Jim Henson Company Lot Not Being Sold to Church of Scientology, Despite Reports

variety.com:

Michaela Zee The Jim Henson Company is not selling its historic studio lot, located on La Brea Avenue in Hollywood, to the Church of Scientology.

Reports began circulating this week that the Church of Scientology was finalizing its purchase of the studio lot, which has housed the Muppets for more than two decades.

However, a representative for the Jim Henson Company confirmed to Variety on Saturday that there was no such sale agreement in place. “In regards to recent rumors about the sale of the La Brea studio lot, the Henson family is not in any business dealings with the Church of Scientology, and that organization is not in consideration as a potential buyer of the property,” a spokesperson for the Jim Henson family said in a statement. “It is still the family’s intention to move The Jim Henson Company to a new location it can share with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, but at this time the family is not in escrow with any buyer.” The rumor of a sale between the Jim Henson Company and Church of Scientology stems from a report from The InSneider.

The newsletter reported on Thursday that “the sale process is wrapping up now” and the “Church of Scientology is the lucky buyer.” The InSneider story continued, “No word on its plans for the space, but stay tuned for official word…” The Jim Henson Company bought the five-acre property in 1999 for $12.5 million. (The lot served as A&M Studios at the time.) Originally known as the Charlie Chaplin Studios, the site was designated a Historic-Cultural Monument by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission in 1969.