Disney has released the full trailer for ‘The Muppet Show’ special event, and it is very deliberately selling one idea above all else. This is not a reboot, an update, or a modernised spin. This is The Muppet Show back on its original stage, doing exactly what it has always done best.
The trailer opens in classic fashion, with Rowlf quietly playing “Rainbow Connection” before Kermit realises the theatre is alive again. From there, the familiar rhythm snaps back into place almost instantly. Musical numbers collide with backstage chaos, Miss Piggy reasserts her importance, and the Muppets openly acknowledge that yes, they have tried this before, and yes, they might get burned again. That blend of optimism and impending disaster is the point.
Joining the gang as the guest star is Sabrina Carpenter, who leans fully into the format rather than standing apart from it. The trailer makes a point of showing her interacting with the Muppets as equals, not as a modern celebrity dropped into a legacy brand. She sings, she jokes, she gets swept up in the nonsense, and crucially, she seems delighted to be there. That willingness matters more than polish ever could.
What stands out most is how aggressively traditional the structure is. This is a straight-up variety show. Opening theme. Sketches. Musical chaos. A guest star bouncing between segments. No mockumentary framing, no social media scaffolding, and no attempt to pretend the Muppets need updating for modern audiences. The joke, as ever, is that they do not.
The full trailer also reinforces that this is not a half-hearted nostalgia exercise. Veteran Muppet performers are front and centre, and the tone is knowingly self-aware without tipping into parody of itself. The Muppets are older, a little rustier, and fully aware of it, which somehow makes the whole thing feel more confident rather than less.
With the original series created by Jim Henson approaching its 50th anniversary next year, this special feels carefully timed. Disney has spent the last decade experimenting with different Muppet formats, from sitcoms to shorts to band-focused spin-offs. None quite recreated the lightning-in-a-theatre energy that made the original series a global phenomenon. This trailer suggests they finally stopped trying to outthink it.
There is also a quiet sense that this special is a test run. Reports suggest that strong viewing figures could lead to a full ongoing revival, which makes this less of a victory lap and more of a very public audition. For once, watching it early might actually influence what comes next.
The special is directed by Alex Timbers, who also executive produces, alongside Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg for Point Grey Pictures.
‘The Muppet Show’ special event premieres Tuesday, 4th February on Disney+ UK and ABC in the USA.
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