ELTON JOHN - MUPPETS SET TO DOMINATE THE WORLD AGAIN

JIM HENSON's lovable MUPPETS are to dominate the world again with a series of television and cinema films, a TV series and merchandising.

KERMIT THE FROG, MISS PIGGY and their furry friends will join celebrity guests on a new prime time TV show, which previously featured huge stars, including SIR ELTON JOHN, LIZA MINNELLI, GENE KELLY and JULIE ANDREWS in the 1970s and 1980s.

DISNEY's MUPPET HOLDING COMPANY plan to "develop new content in all arenas, including television, feature films, music, stage plays and theme parks and to enhance the Muppets' global licensing and distribution".

The Muppets' latest release, the TV movie THE MUPPETS' WIZARD OF OZ, premiered at New York's TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL on Wednesday (27APR05).

Creator Henson died in 1990 and the Muppets were purchased from his relatives by European children's company EM.TV for $836 million (GBP440 million) in 2000.

Three years later (03), Henson's five children bought back the rights for $89 million (GBP47 million). Disney offered $57 million (GBP30 million) plus a profit share.