John Mayer and McG have found their Rainbow Connection.
The Grammy-winning singer and filmmaker have swooped in to buy the historic Hollywood home of The Muppets.
“John Mayer and McG are under contract to buy Henson Studios,” a spokesperson for Mayer told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement.
It’s a dramatic reversal from the fate the property seemed destined to face. In recent weeks, the storied property — formerly A&M Studios and earlier Charlie Chaplin Studios — had been the subject of speculation that the Church of Scientology, already a major landlord in the area, was closing in on a bid. In fact, THR has learned that the interested party was North Hollywood-based Fab Factory Studios, a music production firm run by father and son entrepreneurs Steven and Shaun Fabos. The elder Fabos is reportedly a major Scientology financial supporter, while the younger Fabos was deemed a hostile witness by the prosecution during the Danny Masterson rape trial for changing his testimony on the stand to support the actor and the church. A Fabos rep did not respond to THR‘s multiple requests for a comment at the time.
Sources tell THR that Fabos and his family had a hold to consummate a deal. When the clock ran out, Mayer, who has offices on the historic property, made his move. The deal is said to be in the $60 million range. The Jim Henson Co. and Mayer declined to comment on these details.
Henson had been the owner and major presence on the lot after acquiring it in 1999. The buildings and facilities had been a presence since the earliest days of Hollywood’s film industry, as it served as the base for Charlie Chaplin and his studio since 1917. The trailblazing silent film star sold it in 1953 and the facility was used for various television productions such as Adventures of Superman and Perry Mason.
A&M Records made it its headquarters from 1966 before eventually selling to Henson for a reported $12.5 million. According to real estate filings, the appraised value of the lot in 2017 was $21.9 million.
