'Fraggle Rock' Film Rights Now With New Regency

Jim Henson's hit '80s puppet TV series Fraggle Rock has been on the verge of moving to the big screen for several years. The Weinstein Company had the rights, a director, and a distinct vision of what they wanted, but years passed with very little movement save for a few scattered rumors. Deadline is now reporting the rights to the series reverted, were shopped around Hollywood, and went to the highest bidder: New Regency. They're the same company currently swimming in cash thanks to another Eighties family TV show turned film franchise: Alvin and the Chipmunks. Maybe "another day" is finally here. Read more after the break.

According to Deadline, there's no word if Fraggle Rock will be developed as a live action puppet movie, such as Disney's upcoming The Muppets, or with CG characters, such as the Chipmunks films. Once that decision is made (one would guess it might be based on the success of The Muppets), a writer will be hired to fire out a screenplay.

All that seems suggests Cory Edwards' film and anything The Weinstein Company had in mind has now been thrown out the window. Many fans were fully behind Edwards' vision of the film so this news might be a little disappointing, but with new blood comes new life. Audiences might finally see a Fraggle Rock movie on the big screen in the coming years.

For those of you born after 1990, here's a little description of Fraggle Rock from the Jim Henson website. It's a show near and dear to the hearts of thirty-somethings everywhere:

Premiering in January 1983, this wonderfully inventive program was designed to entertain while encouraging an understanding and embracing of diversity. From a fun-loving group of furry subterranean creatures came 96 total episodes, 100 original songs and millions of fans from around the world. Through the fun adventures of the Fraggle gang – Red, Gobo, Wembley, Boober, Mokey and Uncle Traveling Matt – the show captured the hearts of children and adults alike while featuring a unique mix of music that included a number of genres, from folk, blues and gospel to country and rock. The show was seen in 98 countries and secured several prestigious awards, including three Cable ACE Awards and five International Emmys.

Premiering as one of HBO's first original series, "Fraggle Rock" was created as a way to show the world how to live in peace. Within the show are three different communities: the home of Doc, an inventor, and his dog, Sprocket; the world of the upbeat Fraggles, who share the caves of Fraggle Rock beneath Doc's house with their small neighbors, the Doozers; and the Gorgs, gigantic creatures who inhabit Gorg's Garden. Through these different communities "Fraggle Rock" shows how we can all work together towards common goals.

And just for good measure, you have to go listen to the Fraggle Rock theme song. It's the best. (I'd embed it but there aren't any real versions with embed enabled on YouTube. Burn.)

What do you think about this Fraggle Rock news?