The resurgence of Jim Henson properties on streaming platforms will soon be joined by a reboot of the classic 1980s series Fraggle Rock on Apple TV+, Vulture reports. The franchise has already been at home on the platform, with a short-form spin-off titled Fraggle Rock: Rock On! premiering back in April. While Rock On! was created specifically to meet the demands of producing content in quarantine, this reboot will see a full production cycle.
In addition to ordering this revival, Apple will also host all episodes of the original series on its platform. This marks a turning point for Apple TV+, as Apple never intended for this platform to host older series. To differentiate itself from other streaming platforms, the original purpose of Apple TV+ was to focus exclusively on all-new series. This would contrast with services such as Disney+ – host to Jim Henson superstars The Muppets – which boast a wide array of legacy content alongside newly-produced works. However, by hosting all content related to Fraggle Rock, Apple can pull in the show’s audience through the reboot and avoid sending it to other streaming services to watch the original.
The entire 96 episodes of the original series are available on Apple TV+ starting today. Airing from 1983-1987, Fraggle Rock was Muppet series oriented towards educating children in international markets. The series focused on various clans of Muppets who lived underground as they learnt about tolerance and teamwork. It was one of the last major projects worked on by Muppet creator Jim Henson before his death in 1990, who puppeteered one of the lead characters Gobo Fraggle (seen above). The Fraggle Rock reboot comes after the debut of Netflix‘s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a prequel to the original Jim Henson film The Dark Crystal (1982). Another Jim Henson property will soon be rebooted – the original cast of The Muppet Show are starring in a new series on Disney+ called Muppets Now, as revealed last week on the Disney+ twitter account and Entertainment Weekly.
The Jim Henson Company and New Regency will produce the Fraggle Rock reboot. The starting date for production and the air date are currently unknown.