Christmas has arrived early for Muppet fans, and this year, Ebenezer Scrooge is getting a rather unexpected visitor: Walmart!
In a surprise holiday collaboration with Disney and The Muppets Studio, Walmart has released A Who Knew Carol, a new Christmas advertisement that brings the beloved world of The Muppet Christmas Carol back to life.
Released on October 26, 2026, the commercial reunites familiar faces including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Rizzo the Rat, Fozzie Bear, and even Pepé the King Prawn. Joining the gang is actor Walton Goggins, who steps into Ebenezer Scrooge’s Victorian shoes, a role famously played by Michael Caine in the original 1992 film.
But this is no ordinary Christmas commercial.
With elaborate sets, familiar music, classic Muppet humour, and enough nostalgia to warm even Scrooge’s cold heart, Walmart has delivered something that feels surprisingly close to a little reunion with an old Christmas favourite.
And there’s more to come.
Let’s unwrap the entire advertisement, revisit the familiar faces, hunt for Easter eggs, and find out what Walmart and the Muppets have planned for Christmas 2026.
Watch Walmart’s New Muppet Christmas Carol Advertisement
The full advertisement, titled Walmart Presents: A Who Knew Carol, runs approximately two minutes and nineteen seconds.
Rather than creating a completely unrelated Christmas story, Walmart has recreated the atmosphere and opening musical sequence of the original Muppet Christmas Carol, giving it a modern, retail-themed twist.
For longtime fans, it’s an entertaining trip back to Victorian London. For newcomers, it’s a colourful introduction to the wonderfully chaotic world of the Muppets.
A Scene-by-Scene Breakdown of A Who Knew Carol
1. Gonzo and Rizzo Return to Tell the Story
The advertisement opens with snowy Victorian rooftops and a familiar storytelling approach.
Gonzo is back in his role as Charles Dickens, accompanied by his ever-hungry companion, Rizzo the Rat.
Just like in the 1992 movie, the pair serve as our guides through the story. Gonzo begins introducing a new Christmas Carol, only for Rizzo to immediately question the appearance of Walmart in a story supposedly taking place in the 1800s.
It’s exactly the kind of joke fans expect from these two.
Gonzo takes his literary responsibilities seriously, while Rizzo is more concerned with pointing out the obvious absurdities.
The opening establishes the tone beautifully: this might be a Christmas advertisement, but the Muppets are still perfectly willing to make fun of the entire premise.
2. The Famous Scrooge Song Returns
Here is where the nostalgia really kicks in.
The commercial launches into a new version of Scrooge, the memorable opening musical number from the 1992 movie.
The original song, written by Paul Williams, introduced Ebenezer Scrooge by having the townspeople describe just how miserable, unpleasant, and universally disliked he was.
Walmart’s commercial recreates that musical storytelling approach, with familiar Muppets and Victorian townspeople singing warnings about Scrooge’s arrival.
Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, and other familiar characters join the action as a dark, top-hatted Scrooge moves through the streets.
The updated musical number retains the theatrical feel of the original while adding jokes about gifts, shopping, and Walmart’s holiday campaign.
It feels less like a conventional advertisement and more like a miniature Muppet musical.
And that is probably the smartest decision Walmart made.
3. Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Fozzie Bring Back the Nostalgia
One of the commercial’s strongest features is seeing so many familiar Muppets together in the setting of The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Kermit and Miss Piggy are particularly nostalgic sights for fans who remember them as Bob and Emily Cratchit in the original movie.
Fozzie Bear also joins the musical festivities, with a shop sign referencing his Christmas Carol alter ego, Fozziwig.
For viewers who grew up watching the movie every December, seeing these characters surrounded by Victorian storefronts, old-fashioned costumes, and snow-covered streets is a treat.
The characters haven’t simply been placed in a modern Walmart store wearing Santa hats. The creators have gone to the trouble of rebuilding a recognizable Dickensian world around them.
That extra effort makes a considerable difference.
4. Pepé the King Prawn Makes a Hilarious Addition
One of the funniest surprises is the appearance of Pepé the King Prawn.
Why is that particularly interesting?
