Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (remake film)

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is an upcoming film produced by The Jim Henson Company, Pacific Electric Picture Company, and Snoot Entertainment. It is a remake of the 1977 Jim Henson special of the same name, which was based on the book by Russell Hoban.

A family of poor otters, Emmet and his Ma, live in Frogtown Hollow, often doing odd jobs for its residents to make ends meet. They soon hear about a talent show rewarding $50 to its winner. Each otter enters the competition without the other's knowledge, and to prove fit for the contest, Emmet forms his own band with some of his closest friends, labelled the Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jugband. However, they all face some serious competition from a group of troublemakers who call themselves the Riverbottom Nightmare Band.

Just as in the original special, the film is narrated by Kermit the Frog, who appears with permission from the Walt Disney Company. Of the original cast, only Dave Goelz returns to play characters, specifically the voice of Wendell Porcupine (his other characters, Will Possum and the Catfish, are cast to Kevin Clash and Peter Linz, respectively). Tyler Bunch, who performs Doc Bullfrog, reprises his role from the 2008 stage show.

The seven songs performed in the original special are included in this film, as is one ("Born in a Trunk") that was recorded but left on the cutting room floor. The only major difference is "When the River Meets the Sea" being placed as the last song in the film, performed by the Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jugband at the Riverside Rest (renamed the "Alice Otter Memorial Rest" after Emmet's ma, who hangs herself on a tree branch after losing the talent show, in spite of her son's pleas with her not to go through with it).

Cast
Drew Massey as Emmet Otter and Fred Lizard

Donna Kimball as Ma Otter and Old Lady Possum

Tyler Bunch as Doc Bullfrog and Yancy Woodchuck

Kevin Clash as Chuck Stoat and Will Possum

Dave Goelz as Wendell Porcupine (voice only)

Ryan Dillon as Harvey Beaver (voice only)

Victor Yerrid as Charlie Muskrat and Stanley Weasel

Noel MacNeal as Harrison Fox (voice only)

Karen Prell as Hetty Muskrat

Louise Gold as Gretchen Fox (voice only)

Eric Jacobson as Howard Snake (voice only)

Peter Linz as Pop-Eyed Catfish (voice only)

Stephanie D'Abruzzo as Mrs. Mink (voice only)

David Rudman as Sam Turtle (voice only)

Bill Barretta as Pa Otter

Paul Williams as Carrots the Dancing Horse (voice only)

Matt Vogel as Kermit the Frog

Additional Puppeteers: Christian Anderson, Grant Baciocco, Greg Ballora, Sarah Berman, Tim Blaney, Julianne Buescher (Shirley Muskrat and puppeteer of Gretchen Fox), Kevin Carlson, Raymond Carr, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph (Melissa Rabbit and puppeteer of Mrs. Mink), Dorien Davies, Alice Dinnean (puppeteer of Wendell Porcupine), Artie Esposito, Peggy Etra, Genevieve Flati, Aymee Garcia, Dan Garza, BJ Guyer, Andy Hayward (puppeteer of Pop-Eyed Catfish), Rachel Herrick, Haley Jenkins, Patrick Johnson, Sean Johnson, Brian Jones, James Kemp (puppeteer of Howard Snake), John Kennedy (Nat Muskrat and puppeteer of Harrison Fox), Tim Lagasse, Bruce Lanoil (James Badger and assistant on Kermit the Frog), Len Levitt, Amanda Maddock, Paul McGinnis (assistant on Emmet Otter), Ted Michaels, Alison Mork, James Murray, Sarah Oh, Michael Oosterom (assistant on Doc Bullfrog), Nicolette Santino (assistant on Ma Otter), Benjamin Schrader, Michelan Sisti, Colleen Smith (assistant on Chuck Stoat), John Tartaglia (George Rabbit and puppeteer of Harvey Beaver), Allan Trautman (puppeteer of Sam Turtle), Jack Venturo, Russ Walko