Empire Film Group (no relation) has announced that they plan to make a movie based on the life of Jim Henson, the puppets genius behind The Muppets and Sesame Street, as well as countless wonderful film creations.
If we're honest, we know absolutely nothing about the life of Jim Henson. We know he did good work, but we don't know if there was any struggle or heartbreak or debilitating bout of polio or scurvy to be conquered in order to bring the world deceptively knowing comedians made of felt. Maybe that's the best way to go into a biopic: knowing nothing, but liking the person about whose life you're going to learn.
The company's press release says they have a screenplay by Robert D. Slane and that they're hoping to secure a high profile director "like Penny Marshall". Now, we like Penny Marshall well enough – Big earns her a permanent spot in our heart next to Karate Kid's John G. Avildsen – but do you set out for a director "like Penny Marshall" or do you just go get Penny Marshall? She's not exactly busy of late.
We'd sooner see this was directed by someone with an unusual edge, who could make the inside of Henson's brain come alive. Imagine a biopic of a puppet master directed by Michel Gondry. That would be something to see. It probably wouldn't entirely make sense, but there'd be bits with Muppets crossing between reality and fiction and lots of use of string and corrugated cardboard that would be quite enchanting and folksy. Rated PG for frequent whimsy.