It looks like comedy master Paul Reubens has two scripts locked, loaded and ready to go for the triumphant return of Pee Wee Herman. We get the script details from the horse’s mouth thanks to MTV Movies Blog:
Reubens said he has two Pee-wee scripts ready to go. One is an extension of the famed TV show, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” only this story would take Pee-wee and his friends outside the house for the first time. “We never really went out into what we call puppet land,” Reubens recalled of the show. “And this [film] takes place out of the playhouse. I think there are one or two scenes in the playhouse in the beginning. Basically it’s all in a fantasy land,” he said. “It’s like a ‘Wizard of Oz,’ H.R. Pufnstuf epic adventure story.” Reubens added that the story would bring back all of the original characters from the playhouse — live-action and puppets alike.
The other Pee-wee film, which Reubens called “the dark Pee Wee movie,” is “not really very dark” and certainly not intended to be an R-rated film. “It’s basically the story of Pee-wee Herman becoming famous as a singer,” he explained. “He has a hit single and gets brought out to Hollywood to make musical movies, kind of like they did with Elvis. It all kind of goes downhill from there for Pee-wee. He turns into a monster. He does everything wrong and becomes a big jerk.” Though he described it as a movie “about fame,” Reubens insisted, “It’s not autobiographical.”
I love both of these ideas, and I hope they happen. Pee Wee has more stories to tell and I need to see them. Having all the original playhouse puppets join him on the road would be mind meltingly awesome. I want to see Chairy, Cowboy Curtis, Pee Wee and all the friends go out and adventure in a mystical and bizarre fantasy land. I hope Tim Burton is on board for this one, because It would be an equal assault against the senses and normalcy.
The second pitch is the lesser of the two, but still awesome. Who wouldn’t want to see the happiest character of all time turn into a jaded jerk when fame is shoveled upon him. Pee Wee Herman in a Falling Down type movie would be a hilarious enterprise indeed. The climb from rags to riches was one of the funniest parts of The Jerk, I think Pee Wee, like Navin Johnson will ride the train of success up a hill of hilarity and self destruction. Climbing the social ladder should not end in personal destruction, but it happens all the time and makes for great comedy, both in fiction and in real life (see Brittney).
Paul Reubens is a dude that got way to much flack for masturbating in a porn theatre. He was staying at his parents and went to an appropriate place to jerk his shame stick. His show was cancelled because people got bent out of shape about a dude touching his own pee pee. I have always been baffled at the puritanical outrage at this event. Some site this happening as the beginning of the tabloid age. Gladly now that videos like 2 girls 1 cup are common place, people have seemed to lighten up about run of the mill self-touch. It looks like a new generation of people are prepared to forgive and forget. Let the second age of Pee Wee Herman begin! (sound gong)
I hope the audience screams when someone on the screen says the word of the day.
You are fuckin’ right!
Yes, I would love to see these films but I want Lawrence Fishburne back as Cowboy Curtis! No one else will do.
I agree with Doug on this. Pee Wee deserves a second chance. He’s has paid way too much for his “mistake”. There are plenty of Hollywood jerks that has done a lot worse and paid a lot less for it.
You haven’t talked about the mighty Reubens on the podcast for a long time sir. I look forward to hearing it again.
The main reason i want to see the films made is so we can see Doug Nagy interview Mr Reubens on the movie blog.