Muppets Live Another Day, a scripted comedy series in production for Disney+, has been scrapped. Following reports, series writer and executive producer Josh Gad (
Frozen) confirmed the disappointing news in
a lengthy post on Instagram in which he revealed "creative differences" as the reasoning for its cancellation.
Muppets Live Another Day was being developed as a limited event series, and a sequel to
Muppets Take Manhattan. The series was to pick up right where the 1984 film ended and focus on Kermit as he attempts to bring the Muppets back together to locate the missing Rowlf. But Gad revealed some deeper elements about the show In the post, Gad also revealed some deeper topics the show would address.
"Verified Misinformation is my least favorite kind of information so I thought I’d take a minute to clarify some news that broke today. After a little over a year and a half of working on a project called “Muppets Live Another Day,” [Adam Horowitz, Eddy Kitsis] and I have decided, with a heavy heart, to walk away. Some times creative differences are just that," Gad wrote.
"The project, with original songs by Bobby Lopez and Kristen Lopez was to be directed by the great Jason Moore, (director of “Avenue Q” and “Pitch Perfect”). It was meant to be a limited event series that picked up a year after “Muppets Take Manhattan” and was essentially about what happens after you’ve reached the end of the rainbow," he revealed.
"It was going to be Muppets by way of Stranger Things and feel like a movie spread over 6-8 episodes. Part of the joy for us, by placing the Muppets in the middle of the 1980’s, was to subvert and comment on our current love for all things nostalgia while at the same time allowing the characters to tell a story that would ultimately lead to and end in present day, revealing some secrets along the way. It has been one of the great joys of all of our lives to write words for these iconic characters."
"We wish this franchise all the best and thank our partners at Disney+ and ABC Studios for the opportunity to develop something so fun and outside the box. They have been nothing but supportive and terrific and we can’t wait to play again in other sandboxes. While it is sad, I have no doubt this franchise, under its new leadership will find new and wonderful stories to tell. My only hope is that one day you can all hear the BRILLIANT music by Bobby and @kristenlopez5681 wrote for Kermit and company. The music is next level good. In the meantime, Adam, Eddy and I are already cooking up new fun ideas that we cannot wait to share. Until then, long live “The Muppets.” They have given us joy for over 40 years and I have no doubt they will continue to bring us joy for the next 40 years," Gad concluded.
While never formally announced by Disney,
Muppets Live Another Day was reportedly in production since at least February.
The cancellation of
Muppets Live Another Day will have no impact on
Muppets Now, a short-form "unscripted" series announced at Disney's recent D23 event. The series, which will feature celebrity guests, is slated to debut on Disney+ in 2020.