The MuppetscreatorJim Hensonis the latest beloved figure set to receive the biopic treatment. Arecently announced filmtitledMuppet Man, written byMichael Mitnickand produced by Henson’s daughterLisa Hensonfor The Jim Henson Company, will explore Henson’s struggles to find a television home for his Muppet creations. Disney has owned the rights to the Muppets since 2004, so there’s some question as to what form a Henson biopic might take with the studio’s involvement (the negotiations between Henson and Disney to secure rights for the Muppets in the last year of his life were notoriously difficult, and Disney scrubbed many of the nastier elements of its history withMary Poppinscreator P.L. Travers from the 2013 biopicSaving Mr. Banks). However, therealquestion is who will play the groundbreaking filmmaker?
Henson is one of the most beloved icons of the past five decades, and his creations have seen a new life withThe Muppet Showrecently being made available on Disney+. Henson’s desire to bring respect to the field of puppeteering and his notorious workaholism certainly have the makings for a compelling biopic. Finding a lead that can embody Henson’s joyful spirit and emulate some of his most iconic characters will be essential. It’s not an easy role by any stretch of the imagination, but here are some people who would excel in the part, including some unlikely candidates.
Justin Theroux
Perhaps a slightly outside-the-box choice, butJustin Therouxticks a lot of the right boxes. His impressive history of voicework would certainly come in handy embodying Henson characters like Kermit the Frog. Theroux’s dramatic chops shouldn’t be in question thanks to his work onThe Leftovers, and he’s adept at playing playing oddball roles judging by his underrated work inManiacandMute. Perhaps Disney will look for a more well-known star, but Theroux could see an uptick in popularity with the upcoming Apple TV+ seriesThe Mosquito Coast.
Jason Segel
Here’s one potential star that has the benefit of having already worked in the Muppet world. Segel wrote and starred in 2011’sThe Muppets, and he’s continuously cited his love and appreciation for Henson’s work and creations. Segel would be able to capture a clumsy romantic spirit within Henson, and he’s shown that he can nail dramatic roles with his work inThe End of the Tourand more recently inOur Friend. He doesn’t physically resemble Henson in any way, but a great makeup team might help him be more convincing.
Jason Sudeikis
Jason Sudeikisis currently on a hot streak with the success ofTed Lasso, and his earnest persona may be exactly what Disney is looking for.Ted Lassohas been able to ground even its most absurd jokes in a semblance of reality, and Sudeikis could go either raunchier or more sincere depending on how sappy the project ends up being (an earlier draft of the script was reportedlyveryraunchy). He also has a solid track record of underseen dramatic work in films likeRaceandColossal, so an awards-friendly biopic wouldn’t be completely out of the question for him to tackle.
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Bill Hader
Okay, so there would need to be a fair amount of prosthetic work to giveBill Haderthe Henson facial hair, but he has the perfect slender build and vocal capabilities to pull off the role. Hader’s clout continues to rise with the near-universal acclaim for his HBO seriesBarry, and after getting a taste of blockbusters withIt: Chapter Twoa prestige biopic would be a logical next step in his film career. Like Sudekis, Hader has enough range and capability to find the right mix of comedy and drama. Frankly, his interpretation of Kermit the Frog would be fascinating to see.
Wyatt Russell
He’s currently getting notice for playing the unlikeable John Walker onThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier, butWyatt Russellhas made a career out of playing charming, eccentric goofballs inLodge 49andEverybody Wants Some. Playing Jim Henson would be his biggest and most challenging role to date, but Russell has been able to disappear into a diverse selection of roles despite his striking resemblance to his parents. If Russell is up for the training it would require to master playing Henson’s beloved characters, this could be his leap into a starring film role.
Ben Foster
This one is definitely a long shot, becauseBen Fosterhasn’t done a lot of comedic work, but it’s unlikely a project likeMuppet Manwill be a straightforward comedy. Foster is a consistently underrated actor and actually looks a lot like Henson, so he could certainly slip into the role and deliver a sensitive, nuanced performance without the baggage of being too famous for audiences to suspend their disbelief. Henson was described by some as a quiet, unassuming guy when he wasn’t performing, and Foster has done tear-jerking work inLeave No TraceandLone Survivor. He’s no stranger to biopics, and getting a more dramatically-seasoned actor like Foster would signify Disney’s respect for both Henson and the project.
Adam Driver
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