Miss Piggy and Gonzo stake their claim on Halloween in 'Muppets Haunted Mansion'

When you think of The Muppets and holidays, Christmas is usually the first thing anyone thinks of because of their deep library of specials celebrating the season. From John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together (1979) to The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992), there have been many winter-themed classics to partake. But what about Halloween? 

The spooky autumnal season has been ripe for a Muppets-style celebration but believe it or not, there has never been one. This glaring issue will finally be fixed on Oct. 8 when Disney+ premieres Muppet Haunted Mansion. The brand-new, one-hour special mashes up Jim Henson's troupe of felt performers with Walt Disney's beloved theme park attraction, The Haunted Mansion. Be prepared as resident weirdo, Gonzo the Great, and his pal, Pepe the Prawn, visit the creepy mansion of magician extraordinaire, The Great MacGuffin. 

Miss Piggy, who does double duty in the special as herself and Madame Pigota, who floats in a crystal ball, was kind enough to grace SYFY WIRE with her presence to give us the scoop. Asked about finally leaving the Christmas space for Halloween, Miss Piggy said with her trademark feist, "Haven't we done enough of those? I mean, I'm sure we've got more in us. But you know, it's nice to explore a different holiday. And Halloweeeeeen. It's spooky!

"We thought about doing a Halloween special for a long time. It's just now happening. I'm glad we're doing it now because the idea was right," Piggy continued. "We're taking The Haunted Mansion from Disneyland and we're just bringing it to life with the Muppets and their songs. And there's jokes, and it's funny, and it's great for the whole family."

Asked how she prepped for her turn as Madame Pigota inside the mansion, Miss Piggy admitted she's not much of a hands-on researcher. "I didn't go see any psychics because I am psychic. I have premonitions of what's going to happen. I'm like, 'Okay, I see myself starring in the next Muppet movie. And poof, it happens! I just have to say it, and I will it into existence. Maybe it's not exactly being psychic, but it's the same effect."

While Piggy does have some great moments, the truth is that while Muppets Haunted Mansion is a delightful group effort, the plot focuses on Gonzo. He's being summoned, by invitation only, to visit and stay through the night in the former home of The Great MacGuffin. With Pepe by his side, the two travel room-by-room meeting a whole host of familiar and brand-new friends, along with some foes.

"It is kind of my holiday, right?" Gonzo said of his star turn in a Halloween special. "Scary stuff. The implicit threat of violence. Possible bodily harm. Injury. I love it!"

Muppets Haunted Mansion premieres on Oct. 8 exclusively on Disney+.