Walmart Brings Back the Muppet Christmas Carol for a New Holiday Ad

For many families, ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ is as essential to the holiday season as twinkling lights and hot cocoa. The 1992 classic paired Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat with Michael Caine’s Ebenezer Scrooge, a role he reportedly took on so his young daughter could finally watch one of his movies.

Its songs, especially the opening number ‘Scrooge’ written by Paul Williams, have remained beloved for decades. So when a mysterious teaser featuring an old-school TV and a top-secret VHS tape appeared online, fans immediately began wondering whether a sequel was finally on the way.

The answer arrived on Monday, October 26, and it wasn’t quite what fans expected. As DiscussingFilm shared, ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ has returned in the form of a new Christmas commercial for Walmart, starring Walton Goggins as Ebenezer Scrooge.

The campaign, titled ‘A Who Knew Carol’, was made with Disney and The Muppets Studio. It’s the latest chapter in Walmart’s ‘Who Knew?’ platform, which has featured Goggins as the retailer’s brand spokesperson.

The centerpiece is a long-form musical video running just over 2 minutes. It recreates the original film’s iconic opening number, with the residents of a snowy Victorian London singing about their notoriously unpleasant neighbor before Scrooge delivers his famous “Bah, humbug.”

‘THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL’ has returned with a new Christmas commercial for Walmart. Starring Walton Goggins as Ebenezer Scrooge. https://t.co/YGxu24k0Us

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 26, 2026

Goggins is joined by a full Muppets ensemble. Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo the Great and Rizzo the Rat all return, along with Pepe the King Prawn, a newcomer to this particular tale.

Statler and Waldorf also reprise their spooky duties, haunting Scrooge as the ghostly Marley brothers. Meanwhile, ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ star Stephanie Beatriz plays Scrooge’s niece, a reimagined version of nephew Fred, and will lead the campaign’s Spanish-language spots.

Walmart’s new holiday campaign, inspired by THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL, will feature a series of videos and social content throughout the holiday season. 👀 https://t.co/nkFJDVlc8l

— Boardwalk Times (@BoardwalkTimes) October 26, 2026

The sets and costumes have drawn praise for capturing the look of the original film, and Goggins even gets to throw open Scrooge’s window and yell down at the street below. Of course, this version comes with a retail spin. Rather than the traditional spirits, Goggins’ Scrooge is visited by 3 newly imagined ghosts: the Ghost of Christmas Presents, the Ghost of Deals to Come, and the Ghost of Christmas Fast.

That cheeky approach fits the Muppets’ signature fourth-wall-breaking humor. Walmart first teased the collaboration last week with a social video showing Goggins meeting Kermit on a studio lot.

This isn’t Goggins’ first festive transformation for the retailer. Last year, Walmart teamed with Dr. Seuss Enterprises for a reimagining of Whoville, with the ‘White Lotus’ and ‘Fallout’ star playing the Grinch.

Stepping into the role Caine made famous is a bigger challenge, but many viewers say Goggins brings his own wonderfully unpredictable energy to Scrooge. His comedic range makes him a natural fit for a character who learns the same old lesson in a fresh setting.

The response online has been a mix of delight and nostalgia. Some fans are thrilled to see the Muppets back on those snowy streets, while others insist no one can top Caine’s original performance. It’s also not the full sequel some had hoped for. Still, for many viewers, seeing the Muppets sing a Christmas carol again is the next best thing, even if it arrives before Halloween.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!