As Disney expands their conglomerate reach and introduces both brand new titles and new entries to classic properties, people have started to wonder what old projects they’ll revive next. Disney Plus is the perfect opportunity for Disney to be able to take risks and try out new concepts to see if they’ll be successful and to bring back some of their most beloved IP. They’ve also acquired so much new content over the years from their acquisitions of other companies (Lucasfilm, Marvel, Fox, etc.) that they have so many opportunities for new content ripe for the picking.
One property that Disney has greatly underutilized is the Muppets. The last Muppet movie to come out in theaters was Muppets Most Wanted all the way back in 2014, and since then, Disney has done minimal projects with them. There was a mockumentary-style series called The Muppets. in 2015, a few swings at the Muppet Babies in 2018-2019, and a short, 6 episode show called Muppets Now that was a Disney Plus exclusive, but didn’t really seem to make a dent in the culture. It’s high time for Disney to try something new with the Muppets, and bring them back into pop culture.
Because there’s been so little Muppets content in the past few years, especially when they were such a popular franchise in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, it begs the question of whether or not the public even wants more Muppets, or if the franchise is totally dead in the water, as far as pop culture goes. Less Muppets content is being made because it seems like no one wants it, but maybe they’re not making the right kind of content, and should think about going back to their roots.
When The Muppets released in 2011, it was met with acclaim, and is a favorite among many fans because it’s fun and stays true to the essence of the characters and the franchise. The Muppets are fun, and they don’t take themselves overly seriously, but they still have heart, and a lot of thought and love is put into the characters and the jokes. The Muppets (2011) revived the franchise for a moment, despite the fact that it had seemed fairly dead in the 2000s. What if they could manage do to that again, but this time keep up the momentum and revive the franchise for good?
With Disney Plus putting all of the old Muppet Show episodes on their platform, it seems to have reminded everyone why the Muppets were (and still are) so beloved. Their style of humor is a perfect balance of being kid-friendly while also still being genuinely funny for adults. A majority of the puns and wacky jokes they make in the episodes of The Muppet Show from the late 70s still hold up now, which is a testament to just how classic these characters are, and how the Muppet style of humor could still be applicable to audiences today.
The Muppets get meta and self-referential without it ever feeling like too much, and the characters themselves are charming enough to make almost anything they say sound worthy of a laugh. If the Muppets were to make their way back into the cultural zeitgeist in a big way, they would be a hit with everyone – from the Gen X’ers and Millenials that grew up with them to the kids and teenagers of Gen Z who might have a passing knowledge of Muppets, but haven’t seen them be super present in culture lately. In fact, the Muppet sense of humor would likely fit in perfectly with the weird, offbeat sense of humor that much of Gen Z has developed through social media.
So what exactly could Disney do to bring the Muppets back to the public? For starters, they could release a new Muppet movie, whether it’s an original story or an adaptation. The Muppets in their own unique adventures have always been a big hit, but the adaptations of books that the Muppets have done (such as Muppet Treasure Island or The Muppet Christmas Carol) are some of the biggest fan favorites. There are plenty of classic works in the public domain that the Muppets could adapt, and it would be a good way to test if the Muppets are still viable in today’s world without the risk of an original story, which might ruin their chances by simply having a poor script or storyline. When The Great Gatsby recently entered the public domain, posts circulated online about how a Muppet version of the story could work, so it appears that people are very ready for some sort of new Muppets content.
Another way that Disney could use the Muppets is to reboot The Muppet Show, but for the 21st century. They wouldn’t have to change much about the show, although they could make it more like a late-night talk show rather than a variety show to fit a more modern audience. More importantly, they could bring in modern celebrities to make appearances on the show, in the same way that the original series did. The only downside of that original show airing on Disney Plus now is that most of the younger audience watching the show in the year 2021 might not recognize a large portion of the guests, because they are celebrities that were famous in the 70s and 80s.
Bringing in current celebrities could help make the Muppets relevant again, and the format of the show would be something fun that hasn’t been done by anyone else recently, at least, not in the style of the Muppets. Disney Plus would be the perfect platform to put the show on, as Disney wouldn’t have to rely on television ratings in quite the same way to get the show approved. A new Muppet Show would bring the Muppets into the modern age, while still keeping that classic charm and humor that made everyone fall in love with them in the first place.
We don’t know if or when Disney will be bringing the Muppets to screens, or how long it will be until fans get to see Kermit, Fozzie, and the rest of the gang again, but at this point, Disney is just sitting on a gold mine of content. The Muppets are just what the world needs right now – they could be a breath of familiarity and a much needed laugh in the middle of very unfamiliar times.
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