The Muppets' Tarzan

The Muppets' Tarzan is a 2019 American-Canadian fantasy television film directed by Kirk Thatcher and starring Kyla Pratt and The Muppets with supporting roles done by Peter Fonda, Kenneth Mars, Mike Myers, and Tia Carrere. The film was produced by Bill Barretta and written by Debra Frank, Steve L. Hayes, Tom Martin, and Adam F. Goldberg based on a story by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan, a fictional character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first appeared in the 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, and then in twenty-three sequels. He is the son of a British Lord and Lady, marooned on the coast of Africa by mutineers. His parents died when he was an infant, and he was raised by Great Apes of a species unknown to science. Kala is his ape mother. Tarzan (White-skin) is his ape name; his English name is John Clayton, Lord Greystoke. As a young adult, he meets Jane, and when she returns to America he leaves the jungle in search of his true love. Tarzan and Jane marry, and he lives with her for a time in England. They have one son, Jack, who takes the ape name Korak. Tarzan is contemptuous of the hypocrisy of civilization, and he and Jane return to Africa where, both being immortal, they still live.The film was co-produced by The Muppets Studio, Touchstone Television, Blue Sky Studios, Dreamworks Animation Television, and Fox Television Studios, in association with The Jim Henson Company. Right after Disney bought the rights to The Muppets in 2004, pre-production on The Muppets' Tarzan took place throughout February 2004, and filming occurred during September 2004. ABC made several changes to the film after the initial script was written, ultimately deciding to adapt plot elements from Baum's original novel rather than the 1932 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical film, Tarzan. As with the preceding Muppet films, The Muppets' Tarzan became a musical, and included five new songs written and composed by Michael Giacchino. The special is the first Muppets special without the involvement of veteran performer Jerry Nelson following his 2004 retirement from physical performing. His characters of Lew Zealand and Floyd Pepper, were respectively performed by Bill Barretta and John Kennedy. Barretta also debuts as the new permanent performer of Dr. Teeth due to Kennedy now performing Floyd. The production also marked the feature film debut of Eric Jacobson as the performer of Sam Eagle, a character originally performed by Frank Oz.

Cast
Kyla Pratt as Jane Porter

Kenneth Mars as Tarzan

Glenn Close as Kala

Lance Henriksen as Kerchak

Mike Myers as Clayton

Jeff Daniels as Professor Porter

Tia Carrere as Terk

Peter Fonda as Tantor

Muppet performers
Dave Goelz as:The Great Gonzo as: Himself / Explorer / Waldorf / Dr. Bunsen Honeydew as: Himself / Collector / Zoot

Bill Barretta as: Pepe the King Prawn / Rowlf the Dog / The Swedish Chef / Dr. Teeth / Bobo the Bear / Mahna Mahna / Big Mean Carl / Himself

Matt Vogel as: Kermit as Himself / Tarzan /Uncle Deadly / Sgt. Floyd Pepper / Lew Zealand / Camilla / Dr. Julius Strangepork / Sweetums / Himself

Steve Whitmire as: Rizzo the Rat as Himself / Clayton / Statler

David Rudman as: Beaker as Collector / Scooter / Janice / Himself

Eric Jacobson as: Miss Piggy as: Himself / Jane / Fozzie Bear as: Himself / Poacher / Sam Eagle / Animal,

John Kennedy as: Floyd Pepper

Rickey Boyd as: Scooter / Crazy Harry

Kevin Clash as: Clifford

Alice Dinnean as: Camilla the Chicken: