The Definitive Look at Jim Hensen, the Man Behind the Muppets, Will Stream This May on Disney+
After years of waiting, Muppet fans will finally get a chance to see what the Henson family is calling the definitive Jim Henson biography when Jim Henson: Idea Man premieres on Disney+ on May 31.
The comprehensive documentary is being directed by legendary filmmaker Ron Howard and will feature interviews with members of Henson’s family and his frequent collaborators.


Photo: Disney
“If there was going to be a definitive documentary about Jim Henson, we had hoped it would be in the hands of an accomplished filmmaker. Ron Howard is both a creative and personality match for my father, unlike anyone else we could have contemplated,” Henson’s daughter Lisa wrote.
Paying Tribute to Henson
In telling the story of Henson’s transformation from teenager to experimental filmmaker to the most famous puppeteer of all time, Howard looked for ways to pay tribute to the luminary. This included conducting interviews in a set that recalls Henson’s The Cube, which aired as part of NBC’s Experiment in Television in 1969.


Photo: Disney
“I was constantly looking for ways to honor Jim Henson’s aesthetic and sensibility and playfulness in the original footage, whether they were interviews or some of the animations that we did to help tell the story,” Howard says.
The Man Behind the Muppets
According to both Howard and Lisa Henson, the goal of the documentary was to more than showcase Jim Henson’s creative highlights.
“The whole purpose of the movie is that audiences will get to know Jim Henson as a person,” Lisa says.
The definitive look at the life and times of Jim Henson will finally arrive when Jim Henson: Idea Man streams on Disney+.