Optioned Properties

Jim Henson Pictures has purchased many scripts and book rights over the years which were never developed even so far enough to qualify as an "unfinished project." The list is in chronological order, based on when the properties were optioned.


 * Mr. Popper's Penguins (1995)
 * Based on the 1938 children's book by Richard and Florence Atwater


 * Seven Deadly Sins (1995)
 * A film about a man who is tempted by each of the Deadly Sins, by The StoryTeller writer Anthony Minghella


 * The Bear Went Over the Mountain (1996)
 * Based on the 1996 novel by William Kotzwinkle


 * Camping Out (1996)
 * A supernatural thriller


 * Dick King-Smith books (1996)
 * After the success of Babe in 1995, Henson Pictures optioned five more of author Dick King-Smith's books about animals: The Cuckoo Child, Daggie Dogfoot, George Speaks, Martin's Mice, and The Waterhorse.


 * Fish Tale (1996)
 * A story about five children who go on a fishing trip in the Mississippi to catch a fabled giant fish.


 * Miss Potter (1996)
 * An autobiographical film about the life of Beatrix Potter


 * Oh! The Places You'll Go! (1996)
 * A live-action version of the 1990 Dr. Seuss book


 * The Trouble with Angels (1996)
 * A remake of the 1966 Rosalind Russell/Hayley Mills film


 * Untitled Ricky Jay Project (1996)
 * JHP contracted with magician Ricky Jay, the star of a successful Broadway show, "Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants," and author of the best-selling book Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women.


 * The Dark is Rising (1997)
 * Based on the 1973 science-fiction novel by Susan Cooper, about an 11-year old boy who discovers that he's part of a group of immortals dedicated to fighting the forces of evil.


 * The King of Elves (1997)


 * Learning to Fly (1997)
 * A movie about a flock of ostriches who teach a chicken to fly.


 * Martian Holiday (1997)
 * A sci-fi romantic comedy about an alien who manipulates time to help a busy Earth couple fall in love


 * The Millers (1997)
 * A film about an All-American family who get bitten by a vampire.


 * Miss Picket (1997)
 * A movie about a nanny who's endowed with special powers.


 * Switchers (1997)
 * An Irish children's novel by Kate Thompson, in which a boy and a girl who can change into animals fall in love while trying to save the world from destruction.


 * Valiant (1997)
 * A movie by Beakman's World producers Jim Dublin and Paul Zaloom about a secret society of nuclear-powered cars.