Speculation has been rife that The Henson Company would be bringing the characters of Fraggle Rock back in some way. But the format wasn’t final – would it be a new TV show, some ‘toons, or would the company take the big leap and shove Gobo, Wembley and company up on to the big screen?
Now we have our answer, and the Fraggles are stepping through door number three. Yes, the loveable Muppets are hitting the fleapits for an adventure that will take them out of their usual environment and see them exploring our world.
Fans of the ‘80s show from which they spring will know that Gobo, Wembley, Goober, Red and Mokey live in the titular underground caves, situated beneath a lighthouse captained by former Porridge star Fulton Mackay and his Muppet dog Sprocket. Each week, when they weren’t eating the constructions made by fellow cave dwellers the Doozers or bothering living trash heaps the Gorgs, the Fraggles were lapping up tales of Outer Space (ie the world) provided by Gobo’s adventurous Uncle Matt.
But in the film, it’ll be the regulars who are out in the world, encountering humans and likely learning a few lessons along the way. Author and screenwriter Ahmet Zappa has the job of providing the script and seems thrilled about bringing one of his childhood favourites to life. "I'm very excited to be working with The Jim Henson Company on this project," he said in the obligatory enthusiastic press statement. "So much of my childhood was spent watching Fraggle Rock. I never missed an episode! I'm also really looking forward to using music to tell the story: it played such a central role in the original series and truly helped create the Fraggle Rock that we know and love today."
Development continues and there’s no start date, but it’s likely that the film will kick off shooting early next year. That’s provided the Fraggles get out of rehab, where they’re being treated for Doozer-building addiction.