Because Pepé wasn’t in the original 1992 movie!
The character made his debut several years later, in Muppets Tonight in 1996.
Naturally, the commercial acknowledges this little continuity problem.
Rather than pretending Pepé has always belonged in the story, the joke becomes part of the fun, with Pepé essentially defending his appearance as something the audience wants.
It is wonderfully self-aware Muppet humour.
The Muppets have always been at their funniest when they’re willing to acknowledge they’re putting on a show, and Pepé fits right into that tradition.
5. Victorian London Meets Modern Christmas Shopping
Of course, Walmart needs to remind viewers that this is still an advertisement.
The commercial playfully mixes nineteenth-century surroundings with products that definitely weren’t available during Charles Dickens’ lifetime.
Modern gifts, including a lava lamp, and other contemporary shopping references appear among the period costumes and old-fashioned streets.
There’s even a modern massage-device gag.
The contrast between Victorian London and twenty-first-century consumer products becomes part of the joke.
Rather than trying to make every product reference historically believable, the commercial embraces the absurdity.
It’s the Muppets. Historical accuracy was never going to survive Rizzo’s first interruption anyway.
6. Walton Goggins Finally Reveals Scrooge
Throughout much of the commercial, Ebenezer Scrooge is presented as a mysterious, gloomy figure making his way through town.
The townspeople fear him, the Muppets sing about him, and his arrival casts a shadow over the festive surroundings.
Eventually, actor Walton Goggins gets his moment as the famous Christmas miser.
Fans familiar with the original movie will immediately recognize the role that Michael Caine made so memorable.
But Goggins isn’t attempting a scene-for-scene impersonation of Caine.
Instead, his appearance establishes a new version of Scrooge for Walmart’s ongoing holiday storyline.
Toward the end, Gonzo and Rizzo realize that Scrooge still hasn’t properly delivered his famous catchphrase.
Scrooge responds by throwing open his window shutters, sending the two narrators tumbling, before delivering the expected “Bah humbug!”
It’s a fittingly chaotic Muppet finish.
Or at least, it would be the finish if two familiar hecklers didn’t have something to say.
7. Statler and Waldorf Return as the Marley Brothers
Just when you think the musical is over, two ghostly figures arrive.
It’s Statler and Waldorf!
The legendary Muppet hecklers reprise their roles as Jacob and Robert Marley, the deceased business partners who warned Scrooge about his miserable future in the 1992 film.
Their appearance is more than a nostalgic callback.
The pair reveal that Scrooge will encounter three new Christmas ghosts, with a joke about the changes being necessary for legal reasons.
It’s a classic piece of fourth-wall-breaking Muppet comedy.
More importantly, it establishes that this advertisement is only the opening chapter of Walmart’s Christmas campaign.
And those upcoming ghosts have some rather unusual names.
The Three New Christmas Ghosts: What’s Coming Next?
According to the campaign’s creators, Scrooge’s journey will continue throughout the 2026 holiday shopping season.
But instead of the traditional Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, Walmart is introducing three new Muppet spirits.
The Ghost of Christmas Presents
Yes, that’s presents, as in gifts.
This spirit will introduce Scrooge to the assortment of Christmas gifts and products available through Walmart, including toys, electronics, fashion, and other holiday favourites.
It’s a playful reinvention of the traditional Ghost of Christmas Present.
The Ghost of Deals to Come
A shopping-inspired take on the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
Rather than showing Scrooge a frightening future, this spirit will highlight Walmart’s upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions.
Apparently, the future isn’t quite so terrifying when there are Christmas bargains involved.
The Ghost of Christmas Fast
This new spirit focuses on last-minute Christmas shopping and Walmart’s delivery services.
It gives a modern twist to the familiar Christmas ghost formula, transforming Scrooge’s supernatural journey into a story about holiday convenience.
The three ghosts are expected to appear across additional advertisements and online content throughout the holiday season.
So if you enjoyed the opening musical, there should be more Muppet Christmas chaos heading our way.
Every Familiar Muppet and Notable Cast Member
The advertisement brings together a substantial group of familiar performers and characters.
