June 15, 2011 13:02

Scissor Sisters to write songs for Fraggle Rock movie

Jake Shears and Babydaddy will marshall the soundtrack for film version of the Jim Henson classic

Photo: Press

Scissor Sisters have been signed up to make the soundtrack for the forthcoming Fraggle Rock movie.

A big screen version of the Jim Henson series from the eighties has been in development hell for years. Things appear to be moving on with the news that Jake Shears and Babydaddy from the band will write the songs for the film.

Shears in particular is becoming familiar with the business of soundtracks. He wrote the songs for a musical version of Armistead Maupin's gay novel series Tales Of The City, which recently opened in San Francisco.

News of the band's involvement came from their US publisher Spirit Music. They have just signed a deal with the Jim Henson Company to look after music for its entire back catalogue. Managing Director Mark Fried told Music Week: "By working with the Henson Company] right from the start means we can make music an integral part of the film. [We can make it] as important and as emotionally effective as the film-making."

The development of the Fraggle Rock movie has not been easy, however. Producers at the Weinstein Company hired Ahmet Zappa, son of Frank, to write a film adaptation, but later replaced him with writer-director Cory Edwards. Then last year that relationship also soured, with Edwards loudly complaining: "I am struggling to stay in control of my own movie at this point. The Weinstein Company… has begun the search for a new writer… this is happening behind my back, without consulting me or even asking my opinion."

At the 2005 Brit Awards, Scissor Sisters performed with a cast of Henson puppets, and singing watermelons.