Credit: DisneyThe Muppet Christmas Carol is returning to theaters.
Though it might seem quite early in the year to be talking about the holidays (or quite late, depending on you’re perspective), we have some exciting news about everyone’s favorite puppets (that’s the Muppets) that simply cannot wait until later this year.
Disney has just announced that the beloved classic, The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), is once again returning to the big screen — but there’s a big twist.
For the fifth year in a row, The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert will be showing at several theaters and venues throughout the UK this winter as the holiday season gets underway.
Featuring a screening of the complete film with its entire musical score performed by a live orchestra, the show will span several locations throughout the country, including Manchester, London, Edinburgh, and Sheffield, starting from November 21.
Related: ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ Gets All-New 4DX Makeover!
Adapted from the timeless classic novella “A Christmas Carol”, published by Charles Dickens in 1843, the 1992 film is a widely celebrated holiday classic that’s up there with the likes of Die Hard (1988), Home Alone (1990), and The Polar Express (2004).
The film stars Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo the Great, Fozzie Bear, and more iconic Muppets, who play iconic characters from Dicken’s book, from Bob Cratchit to “Fozziwig”.
Michael Caine appears as one of the most beloved portrayals of Ebenezer Scrooge ever put to film. The Muppet Christmas Carol grossed $27.2 million worldwide upon its release in 1992 (against its $12 million budget) and received positive reviews. Over time, it has become a landmark holiday classic and is often listed as one of the best Christmas films ever made.
Here’s Disney’s official description for the performance:
The Muppet Christmas Carol sees The Muppets perform the classic Charles Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Gonzo, as Dickens, narrates the story with the help of Rizzo the Rat. The film also features Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, Gonzo as the narrator Charles Dickens, Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig, and Robin the Frog as Tiny Tim. Scrooge receives visits from spirits of three Christmases – past, present and future. They show him the error of his self-serving ways, but the miserable old man seems to be past any hope of redemption and happiness.
It adds that the original score was composed by Miles Goodman (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Little Shop of Horrors) with songs by Oscar®, Emmy® and Grammy®-winning songwriter Paul Williams (Rainbow Connection, Evergreen).
If you can’t wait until winter to revisit one of your favorite Christmas films, you can check out the original, or the extended cut that features the restored song “When Love Is Gone,” on Disney+. Alternatively, there’s also a storybook version titled “The Muppet Christmas Carol: The Illustrated Holiday Classic”, by Brooke Vitale with artwork from Luke Flowers.
The Muppet Christmas Carol stars Kermit the Frog/Bob Cratchit (Steve Whitmire), Miss Piggy/Emily Cratchit (Frank Oz), The Great Gonzo/Charles Dickens/Narrator (Dave Goelz), Fozzie Bear/Fozziewig (Frank Oz), and Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine).
For more information about the concert, visit the official website.
Which version of The Muppet Christmas Carol will you be enjoying this winter? Let us know in the comments down below!