Among those featured are:
- Kermit the Frog: The beloved green star returns to the world of The Muppet Christmas Carol.
- Miss Piggy: Bringing her familiar personality back to the Victorian setting.
- The Great Gonzo: Once again serving as Charles Dickens, our unusual storyteller.
- Rizzo the Rat: Gonzo’s hilarious companion and frequent critic of the story.
- Fozzie Bear: Back among the Victorian townspeople, complete with a Fozziwig reference.
- Pepé the King Prawn: A newcomer to the Christmas Carol setting who gets his own self-aware joke.
- Statler and Waldorf: Returning in ghostly form as the Marley brothers.
- Scooter: Another familiar face appearing in the expanded Muppet ensemble.
The human cast also includes two notable performers.
Walton Goggins plays Ebenezer Scrooge, taking over the part made famous by Michael Caine.
Stephanie Beatriz, known for Brooklyn Nine-Nine and voicing Mirabel in Disney’s Encanto, plays Scrooge’s niece.
That’s an interesting change from the traditional Charles Dickens story, where Scrooge has a nephew named Fred.
Beatriz is also involved in the campaign’s Spanish-language advertising.
Hidden Easter Eggs and References to the Original Movie
One of the best reasons to watch A Who Knew Carol more than once is the attention given to its background details and familiar Muppet traditions.
Here are several references worth watching for.
Fozziwig’s Rubber Chicken Shop
Look closely at the storefronts and you’ll notice a reference to Fozziwig.
In the original film, Fozzie portrayed Mr. Fozziwig, the Muppet version of Dickens’ generous businessman Fezziwig.
The advertisement includes a storefront sign advertising Fozziwig rubber chickens.
It’s a fitting visual gag for a bear whose comedy routines don’t always get the reception he hopes for.
Wocka wocka!
Familiar Music From 1992
The updated rendition of Scrooge is arguably the advertisement’s greatest connection to the original film.
Rather than relying on a generic Christmas jingle, the commercial builds its musical identity around a tune fans instantly associate with the movie.
That familiarity helps the commercial feel like part of the same theatrical world.
Gonzo and Rizzo’s Storytelling Routine
Their returning partnership may be the most important callback of all.
Gonzo earnestly narrating a literary classic while Rizzo pokes holes in the production is central to the personality of the original movie.
Recreating that dynamic makes the advertisement feel much more authentically Muppet-like.
Pepé’s Continuity Joke
Pepé acknowledging that he wasn’t in the original film is the kind of humour that rewards longtime fans without confusing newer viewers.
It’s also a reminder that the Muppets have never been particularly concerned about keeping their fictional universe perfectly consistent.
The Ghostly Marley Brothers
Statler and Waldorf’s return is a particularly clever choice.
Instead of simply having the two hecklers make random comments about the advertisement, the creators bring them back in their established Christmas Carol roles.
It’s a small decision that helps connect the new storyline to the original film.
Behind the Scenes: Who Created Walmart’s Muppet Christmas Carol Ad?
The production is a collaboration involving Walmart, Disney, and The Muppets Studio.
The campaign was developed with Publicis Groupe agencies including Fallon, Leo New York, The Community, Digitas, and Zenith.
The main commercial was directed by Randall Einhorn, with production by RadicalMedia.
According to Fallon CEO Nikki Baker, the creative team worked closely with The Muppets Studio on details including the music, sets, character appearances, and references intended for longtime fans.
The effort is noticeable.
The elaborate Victorian surroundings, detailed costumes, warm lighting, and ensemble musical presentation give the advertisement a much more cinematic appearance than a typical retail commercial.
Meet Bagsy, a New Walmart Muppet
Another interesting detail from the production is the creation of Bagsy, a new Muppet character inspired by a Walmart shopping bag.
Baker revealed the character while discussing the campaign’s custom Muppet creations.
Although the returning stars are receiving most of the attention, the addition of a new character is another example of how the campaign is expanding beyond a simple recreation of an old movie scene.
It will be interesting to see whether Bagsy receives more attention as the holiday campaign continues.
Is Walmart Making a New Muppet Christmas Carol Movie?
Unfortunately, no full-length movie has been announced as part of this collaboration.
