As long-gestating projects such as Gemini Man edge closer to actually being made, we're glad to see another potential film with some history has some movement to report. Brian Henson's puppet noir The Happytime Murders has landed Melissa McCarthy to star.
While it has suffered a much shorter development process, Happytime was first cooked up by Henson back in 2008 as a strictly-for-adults take on puppet life. It’s set in a world where humans and their felt friends live side by side, but the puppets are treated as second-class citizens. Murder strikes as the seedy former stars of once-popular kids’ show The Happytime Gang turn up dead one by one, and the only 'man' who can investigate is a washed-up private eye puppet, who ropes in his former partner at the LAPD. McCarthy, though her role isn't specified in Variety's new story on the matter, is presumably the human in this particular situation, taking on a part once eyed by Jamie Foxx. "When a really good script combines puppet strippers, Los Angeles’ underbelly, and comedy, it’s like my fever dream has finally come true," she says in a statement.
Todd Berger and Dee Robertson wrote the original story treatment, with Berger, Jon and Erich Hoeber working on drafts of the script. McCarthy has been working on polishing it ahead of the cameras rolling in August.
The actress has Life Of The Party, which she wrote with husband Ben Falcone, set for release next year and will also be seen in Marielle Heller's Can You Ever Forgive Me?