Jim Henson Co., the company behind The Muppets, has picked up the comedic film noir spec script "The Happytime Murders" reports the trades.

Written by Todd Berger ("Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five") from a story by Dee Austin Robertson and Berger, the murder mystery takes place in a world where humans and puppets co-exist, with the puppets viewed as second-class citizens.

When the puppet cast of an '80s children's TV show called "The Happytime Gang" begins to get murdered one by one, a disgraced LAPD detective-turned-private eye puppet with a drinking problem takes on the case.

Due to the more adult nature of the material, it will be produced under the company's Henson Alternative banner. Brian Henson ("A Muppet Christmas Carol," "Muppet Treasure Island") is on board to direct.