Buzz
When Muppet Treasure Island debuted in 1996, it joined a legacy of five prior adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. What sets it apart is its unique choice of an amphibian for the role of Captain Smollett—and its distinction as the first adaptation to trigger a legal battle with the creators of Spam.
1. A KING ARTHUR FILM WAS ALMOST THE CHOICE INSTEAD.
Following the triumph of The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), Jim Henson Productions aimed to feature Kermit and the gang in another historical setting. “There were numerous ideas on the table,” shared Kirk Thatcher, a writer who had collaborated with the company on the ambitious ABC sitcom Dinosaurs. Among the proposals for a new Muppet movie, Thatcher was particularly drawn to “Treasure Island and a King Arthur tale featuring medieval dragons and knights.” Ultimately, the former was selected, and Thatcher teamed up with seasoned Muppet performer Jerry Juhl and screenwriter James V. Hart to co-write the screenplay.
2. GONZO AND RIZZO WERE INITIALLY PLANNED AS THE MAIN CHARACTERS.
The initial script divided the Jim Hawkins character into two parts. “We originally wrote Treasure Island with Gonzo and Rizzo as ‘Jim’ and ‘Hawkins,’” director Brian Henson explained. “However, it didn’t quite work, as Treasure Island is fundamentally a coming-of-age story. It’s challenging to portray that with a rat and a whatever.” The role of Jim Hawkins was eventually given to Kevin Bishop, a teenager making his film debut, who was the first to audition. Gonzo and Rizzo were reimagined as his companions.
3. TIM CURRY MODELED LONG JOHN SILVER’S VOICE AFTER A RELATIVE.
“The way Long John Silver speaks was inspired by my grandfather,” Curry shared during the film’s DVD commentary. “He sounded exactly like that.”
4. FRANK OZ’S BUSY SCHEDULE PREVENTED HIM FROM PERFORMING AS MISS PIGGY AND FOZZIE BEAR.
Frank Oz, often referred to as Jim Henson’s “right-hand man,” was a puppetry legend and a key figure in The Muppet Show. He brought to life iconic characters like Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy. However, due to his packed schedule, he couldn’t fully commit to Muppet Treasure Island. While he provided the voices for Fozzie and Miss Piggy, puppeteer Kevin Clash took over most of their on-screen movements.
5. OZ DIDN’T (AT FIRST) APPRECIATE THE “MR. BIMBO” RUNNING JOKE.
Frank Oz reportedly wasn’t fond of some of the lines he had to deliver. In Muppet Treasure Island, Squire Trelawney (played by Fozzie) interacts with Mr. Bimbo, an imaginary friend residing in his finger. Henson shared that Oz initially expressed, “This joke will never work … I don’t even understand it, it’s so ridiculous.” However, Oz eventually grew to enjoy the gag and even listed it among his favorite moments in the movie.
6. THE MOVIE’S PRIMARY SONGWRITERS ALSO PENNED THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS’ “YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVIN’ FEELIN’.”
For the film’s soundtrack, Henson enlisted the talents of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, a renowned husband-and-wife songwriting team who have collaborated with artists ranging from Tony Orlando to Dolly Parton. In 1964, they co-wrote The Righteous Brothers’ classic “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” which Broadcast Music Incorporated has declared the most-played song of the 20th century.
7. AN UNEXPECTED ISSUE AROSE DUE TO MOTION SICKNESS MEDICATION.
Several scenes were shot on boat sets built indoors, each mounted on a massive gimbal rig designed to mimic the movement of the sea. While the effect was convincing, the director feared it might cause seasickness. “I was concerned people would feel ill,” Henson revealed in the DVD’s behind-the-scenes documentary. To prevent this, he had the cast and crew take anti-nausea pills before filming Long John’s introduction. Unfortunately, the medication caused widespread drowsiness instead. “Everyone, including Tim [Curry], struggled to stay awake,” Henson recalled. “At one point, Tim looked at me and said, ‘I’m going to kill you.’” Once the medication wore off, filming resumed smoothly.
8. A SUBTLE TRIBUTE TO HENRY KISSINGER IS INCLUDED.
While rummaging through Billy Bones’ trunk for the treasure map, Gonzo and Rizzo stumble upon a copy of Diplomacy, a 1994 bestseller by Henry Kissinger, often hailed as the definitive guide to international negotiation. Interestingly, Alex Rockwell, who led project development for Muppet Treasure Island, is Kissinger’s daughter-in-law.
9. KEVIN BISHOP’S VOICE CRACKS ADDED CHALLENGES TO HIS BIG MUSICAL NUMBER.
Jim Hawkins’ opening musical piece, “Something Better,” is an optimistic tune where he, Gonzo, and Rizzo dream of exploring the world. Bishop performed the song flawlessly during his audition. However, as he revealed to Den of Geek, his “voice had changed” by the time filming started months later. As a result, the production team had to use the recording from his audition to dub over his performance.
10. THE MAKERS OF SPAM FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE FILMMAKERS.
Miss Piggy takes on the role of Benjamina Gunn, a tribal chief and, naturally, Smollett/Kermit’s former flame. On Treasure Island, she encounters a wild boar high priest, referred to by his followers as “Spa’am.” The pun wasn’t lost on Hormel Foods Corporation, the creators of Spam, who argued that Muppet Treasure Island violated their trademark. They promptly took legal action against Jim Henson Productions.
The peculiar case was quickly dubbed “Spam v. Spa’am” by the media. Hormel’s lawyers claimed that Henson had “deliberately [depicted] Spa’am as a villainous pig.” They also expressed concern that the “menacing pagan figure” could negatively impact canned meat sales. In the end, the court sided with Henson. The appeals court remarked, “One might assume Hormel would appreciate the connection to an authentic pork product.”
