“Welcome to the home of fear and fright, where not all guests survive the night!” This spooky new 48-minute “Haunted” special starring all your favorite Muppets characters is definitely fun for all ages!
The first-ever Muppets Halloween special, “Muppets Haunted Mansion,” features performances from Will Arnett (voice of Batman in the Lego movies), Taraji P. Henson (whose voice is appearing in the upcoming Minions film next year), and Darren Criss (who played Blaine Anderson on Glee). Will Arnett is the Haunted Mansion’s Ghost Host, Darren Criss plays the Caretaker (who also nails the singing in the first song of the movie), and Taraji P. Henson is Constance Hatchaway, the beloved killer bride.
Featuring the long-time Disney theme park ride “The Haunted Mansion” as its backdrop, “Gonzo must spend Halloween night in the mansion, where many scary events take place during his stay. Gonzo the Great and his friend Pepe The King Prawn must complete an important task or they will be stuck living in the Haunted Mansion forever.”
How many of our YEM fam have been on the Disney Haunted Mansion ride before? The attraction states it has “999 happy haunts” and they are looking for a 1000th ghost to join them. It is implied every person on the ride may be the next ghost added to the group!
How cool is it to see Miss Piggy in the Crystal Ball as Madame Pigota (originally named Madame Leota)? How about a celebrity cameo from John Stamos (who plays Uncle Jesse on Fuller House)? This Muppets special also made a lot of effort to pay tribute to the actual ride too. For example, many of the very same tombstones you’ll see in the line for the Haunted Mansion ride appear in the opening graveyard scene during the musical number.
“Muppets Haunted Mansion” features three new original songs – “Rest In Peace,” “Life Hereafter,” and “Tie the Knot Tango,” along with a cover of “Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest. The songs from the production were released concurrently with the special’s premiere. “Muppets Haunted Mansion” also includes many hidden easter eggs for Disney fans and special Muppet sets and props that help immerse viewers in the storytelling experience.
Previously covering Christmas festivities in “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” the Muppets are continuing in the tradition of their previous films, eight of which have been previously made to date. Kermit the Frog was originally created for a TV show called “Sam and Friends” back in the 1950s by Jim Henson, before later becoming “The Muppet Show” in the 1970s. The Jim Henson Company is currently owned by Walt Disney Studios. Jim Henson’s son Brian is also part of the “Muppets Haunted Mansion” production team.
Some of the long time Muppet performers have also returned, including Dave Goelz (back as Gonzo, Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, and more), the brilliant Bill Barretta (back as Pepe, Rowlf, Dr. Teeth, and more), David Rudman (Scooter, Janice, Beaker, and more), plus hundreds of creative production staff.
