The Muppet Man

The Muppet Man is a 2022 biopic based on the career and life of Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets.

Synopsis
Jim Henson arrives to the world of television, using puppetry to make a change in the world. His creations, which he has dubbed "Muppets" captivate the world with their humorous nature, bright colors, and ability to entertain both kids and adults. And Jim believes that all he needs to make it happen is just one person.

Plot
The film opens with Kermit and Fozzie, informing the audience that while the story that's about to be told is based on truth, some parts of it were made up for the movie, which they dub "Muppy Fluffet Stuff". They encourage the audience to watch anyways, and enjoy the life story of the "Muppet Man".

The film properly begins in 1942, where a young Jim Henson is playing "Halfway Down the Stairs" on the piano. His grandmother comes in, and is pleased by the music, encouraging his creative talents by telling him that if he keeps going like this, he could change the world.

Years later in 1954, Jim attends college where he begins working with puppetry, with his skills surprising his entire class, including the teacher who had no experience in puppetry. He is met with a woman named Jane Nebel. The 2 enjoy each other's company and work, and begin going out together. In 1955, a local television network, WRC-TV, hires Jim and Jane as performers on their program "Afternoon", allowing them to use their puppets, which Jim has titled "Muppets". Jane is pleased, but Jim asks if he can be a cast member instead. He is told to "Stick with puppetry. It might just make you rich."

After Jim accepts the offer of being given his own 5-minute show on the network, he gets to work on creating a new Muppet for the show: A green frog-like character he names Kermit. Together, he and Jane create the show "Sam and Friends", which proves to be a big hit for WRC-TV. Throughout the years, Jim continues to make amazing work, and eventually he marries Jane in 1959. After graduating college in 1960, Jim is met with a talent agent named Bernie Brillstein, who, after seeing his work with the Muppets, signs him on to work as a client for him. The next year, Jim looks for more puppeteers to work for him, and hires a man named Jerry Juhl, while also meeting a young performer named Frank Oz, who has little interest in making puppetry a career.

Years after the end of Sam and Friends, in 1969, Jim is called up by a television writer and producer, Joan Ganz Cooney. She offers him a chance to help with creating a show she is working on, allowing him to use his Muppets for it, and he accepts, beginning work on the new show "Sesame Street". The show becomes a massive hit with Oz joining Jim's new "Muppets Inc." workshop, as well as a new puppeteer named Caroll Spinney. While Jim is pleased with Sesame Street's success, he worries that he may now be seen as nothing more than a children's puppeteer.

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Cast

 * John Krasinski as Jim Henson
 * Oona Laurence as Jane Henson
 * David Cross as Frank Oz
 * Matthew Lillard as Steve Whitmire
 * Michael Lerner as Jerry Juhl
 * Frank Langella as Jerry Nelson
 * Kevin Clash as Himself
 * Ian McNeice as Bernie Brillstein
 * Adam Driver as Caroll Spinney
 * Rodger Bumpass as Dave Goelz
 * Sacha Baron Cohen as Richard Hunt
 * Sally Field as Joan Ganz Cooney
 * TBA as Brian Henson
 * TBA as Lisa Henson
 * TBA as Cheryl Henson
 * TBA as Heather Henson
 * TBA as John Henson
 * Ellen Burstyn as Betty Henson
 * TBA as Paul Henson
 * David Mazouz as Paul Henson Jr.
 * TBA as Sarah "Dear" Brown
 * TBA as Michael Eisner

Production
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Trivia
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More
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