Cory Edwards is hard at work writing the screenplay for The Weinstein Co’s upcoming Fraggle Rock movie, and has completed almost 50-pages of his first draft based on an extensive 17-page studio approved outline.
“[The outline] is the product of many meetings with the Henson and Weinstein folks, and has every little story beat we could think of,” writes Edwards on his blog. “The outline as been picked at, beat up, and shot at for any major problems. So now I have the freedom to lock myself in my laboratory and create, knowing that I am working from a road map that everyone has signed off on.”
And while Edwards is contractually obligated not to reveal any story points, he does mention an action scene, something not common in the original Henson-produced television show.
“I’m having a lot of fun. I just finished my first action scene (yes, there WILL be action scenes!), and am cracking some decent jokes. It’s hard to create jokes for Fraggles, since they have no pop culture references whatsoever. That’s probably a good thing… that means I have a better chance of creating a timeless movie (If I see one more cute iconic character ruined by “Shrekking It Up” for easy jokes, I’m going to go postal).”
The lack of pop-culture jokes gives me a little hope. I wasn’t a fan of Edwards’ 2005 animated film Hoodwinked! And it’s strange that Edwards takes a stab at the pop-culture obsessed comedy of Shrek since his last film was very much in the same vein. Edwards has also assured fans that the film will use “Real puppets on real sets with live actors.”
“It’s my goal to do everything the “old school Muppet way.” I do believe there are many Henson fans who would have my head on a platter if I attempted anything else. If it is possible to do something physically, on set and “in camera,” we will do it. But it’s also fair to say that I will use today’s effects to enhance or help any scene. I will just keep asking myself, WWJD? (”What Would Jim Do?”)”
The film will be music heavy and will feature a lot of original songs. Rumor has it that the storyline will involve the Fraggles going into “outter space” (aka above ground) to rescue Traveling Matt. Edwards confirms that the Fraggles (he promises “Gobo, Red, Wembley, Boober, Mokey and Uncle Matt will be in it”) will encounter the human world, and the idea is based off a story idea that “Henson always wanted to do.”
“I have come up with an original take based on that. There will be elements of a classic fantasy ‘quest’ movie with some traditional high-energy Muppet hijinks thrown in. My goal is to make this more than just a “cute” movie that occupies a kid’s attention span for 90 minutes. And the movie will not simply be a feature-length version of a Fraggle TV episode. It will deliver much more. I want to create something that will stay true to the spirit of the original show, but also go way beyond it. This is going to be a big fantasy adventure film that stands up to anything else at the multiplex today. Everyone involved in this project wants the same thing.”
May 28th, 2008 at 7:17 am
he can take the fraggles out of the rock, but he can’t take the rock outta the fraggles…oh yeah, i said it.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Just how far will Hollywood go to trade in on nostalgia? How many “Rocky and Bullwinkles” and “Speed Racers” will it make before it gets the message that fresh ideas are what’s needed, not faded concepts and faddish TV shows? I watched Fraggle Rock and the Muppet show when I was a kid, but there is little chance I’d go to a movie based on them. What’s past is past.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Mmmm. I continue to have a bad feeling about this.
May 28th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Wait, he’s happy that the script is going to be the product of a “several” meetings with studio executives? Hollywood people are strange.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I agree with Jason. Everytime another over-done or unoriginal idea comes out of Hollywood I loose a little more faith in Hollywood and YES, humanity in general. Besides, the Muppets were really great (but please don’t make anymore muppet movies) the Fraggles, tho–not so great.
May 28th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
O.o Since when are pop culture references the be all and end all of making jokes for muppet characters? Or any cartoon or live action show for that matter?
I almost wish one of the writers for Scrubs was a diehard muppet fan *lol*
Someone needs to actually watch the FR tv series again if they don’t know what sort of jokes to make *lol*
May 28th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
You peeps wanting fresh ideas on film sound like broken records. New ideas like what? What hasn’t been done? Keep in mind the film is supposed to make money. Money is the bottom line when is comes to a massive studio release. Speed Racer and Rocky Bullwinkle are just a couple failures among many successes in the rehashed ideas department.
We’re talking about Fraggles they live underground, steal radishes, talk to a wise trash heap. Are these tired ideas?
I want a movie with no nemesis, no love interest, no hero, no adversary of any kind, no friendship, no betrayal, no triumph, because these things have all been done before.
May 28th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I don’t think Fraggle ideas are overdone, at least not to the point where making a movie would wear out all the can be done with them.
Of course people that say the past (in terms of tv shows) is over and done with are not going to truly enjoy a FR movie no matter what. But I don’t think they are the target for such a movie in the first place, even if it just played like a very well done long episode and was 100% true to it’s roots…
And there is another muppet movie in the works besides by the way ;)
May 28th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Ha! I think many of you are missing the point of a FR movie. This isn’t for all the adults in the room to take a date to. This is for all the 30 somethings, that grew up on FR, to take thier kids to. It’s a kids movie….based on a show most of us loved, so that when you do take your children you can have a little laugh at how silly it was. You guys are a little to serious about a kids movie. Lighten up and let it be what it’s going to be.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Don’t be so quick to lump every fairytale parody ever made with “Shrek” (such as “Bugs Bunny” shorts and “Fractured Fairytales,” others that we tried to emulate with “Hoodwinked.” If you don’t know what I mean by “Shrekking it up,” read further…
http://coryscuriosities.blogspot.com/search?q=shrek
On the contrary, I worked very hard to make a distinct difference between “Shrek” and “Hoodwinked.” Sorry if it didn’t come through for some.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I am excited to see the movie. I am not as anal retentive as most people are with movies. I just like to be entertained. Its a movie, not a decision of congress. Lets worry about the real problems and leave the movies for what they are, entertainment! I have always loved the Fraggle’s and have faith that the Henson and Weinstein crew will entertain us with our favorite characters! Yay!
June 26th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
“Ha! I think many of you are missing the point of a FR movie. This isn’t for all the adults in the room to take a date to. This is for all the 30 somethings, that grew up on FR, to take thier kids to. It’s a kids movie….based on a show most of us loved, so that when you do take your children you can have a little laugh at how silly it was. You guys are a little to serious about a kids movie.”
The thing was it wasn’t all that silly, or rather, only silly, it actually had a lot of serious heartfelt moments and deeper meaning. We just don’t want to see that lost it order to make it ‘just a kids movie’ because while it may have started as just a silly show in the beganing, it really had many lasting messages toward the end. There is such thing as a thoughtful children’s film you know, that older people without kids could go to. If nothing else muppet movies have taught us that ;).
September 24th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Speaking as a 31 year old father of 2, i loved Fraggle Rock as a kid and cant wait to take the kids to go and see it. I for one am tired of all the over animated cartoons coming out of Hollywood and think its about time we had a change (in the minds of chldren) and went back to puppets with real actors.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I love the idea of a renewel of the Fraggle Rock concept. The problem I see with this, however, is the severe lack of Jim. Not that the Disney produced Muppet Movies were entirely without merit, but without Jim, that boombastic, grass roots, feel of the struggling actors trying to make it in an off-Broadway fixer upper of a theater was utterly replaced by bubble gum humor. If the high fantasy meets folksie wisdom atmosphere and story telling of the Fraggle franchise can be ressurected along with the puppets, and throw in a little late 60’s inspired guitar work for good measure, then I’m all for it.
You hear that producers? Don’t screw this up!