As puppet noir spoof The Happytime Murders crawls towards becoming a reality, it’s heartening to see more and more evidence that it might actually start shooting. Last month, word broke that Katherine Heigl is linked to one of the lead roles (the human leads, at least), but something even more exciting has popped up over at Collider: concept art, which you can find lurking below.
The image features a grisly crime scene – though it’s likely only truly grisly if you’re one of the Muppets. Yes, a rabbit has been moiderlised at what appears to be a puppet porn shop and the place is covered in stuffing. In the midst of it all is the movie’s protagonist, disgraced former cop Phil Phillips.
Backers IM Global also sent along a proper synopsis, which reveals that Phil is trailing the serial killer who slaughtered his brother and who is now after the cast members of '80s TV series The Happytime Gang. The next target is Jenny, Phil’s former flame, and the private eye enlists the help his old partner, Detective Edwards to try to track down the culprit before he strikes again. Trouble is, Phil quickly becomes the prime suspect...
Brian Henson is behind the more adult take on felt adventures and is planning to direct the film based on Todd Berger’s script. IM Global is rustling up foreign investment to get the thing made at last. Given how much this one picture makes us want to see Happytime, we’re keeping all our fingers crossed.