A Who Knew Carol is an official Walmart advertising campaign inspired by the original 1992 movie, not a theatrical sequel or feature-film remake.
The advertisements reuse familiar characters, musical ideas, settings, and story elements to create a connected holiday marketing story.
That distinction matters.
While Walton Goggins plays Ebenezer Scrooge here, Michael Caine remains the Scrooge of the original film.
Nothing about this campaign replaces that performance or the movie itself.
However, the production demonstrates how much affection remains for The Muppet Christmas Carol more than three decades after its release.
And for fans who have spent years hoping to see the Muppets return to this particular world, even a short reunion is a welcome surprise.
Why The Muppet Christmas Carol Still Matters 34 Years Later
Released in 1992 and directed by Brian Henson, The Muppet Christmas Carol became one of the most treasured entries in the Muppets’ film catalogue.
Its combination of Dickens’ emotional storytelling, Paul Williams’ music, traditional Muppet comedy, and Michael Caine’s wonderfully serious performance created something genuinely special.
What made the movie work was its balance.
The Muppets could be ridiculous, irreverent, and completely unpredictable, but the underlying story still treated Scrooge’s loneliness, regret, and eventual redemption with sincerity.
That combination gave the film staying power.
For many families, watching The Muppet Christmas Carol is now as much a Christmas tradition as putting up the tree.
Walmart’s new campaign clearly understands the affection audiences have for that world.
And while the advertisement exists to sell Christmas gifts, much of its appeal comes from letting the characters do what they have always done best: entertain.
The Muppet Madness Verdict: A Christmas Commercial That Actually Feels Like the Muppets
Let’s face it. Most Christmas advertisements disappear from memory about five minutes after we’ve watched them.
This one has something going for it that most commercials don’t: an entire generation of Muppet fans who already know the songs, characters, and jokes by heart.
What makes A Who Knew Carol enjoyable isn’t simply that Kermit and Miss Piggy are on screen again.
It’s the effort put into recreating a familiar world.
Gonzo and Rizzo are still bickering. Pepé is still making everything about himself. Statler and Waldorf are still getting the last laugh.
And the music immediately transports viewers back to the 1992 classic.
There is, of course, a difference between the original film’s heartfelt message about generosity and redemption and a modern advertisement focused on shopping.
Some fans may find that commercial connection a little strange.
But as a nostalgic reunion with familiar characters, the production has plenty of charm.
Perhaps the greatest compliment is that it leaves us wishing it were longer.
Walmart may have created the advertisement to promote Christmas shopping, but for Muppet fans, the best gift might simply be seeing the gang reunited in one of their most beloved holiday settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Walmart’s new Muppet Christmas Carol commercial released?
A Who Knew Carol debuted on October 26, 2026, as the opening instalment of Walmart’s Christmas advertising campaign.
Who plays Scrooge in Walmart’s 2026 Muppet Christmas Carol ad?
Actor Walton Goggins portrays Ebenezer Scrooge. Michael Caine played the character in the original 1992 film.
Is Michael Caine in the new advertisement?
No. The advertisement features Walton Goggins as Scrooge. Michael Caine does not reprise the role.
Is the new Muppet Christmas Carol a movie or a commercial?
It is an advertising campaign inspired by the original film. Walmart plans additional videos featuring three new Christmas ghosts throughout the holiday season.
Where can I watch the full advertisement?
The full version is available on Walmart’s official YouTube channel.
What Do You Think of the Muppets’ Christmas Reunion?
Now we want to hear from you!
Did Walmart capture the magic of the original Muppet Christmas Carol, or should the Muppets have left Scrooge’s story alone?
And here’s an even tougher question:
If you could bring back just ONE scene or song from the original 1992 movie for another commercial, which would you choose?
Tell us in the comments!
Don’t forget to explore more Muppet news, nostalgic memories, games, quizzes, and fan discussions right here at MuppetMadness.com.
After all, Christmas is always a little more magical with the Muppets around.
Sources and further reading: Walmart’s Official 2026 Holiday Announcement | Behind the Scenes: Fallon CEO Nikki Baker on the Campaign