The Happytime Murders



The Happytime Murders is an upcoming film produced by the Jim Henson Company, under their Henson Alternative branch, to be released on August 24, 2018. The film is directed and produced by Brian Henson.

Set in downtown Los Angeles, the film centers on a pair of police officers, one human (Melissa McCarthy) and one puppet (Bill Barretta), as they solve the murders of former puppet stars.

Muppet Mentions

 * The film's marketing launched on May 18th and includes a trailer and poster featuring the tagline "No Sesame, All Street". A week later on May 25th, Sesame Workshop filed a lawsuit against STX Entertainment for "distributing a trailer that deliberately confuses consumers into mistakenly believing that Sesame is associated with, has allowed, or has even endorsed or produced the movie and tarnishes Sesame’s brand." They subsequently lost the lawsuit. Afterwards a TV spot for the film references the lawsuit, with the tagline "From the studio that was sued by Sesame Street."


 * In a promotional spot for the film, Phil Phillips remarks, "Looks like this mystery's brought to you by the letter P."

Cast

 * Melissa McCarthy as Det. Connie Edwards
 * Maya Rudolph as Bubbles
 * Elizabeth Banks as Jenny
 * Joel McHale as Agent Campbell
 * Leslie David Baker as Lt. Banning


 * Puppeteers: Bill Barretta, Grant Baciocco, Julianne Buescher, Kevin Clash, Dorien Davies, Drew Massey, Ted Michaels, Nicolette Santino, Colleen Smith, John Tartaglia, Allan Trautman, Victor Yerrid


 * Several puppets used in the film were previously used on The Animal Show, Kermit's Swamp Years, Sesame Street and other Henson Company productions prior to the sale to the Walt Disney Company.