"It was this journey that I could so relate to — this excitement for creativity," Howard says of Jim Henson's story ... to reminisce about making The Muppet Christmas Carol Was there one ...

When he suddenly fell ill and passed away, the deal was deemed too complicated and costly for the family ... The post Jim ...

But Howard heard many stories about Henson from "Willow" executive producer George Lucas, who had been close friends with the Muppet creator. "George was shattered when Jim passed," Howard notes.