A newly announced project from Disney Original Documentary aims to offer the definitive portrait of Muppets creator Jim Henson.
Produced with the full participation and cooperation of Henson’s family, the documentary will take an intimate look at Henson’s career in TV and film, and utilize previously unseen personal archives in the form of home movies, photographs, sketches, and Henson’s own personal diaries.
“The Jim Henson Company’s archive is a treasure reflecting our father’s work, personal life and inspirations, and has been carefully maintained for the last 30 years under the leadership of archivist Karen Falk,” Jim Henson’s family said in a statement. “It will be thrilling to see the story that emerges from these materials in the hands of a truly great filmmaker like Ron Howard, who has the perfect spirit and personality to tell Jim Henson’s story.”
Throughout a 36-year career in film and TV, Henson created beloved Muppets and Sesame Street characters like Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Big Bird, Grover, Cookie Monster, and Bert and Ernie. He also directed such fantasy films as TheĀ Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Howard (pictured, right) will direct the documentary, with Brian Grazer (left), Margaret Bodde, and Imagine Documentaries’ Sara Bernstein and Justin Wilkes producing. The film will be executive produced by Imagine Entertainment’s Michael Rosenberg and Disney Original Documentary’s Marjon Javadi. Mark Monroe and Paul Crowder, who previously worked with Howard on Pavarotti and TheĀ Beatles — Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years, will serve as writer-producer and editor-executive producer, respectively.
“Jim Henson transcends generations through his iconic characters, and it’s one of the many reasons why I have been a lifelong fan,” Howard said.
“I can’t wait to share a side of him and his career that people have never seen before. Henson’s limitless imagination and restless creativity is like few others, and has influenced so much of our world as we know it. I’m humbled to be able to share a deeper look into his life and story.”