Ron Howard Directed A Documentary On Southern Muppets Creator, Jim Henson—Watch The Trailer

The master puppeteer grew up in Mississippi and was especially close with his grandmother.

Oklahoma-born Ron Howard, legendary Oscar-winning director—perhaps best known ‘round these parts as Opie Taylor from The Andy Griffith Show—is the creative mind behind a new documentary premiering on Disney+ that we can’t wait to see.

Jim Henson Idea Man, which will be available on the streaming platform on May 31, paints a vivid, heartfelt picture of the life of native Mississippian Jim Henson, best known as the legendary puppeteer behind The Muppets. Henson grew up in Leland, MS (born 1936) with a passion for art and an imagination that knew no bounds. According to the Jim Henson Company, he was especially close with his maternal grandmother, who championed his talents and encouraged his creativity. She herself was an artist: a quilter, painter, and needleworker.

In fifth grade, the Henson family moved to Maryland, where Henson experimented with a variety of artistic formats that eventually led him towards television, the newest visual medium at the time. While still in high school, in 1954, he performed his first puppeteering act on a local morning television segment in Washington, D.C.

The new documentary, which was produced with archival footage in collaboration with the Henson family, features conversations with Jim’s four kids as well as special appearances by Rita Moreno, Jennifer Connelly, Frank Oz, and Michael Firth. In a statement about Jim Henson Idea Man, Ron Howard expressed a desire to “infuse the audience's experience with as much of Henson's creative flavor, originality, energy, fun and creativity as I possibly could.”

As reported by PEOPLE, the synopsis for Jim Henson Idea Man adds that the film will feature “new interviews with Henson's closest collaborators and children, as well as never-before-seen materials from his personal archives—including home movies, photographs, sketches and diaries…” For a sneak peek of the documentary, watch the trailer below.

Through his life, Henson worked on many iconic television and film productions, including Sesame Street, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and The Muppet Movie. Though he died in 1990, his characters—like Kermit The Frog—continue inspiring joy and empathy in folks of all ages around the globe.

We’re thrilled to see this Southern visionary back in the spotlight. If you need a few appetizers for your Jim Henson Idea Man viewing party on May 31, we’ve got you covered.

For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Southern Living.