In a new trailer from Disney+, Idea Man highlights Jim Henson’s prolific career and humble beginnings. The trailer teases clips of Henson behind the scenes, and interviews with collaborators and costars.
Disney+ has just released the trailer for a new documentary following the life of famed puppeteer Jim Henson. Jim Henson: Idea Man is directed by Ron Howard, who previously won the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture for A Beautiful Mind. Disney describes the film as such: “Jim Henson: Idea Man takes us into the mind of this singular creative visionary, from his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond. Featuring unprecedented access to Jim’s personal archives, Howard brings us a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world.”
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Henson’s Legacy Continues
Henson has been the foremost name in puppeteering and creature creation for decades now; with massive claims to fame like The Muppets, Sesame Street, The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth, Henson made a legacy with his dedication to his craft that resonated with audiences. Since Disney acquired the rights to The Muppets back in 2004, Henson’s legacy has lived on. Although the original mind behind the franchise passed away in 1990, his daughter Lisa Henson remains at the helm as CEO of the Jim Henson Company. In a statement regarding the upcoming biopic, she said, “If there was going to be a definitive documentary about Jim Henson, we had hoped it would be in the hands of an accomplished filmmaker.” She continued, “Ron Howard is both a creative and personality match for my father, unlike anyone else we could have contemplated.”
As for the director’s thoughts on Henson’s work, Howard has stated that there is more to examine than just the puppets: “It was sort of anarchy on the outside, but underneath it, there was always a smart idea — a witty point to make, an observation about the world.” He elaborated, saying, “To see that evolve through the medium of puppetry and television, and then on into movies, was so interesting to me. I felt like you could actually observe a lot about entertainment, what entertains us and why, through his journey.”
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Jim Henson: Idea Man premieres on Disney+ on May 31.
Source: Disney+
Disney+
The flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ offers an ever-growing collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content.
