Fraggle Rock Script Not “Edgy Enough”

Fraggle Rock isn't Edgy

There’s a Fraggle Rock movie coming out, but don’t get too excited: the director says you’ll hate it. Corey Edwards (of Hoodwinked! “fame”) was set to write and direct the movie, but The Weinstein Company rejected his script for, of all reasons, not being “edgy enough.” That upset Edwards so deeply he was moved to write this blog post complaining and now the internet’s laughing at everyone involved. Corey’s angry for a bunch of reasons:

For starters, they have begun the search for a new writer, presumably to rewrite my entire script from scratch. Now I’m a big boy — I can take the blow if my skills are not up to the high, high standards of the Weinstein Company (he said with too much sarcasm in his voice). But this is happening behind my back, without consulting me or even asking my opinion. I enjoy working with other writers and have no doubt that the RIGHT person could help make any script better. But to not even ask me? Adding insult to injury, the search is basically an open assignment. This means the net has been cast wide, virtually posting in the “classifieds” of the movie business. The Fraggles do not deserve such treatment.
Rest assured, I still have a deal to direct. Which means my hands WILL be on this script. That makes this move by the studio all the more baffling. Hey guys, you know what would be easier? Asking the director to help you get the script in shape, instead of running in your own circles and then showing me something later that I’ll probably hate.
“Oh, Cory, ‘hate’ is a strong word. How do you know you’re going to hate it?” I’ll tell you why.
The only overall note coming from the studio is this: “Not edgy enough.”

It’s hard to figure out whose side to take on this one. On the one hand, really Mr. Weinstein, you want the puppet movie to be more edgy? But, on the other hand, Corey’s blog post is the whiniest, most self-pitying, melodramatic drivel you’ll read today. So let’s start by picking on the bigger kid: who was running things at The Weinstein Company when they bought the rights to Fraggle Rock looking for something edgy? Fraggle Rock was on HBO, so maybe the Weinsteins were expecting the singing puppets to be in a story more like Rome or True Blood? Were they disappointed there was no reverse-cowgirl Mokey-Boober sex scene? Hung is doing pretty well, but do we really need a Fraggle gigolo? Actually, I bet this Toy Story/The Wire mashup is exactly what they’re looking for. (Coincidence they axed Edwards right after that video came out? I think not.)

But then you read Corey’s blog post, and you realize how desperately he needs to grow a pair of Fraggle Rocks. He begins with: “Fraggle fans, I am trying to keep the torch lit for all of you. But we are going to have to weather a few more storms. There are some dark days ahead, my friends. Not to be too alarmist, but I am struggling to stay in control of my own movie at this point. The Weinstein Company gives me no confidence these days.” Bold words from a man whose only two other credits on IMDb are a 48% on Rotten Tomatoes and a series called “Contemporary Christian Music Television.” All that makes you wonder, just how Emo did Corey’s Fraggle Rock script get?