Variety reports that Joseph Gordon-Levitt has signed on to produce and star in New Regency and The Henson Co.’s upcoming feature-film reboot of Fraggle Rock. The movie has been in the works for several years, and has gone through several incarnations already, but Gordon-Levitt’s participation in the project marks a big step towards actually making it a reality. (Last we checked, the project had writers, but no director or stars.)
Gordon-Levitt, who recently completed one serious grown-up project for Robert Zemeckis and is currently filming another for Oliver Stone, apparently signed on for Fraggle Rock because he, too, continues to cling to the ragged, one-eyed teddy bear of ’80s nostalgia. “The first screen personas I ever loved were Henson creations, first on Sesame Street, and then on Fraggle Rock,” Gordon-Levitt says. “Jim Henson’s characters make you laugh and sing, but they’re also layered, surprising, and wise. From Oscar the Grouch, to Yoda, to the Fraggles. I’ve never stopped loving his work, even as a young frisky man, and on into adulthood.”
Skipping over the “young frisky man” part for a second, Variety’s report fails to mention what role Gordon-Levitt will play in the film, or whether it will involve live-action or merely voice work. Personally, we’re hoping he plays Sprocket.