Jim Henson biopic needs to be made!!

[jdogg willie]

From the Muppets, The Dark Crystal, Fraggles, and the Turtles... Jim Henson had a brilliant mind when he came up with new and entertaining ideas (except the Turtles which are Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird), but the costumes and animotronic heads that the Jim Henson Company came up with are brilliant.

Anyway... Sesame Street, Jim Henson's baby, is 50-plus now. So who's with me? A Jim Henson biopic that ends with his son and daughter taking over the Jim Henson Company.

Who could play Mr. Henson, if Hollywood ever decided to do this?

 

[Carmine Falcone]

I think there's one in the works.

 

[bullets]

there should be , he is an icon.

 

[TNC9852002]

Preferably someone that could quite possibly imitate a lot of his signature character voices...

He stood at 6'3".

-TNC

 

[Carmine Falcone]

This from February 4th of this year:

Jim Henson Biopic in the Works
Source: Empire Film Group

Empire Film Group, Inc. has acquired the motion picture production and distribution rights to Henson, an original screenplay by Robert D. Slane that chronicles the life and achievements of Muppets creator, Jim Henson. Empire has pegged the film for production in late summer with a $30 million budget to be funded through a consortium of international presales and co-production partners.

"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."

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. Empire anticipates hiring a major director, such as Penny Marshall, and hopes to attract notable star cast in key roles. Bornstein will act as Executive Producer, with Empire Home Entertainment President Eric Parkinson producing the film along with Xavier Mitchell.

"Jim Henson is one of the best known and most beloved entertainers of all time," said 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."

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=41639

 

[Sawyer]

Honestly, is Hensons life really interesting enough for a biopic? To be clear, I dont mean to offend his fans, or sound like I am insulting Henson and his work, but is his personal life story (aside from his work) really intriguing enough to make a film about?

 

[Carmine Falcone]

Well, I certainly don't expect them to make a dry state-the-facts type of film. Since Henson was/is a master of imagination I fully expect an imaginative narrative or sequences. With a starring role for his work ofcourse.

 

[stlblues84]

I think the movie would need to be something along the lines of Finding Neverland, where the people around him and events of his life would inspire the muppet characters.

 

[Nirvana]

Chevy Chase for Jim Henson?

 

[Pink Ranger]

I would love to see a slightly surreal take on this, where we see Jim Henson's imagination come to life as if it's real (ie Big Fish, Heavenly Creatures, Pan's Labyrinth, etc).

Not surprisingly, then, the directors I would choose for this film are Tim Burton, Peter Jackson or Guillermo.

John Lithgow would make a good older Jim Henson, Ryan Gosling would be a good younger one.

 

[Leto Atrides]

I'm pretty sure people have tried and the family didn't want a biography to be made of him. The public already has a perception of him and it's apparently the one he wanted.

Preferably someone that could quite possibly imitate a lot of his signature character voices...

I think it would be good if they just had the people who actually do the voices now dub it over. Steve Whitmire (who's always done Rizzo, Bean, etc.) replaced Kermit and Ernie when he died and does a great job of it.

I think the movie would need to be something along the lines of Finding Neverland, where the people around him and events of his life would inspire the muppet characters.

I don't know, unlike JM Barrie, Jim Henson is fairly well known and only died 18 years ago, it would be kind of weird to fictionalize his life.

 

[JLBats]

I would love to see a slightly surreal take on this, where we see Jim Henson's imagination come to life as if it's real (ie Big Fish, Heavenly Creatures, Pan's Labyrinth, etc).

Not surprisingly, then, the directors I would choose for this film are Tim Burton, Peter Jackson or Guillermo.

John Lithgow would make a good older Jim Henson, Ryan Gosling would be a good younger one.

YES.

Word to all of this^

And then a flowing camera shot past a dressing room where all of Henson's creations are coming to life all around him.

*sniffle*

 

[Carmine Falcone]

*sniffle*

Indeed. Usually I can't stand this American sentimentality. But for this one; I'm all for it. Jim Henson was indeed a man whose creations have made this world a more colourful place. So make it rightfully sappy and optimistic.

"When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope still is to leave the world a little bit better for my having been here. It's a wonderful life and I love it."

"If our 'message' is anything, it's a positive approach to life. That life is basically good. People are basically good."

"I believe in taking a positive attitude toward the world, toward people, toward my work. I think I'm here for a purpose. I think it's very likely that we all are, but I'm only sure about myself. I try to tune myself in to whatever it is that I'm supposed to be, and I try to think of myself as a part of all of us - all mankind and all life. I find it's not easy to keep these lofty thoughts in mind as the day goes by, but it certainly helps me a great deal to start out this way."

All Henson quotes. Man, I'm ready to tear up.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Of course, there is but one man who is suitable to play Jim's legendary collaborator, Frank Oz:

 

[jdogg willie]

John Lithgow would make a good older Jim Henson.

PERFECT choice... John can do both comedy and drama, but they need someone who can do all those voices that Henson has done. I'm sure John could pull that off

 

[Leto Atrides]

Again, there are already people who professionally do the voices of his characters, many of whom he picked while he was still alive, so.

I do love the idea of David Cross as Frank Oz though.

 

[ComixGirl]

His ideas were nice, but was his life particularly thrilling?

 

[Leto Atrides]

He was more high minded and positive than the average person, and obviously more creative, but otherwise no. He lived a pretty mundane life for being as famous as he was. It's part of why I look up to him, he wasn't some crazy genius or saint or anything, he was a normal guy who wanted to create things and do some good.

I can't see a movie about being very interesting unless
a. It's more about the making of the shows and movies or
b. you make stuff up

 

[ComixGirl]

I guess it could be an interesting documentary for Henson-fans. *shrug*