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Josh Gad Confirms Planned Muppets Series at Disney Plus Has Been Scrapped

'It was going to be Muppets by way of Stranger Things'

Amanda Bell Sept. 10, 2019 at 6:22 a.m. PT

Once Disney's new streaming service, Disney+, launches this fall, the House of Mouse and its many subsidiaries will be delivering tons of new content to subscribers -- from even more extensions of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to new Star Wars shows to reboots of your old favorites, there's a lot to look forward to.

However, at least one would-be show is already being cut from the Disney+ lineup. Josh Gad has confirmed reports that his Muppets series, which he would have written and executive produced withOnce Upon a Timecreators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis, is no longer coming to Disney+ as a result of creative differences between the creators and the studio.

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In a statement posted to Instagram on Tuesday, Gad wrote, "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."

View this post on Instagram

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," @adamhorowitzla #eddykitsis and I have decided, with a heavy heart, to walk away. Some times creative differences are just that. 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. 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.

A post shared by Josh Gad (@joshgad) on Sep 9, 2019 at 10:42pm PDT

Gad revealed that Muppets Live Another Day would have been a limited series sequel to the 1984 film Muppets Take Manhattan, explaining, "[It] was essentially about what happens after you've reached the end of the rainbow. 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 1980s, 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."

Deadline previously reported that the decision to walk away from the project was predicated on a disagreement between the writing team and Disney-owned Muppet Studio. Gad seemed to confirm that the difference of opinion was not with Disney+ or ABC Studios in his statement, writing, "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."

No word yet on whether or how this news will affect Disney+'s other Muppets-centric series, Muppets Now, which was announced during the streaming service's D23 Expo Event in August. That series is expected to be short-form and unscripted.

Disney+ will launch on Tuesday, Nov. 12.