Ron Howard’s Documentary “Jim Henson Idea Man” Brings The Muppet Creator to Disney+ May 31st, 2024. Excited is the only word I can use to describe our thoughts about the upcoming documentary “Jim Henson Idea Man”.
“Jim Henson Idea Man” takes us into the mind of this singular creative visionary, from his early years of puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard captures Henson’s restless creativity, ambition, and artistic evolution in the style and spirit of his complex subject, an artist who revolutionized television, inspired generations, and created some of the world’s most beloved characters.
Featuring new interviews with Henson’s closest collaborators and children, as well as never-before-seen materials from his personal archives—including home movies, photographs, sketches, and diaries— Howard brings us an entertaining and insightful look at a man whose boundless imagination changed the world.
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Although Henson passed away in 1990, Howard developed a profound understanding of him during the production of “Jim Henson Idea Man,” a forthcoming documentary set to premiere on Disney+ on May 31st. The documentary offers a comprehensive exploration of the life and contributions of the Muppet creator, featuring insightful interviews with his family members and collaborators. Puppets play a prominent role in the film, ranging from the beloved characters of Sesame Street to the fantastical beings of The Dark Crystal.
In an email, Lisa Henson, current CEO of the Jim Henson Company, expressed her confidence in Ron Howard as the filmmaker for this project, stating, “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. Ron Howard is both a creative and personality match for my father, unlike anyone else we could have contemplated.”
