Hoodwinked! director
Cory Edwards script for the forthcoming
Fraggle Rock film adaptation has been rejected by The Weinstein Company
for not being edgy enough. (Jeez... do they want an R-rated version?). The studio are now on the hunt for a new screenwriter. Edwards has written about his frustration over the studio feedback The Weinsteins gave him over
on his website claiming that
there are some dark days ahead, my friends. The live-action movie puppet musical would find the beloved Fraggle characters outside of their home in Fraggle Rock, where they interact with humans, which they think are aliens. It was originally set for a 2011 release, but that obviously isn't going to happen now. Edwards writes;
Not to be too alarmist, but I am struggling to stay in control of my own movie at this point. The Weinstein Company gives me no confidence these days. Why? For starters, they have begun the search for a new writer, presumably to rewrite my entire script from scratch. Now Im a big boy I can take the blow if my skills are not up to the high, high standards of the Weinstein Company (he said with too much sarcasm in his voice). But this is happening behind my back, without consulting me or even asking my opinion. I enjoy working with other writers and have no doubt that the RIGHT person could help make any script better. But to not even ask me? Adding insult to injury, the search is basically an open assignment. This means the net has been cast wide, virtually posting in the classifieds of the movie business. The Fraggles do not deserve such treatment. I still have a deal to direct. Which means my hands WILL be on this script. That makes this move by the studio all the more baffling. Hey guys, you know what would be easier? Asking the director to help you get the script in shape, instead of running in your own circles and then showing me something later that Ill probably hate.
Even though there are inevitable disappointments when a beloved classic is updated for a new generation, The Weinstein Companys request for an edgy
Fraggle Rock doesnt even seem to be on the same wavelength as the original series. What could the motivation behind this note be? According to his blog, Edwards seems to think that this note is the mark of
someone who doesnt know what they want. He claims that for something to be edgy, it must chase
the immediate whims of pop culture. This actually doesnt seem to be far from the mark. The whim of pop culture right now, at least in terms of Henson-inspired projects, seems to be filled with edgier choices; if not in terms of content, at least in the collaborators chosen.
The Power of The Dark Crystal is a sequel to the 1982 Henson/Frank Oz feature film, and it was announced in May that
Peter and Michael Spierig will direct the 3-D follow-up film. The Spierig Brothers are best known for violent horror, which certainly makes them an edgy choice. And lets not ignore the journey Jason Segel and Nick Stoller took in order to revive
The Muppets film franchise.
How I Met Your Mother star Segel surprised audiences with musical abilities in the puppet sequences of
Forgetting Sarah Marshall, as well as shocking them with two scenes of full frontal nudity. Screenwriter/star Segel and director Stoller collaborated with Henson Studios for the creation of
Forgetting Sarah Marshalls puppets, and it was this contribution to an R-rated comedy which opened the door for a new
Muppet film written by Segel and Stoller, with
Flight of the Conchords co-creator James Bobin directing.
The work of
Jim Henson is a sacred thing to many who grew up with the puppets of
Sesame Street and
The Muppet Show, not to mention
Fraggle Rock. Unfortunately, many of these fans must let go of expectations and ideals. The 80's are now fair game for remakes and adaptations, and nostalgia may give way to disenchantment for many. There has also been an outcry of disappointment over the CGI-infused film adaptation of
The Smurfs, set to be released in 2011. Edwards seems to be the least edgy element in any of the Henson-inspired films in development, though
Fraggle Rock also seems to be the project least in need of edge. An adaptation has been in the works as early as 2006, and Edwards made waves in March when he announced that musical guests and performances would be a large part of the film. Perhaps it is Edwards musical choices which are not edgy enough. Rather than Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers, perhaps Weinstein and company want to integrate Lil Wayne and Insane Clown Posse. Just a thought.