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The
Muppets head for Oz
Courtesy
of Variety
March
16, 2004
ABC execs might soon
be singing a chorus of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow Connection.'
ABC is readying
a Muppet-ized version of "The Wizard of Oz" with producers Jim
Henson Productions and Fox TV Studios. Telepic would likely be the first
major production to emerge from Disney's deal to take control of Muppets
brand and characters -- though the project was actually in the works long
before the sale was announced.
Debra Frank
and Steven Hayes are writing a script for the telepic, which will feature
familiar Muppet characters retelling the classic Wizard of Oz story. It's
possible the movie will include a human character as well, most likely
Dorothy, insiders said.
The telepic
will be based on the original L. Frank Baum novel "The Wizard of
Oz", and not the classic 1939 MGM musical. That means no ruby slippers,
and no chance of Miss Piggy belting out 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.'
Frank and Hayes wrote
Home Alone 4 for Fox TV Studios and ABC's Wonderful World of Disney.

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