Rupert Gregson-Williams has been tapped to score the upcoming comedy The Happytime Murders. The film is directed by Brian Henson (The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island) and stars Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Elizabeth Banks and Joel McHale. The movie centers on two clashing detectives, one human and the other a puppet, who are forced to work together to find the killer who’s murdering the former cast of “The Happytime Gang,” a classic puppet show. Longtime Henson puppeteer Bill Barretta performs Phil Phillips, the puppet detective. Todd Berger (It’s a Disaster), Dee Robertson, Erich & Jon Hoeber (RED) and McCarthy wrote the screenplay. Henson and McCarthy are also producing the project with Ben Falcone (Tammy, The Boss) and Jeffrey Hayes. The Happytime Murders is set to be released on August 17, 2018 by STX Entertainment.
Gregson-Williams (Wonder Woman, Hacksaw Ridge, Over the Hedge) also has the TNT original series The Alienist (premiering on January 22) and the thriller Terminal starring Margot Robbie coming up. The composer is also scoring DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming feature Everest directed by Tim Johnson (Home, Over The Hedge) and Todd Wilderman (Open Season 2). The movie follows a group of misfits who encounter a young Yeti named Everest, and they set off to reunite the magical creature with his family on the mountain of his namesake. Suzanne Buirgy (Home, Kung Fu Panda 2) is producing the project. The film is set to be released on September 27, 2019 by Universal Pictures.
In no way whatsoever inspired by the “Angel” episode with puppets…..