The Happytime Murders: Sesame Street creators sue over R-Rated muppets movie starring Melissa McCarthy

The Sesame Workshop says the film could do 'irreparable harm' to the show's brand

The creators of Sesame Street are not impressed by Melissa McCarthy’s upcoming R-Rated movie, The Happytime Murders.

Described as a neo-noir puppet crime comedy mystery film, the movie takes place in a world where puppets coexist with humans but are seen as second-class citizens.

Produced by The Jim Henson Company under their HA! Henson Alternative banner, and directed by Brian Henson (son of the famous Sesame Street puppeteer), the movie’s trailer ruffled feathers after featuring adult content.

The Sesame Workshop has, as a result, decided to sue the production company, saying the movie could do “irreparable harm” and “defiled” their child-friendly show’s brand.

In a lawsuit obtained by celebrity news website The Blast, Sesame Workshop complain that the movie’s tagline “No Sesame, All Street” implies a relationship between The Happytime Murders and Sesame Street.

They say the marketing “deliberately confuses consumers into mistakenly believing that Sesame is associated with, has allowed or has even endorsed or produced the movie, and tarnishes Sesame’s brand”.

The Sesame Street creators also complain that they have spent 50 years building a reputation for “wholesome” entertainment, while the trailer features “explicit, profane, drug-using, misogynistic, violent, copulating and even ejaculating puppets”.

Co-producer and distributor STXfilms issued a statement in the name of “Fred Esq.”, a lawyer puppet, to Entertainment Weekly, reading: “STX loved the idea of working closely with Brian Henson and the Jim Henson Company to tell the untold story of the active lives of Henson puppets when they’re not performing in front of children.

“Happytime Murders is the happy result of that collaboration, and we’re incredibly pleased with the early reaction to the film and how well the trailer has been received by its intended audience.

“While we’re disappointed that Sesame Street does not share in the fun, we are confident in our legal position. We look forward to introducing adult moviegoers to our adorably unapologetic characters this summer.”

Sesame Workshop has made clear they are not looking to remove the movie from cinemas but are complaining about the marketing, which they ask to be pulled. They have also asked for unspecified damages.

“It is only [the filmmaker’s] deliberate choice to invoke and commercially misappropriate Sesame’s name and goodwill in marketing the movie – and thereby cause consumers to conclude that Sesame is somehow associated with the movie – that has infringed on and tarnished the Sesame Street mark and goodwill,” the lawsuit reads.

The Happytime Murders reaches cinemas 17 August and stars Melissa McCarthy, Joel McHale and Elizabeth Banks.