Muppets Haunted Mansion
Muppets Haunted Mansion is a 2021 American puppet comedy Halloween special based on the Disney properties The Muppets and The Haunted Mansion. It was released on October 8, 2021 via Disney+. It is the Muppets' first Halloween special. The plot stars Gonzo and Pepe as they face the challenge of staying in a haunted mansion for one night. Plot. Instead of attending the Muppets' annual Halloween party, Gonzo and Pepe are on their way to a fear challenge event in the same haunted mansion where Gonzo's favorite magician, The Great MacGuffin, disappeared one-hundred years ago . Upon being dropped off by their hearse driver (Yvette Nicole Brown), Gonzo and Pepe meet the Caretaker (Darren Criss), along with several ghosts and singing busts. Their "Ghost Host" (Will Arnett) tells Gonzo that he has been summoned to the mansion to see if he can survive one night. If he cannot, he and Pepe will be trapped there forever. While Gonzo claims that he fears nothing, Pepe is easily scared by everything he sees in the mansion. After meeting Madam Pigota (Miss Piggy), Gonzo and Pepe come across a room full of several ghosts resembling their Muppet friends . The Host soon appears and informs Gonzo that in order to survive the mansion he must face his fears in Room 999. As Gonzo is led to the room, Pepe meets and becomes entranced by the ghost of Constance Hatchaway (Taraji P. Henson), who plans to marry and then kill him as he meets the ghosts of her past husbands. Gonzo is trapped in Room 999 (with the room's number sign turning upside down to read "666") and faces his biggest fear: that no one will like him if he does not do dangerous stunts. Gonzo starts to turn  old as his reflection taunts him. Recalling a conversation with Kermit he had earlier, Gonzo realizes that he can be great by just being Gonzo and the room de-ages and releases him. The Host congratulates Gonzo for facing his fears and tells him that he is free to go so long as he makes it out by sunrise. After realizing that Pepe is in trouble, Gonzo refuses to leave without him. With the help of the Host's candelabra, Gonzo is able to find Pepe and stop the wedding. The pair jump out the window and make it out  of the mansion just as the sun rises. The Host meets them at the gate, revealing himself to be the Great MacGuffin, who is impressed that Gonzo was willing to do what he could not; face his fears. The hearse driver picks them up and Kermit calls asking to meet the pair for breakfast. Kermit comments that Gonzo and Pepe should bring their friends along, Gonzo and Pepe turn to see the Hitchhiking Ghosts behind them, prompting them to scream. Production. Early attempts to produce a Halloween special centered on The Muppets date back to the early 1990s. Following Jim  Henson's death, his son Brian planned to continue the franchise's presence on television by releasing a series of holiday specials, with the first one tentatively centered around Halloween. However, the project ultimately was cancelled, and the TV series "Muppets Tonight" was eventually released instead. In 2009, it was announced during a special event at Walt Disney World, that The Walt Disney Company, who acquired The Muppets in 2004, was developing a Halloween special based on the franchise. A 2010 release date was later announced. However, the special was postponed in order for The Muppets Studio to focus entirely  on the 2011 film, and eventually cancelled. It was filmed at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, California and New Orleans, Louisiana. In May 2021, a Muppets Halloween special based on the Disney theme park attraction The Haunted Mansion, titled "Muppets Haunted Mansion", was announced to be in development. Filming took place in April 2021 during eighteen days. In August 2021, longtime Muppet director Kirk Thatcher revealed that he wrote and directed the special, and shared a teaser image from it. Later that month, Geoff Keighley and Darren Criss were revealed to be part of the cast as Uncle Theodore and  The Caretaker, respectively, while Kelly Younger was revealed as co-writer. The rest of the cast was announced the following September. Ed Mitchell and Steve Morrell wrote the music for the special, including three new songs, titled "Rest In Peace", "Life Hereafter", and "Tie The Knot Tango", as well as a cover of King Harvest's "Dancing in the Moonlight". This was one of Ed Asner's final works before his death, and was dedicated to his memory. Release. "Muppets Haunted Mansion" was released exclusively on Disney+ on October 8, 2021. Reception. Critical response. On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes , the film holds an approval rating of 73% based on 26 reviews, with an average rating of 6.20/10. Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 67 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews." "IGN" gave the series 8 out of 10, claiming, "The Muppets at their best are timeless, and this special captures much of that spirit." Paste stated that "Muppets Haunted Mansion" recalls of the "Muppet Show" and gave it a positive review, saying, "It’s a silly, ultimately heartfelt hour destined to become a holiday favorite for fans of Disney parks, the  Muppets, or just felt in general." "Decider" reviews the series positively, saying: ""Muppets Haunted Mansion" is trifling silliness. It inspires some smiles, if not out-loud laughter." "The GATE" reviewed the show positively, stating, "Disney World’s "Haunted Mansion" meets The Muppets in one of the best, and most entertaining Muppet experiences in years." "Game Rant" complimented the series, stating that "The spooky elements are actually done in a very nice way," and the show is "a really solid watch that will be easy to throw on for kids or adults at Halloween time." Accolades. "Muppets Haunted Mansion" won Outstanding  Children's Program at the 33rd Producers Guild of America Awards.