dead franchise when I don't feel like it will really resonate in today's day and age. I might be wrong and I'll be the first to say that I'm anxious to see how this comes together anyway.

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http://www.thestopbutton.com Andrew Wickliffe

The Muppets had those TV movies... and, I believe, some direct-to-dvd video releases. Their lack of presence might have had a lot to do with Disney buying them, then the Pixar boys taking over Disney.
The Delightful Deviant

it's the same concept as going to watch a Speed Racer movie, nostalgia. i would definitely take my kids to go see a Fraggle Rock movie to show them what i grew up watching and taking a break from the Spongebob and Dora the Explora nightmare. Scooby-Doo made a major comeback a few years back with one movie, now i can't turn on the t.v without one of his cartoons playing. maybe it's the 80's kid in me but i'm actually excited.
http://www.myspace.com/djblindsay Brian

One word, WHY?
http://www.myspace.com/youngheartsattack Pete

I very much agree with the second comment. It's a generational timing thing. I grew up watching fraggle rock and I'd definitely see it for nostalgic reasons. If there ever was a right time to bring it back, it is precisely right now, 20-25 years later when the 80's kids are now having children of there own who they'll want to share this with.
Rob

One more word, "Because." The crap they try to pass of as children's entertainment currently is pretty bad, from Spongebob to The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. I'm not saying that EVERYTHING for kids has to be some deep lesson learning experience (it is entertainment after all) but the reaction of my children alone when watching the cartoons (looney tunes) and other shows I grew up with lets me know this could be well received if done right.
Drew

Minor correction, it's Gobo, not gogo
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

Im ALL FOR a Muppets movie but Fraggle Rock?????
Djo

The Fraggles were one of the coolest, most imaginative creations of Henson, EVER. The idea of the Doozers, a race of little green beings that build elaborate architectural projects, only to eat them when they're done- Genius! The Weinstein company, however, is one of the least imaginative creations produced by the human race- EVER. If they're going to destroy another intellectual property, they should shaft someone else's childhood memories and just accept that they can't possibly do something better than the master himself, Mr. Jim Henson.
Joan Tweedie

The Fraggles are WONDERFUL!!! Our children were born in 1981 and 1983. They grew up thinking of the Fraggles and the Doozers as their friends. Our twins had a Wimbley and Gobo Birthday Party. We spent many hours watching Fraggle Rock as a family. The social comentary presented by the Fraggle Rock series is priceless. It is my hope that the movie doesn't take what Jim Henson did and make it something else. All of us could learn something from this brilliant work. I will plan to be in the first showing of this movie.
Jont

i just like saying the word fraggles lol awwwwwwww the fragglesssssss are back