The Happytime Murders, directed by Brian Henson (A Muppets Christmas Carol) and scribed by Todd Berger (Kung Fu Panda 2) will be also taken to Berlin film trade fair.
Therefore, we got some casting news about upcoming ‘kids' movie — Katherine Heigl is in talks to star in the film noir puppet comedy of the same name. Things have changed, now we got ‘film noir puppet comedy' sub-genre.
However, the film comes from the son of puppet pioneer Jim Henson and has been in development at his Company for a while (back in 2008).
It is somewhat like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? story, but with puppets instead of animation, which takes place in a world where humans and puppets co-exist, but the non-humans are considered second-class citizens. When a puppet cast of an 80's childrens' show called The Happytime Gang starts to get murdered one-by-one, a disgraced LAPD detective-turned-private eye puppet takes the case with his human partner to solve the case and prevent further casualties.
This isn't the first time Heigl has worked with puppets, she once starred in the slasher film Bride of Chucky, which she thoroughly enjoyed.
The Happytime Murders is also the second project that Heigl has booked this week, following the supernatural thriller, Face Blind.
Heigl can currently be seen in theaters in One for the Money and will next be seen in The Wedding, opening October 19th 2012 — both are romantic comedies, the genre which Heigl is leaving behind.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Rvcn9gjts[/youtube]
One for the Money – Trailer
