'Fallout' Star Walton Goggins Steps Into Michael Caine's Scrooge Shoes as the Muppets Reunite for Walmart's 'A Who Knew Carol'

Few holiday movies have the staying power of ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol.’ Since 1992, the film has been a fixture of Christmas rotation, with Gonzo as Charles Dickens, Rizzo as his sidekick and Michael Caine as the grumpiest Scrooge in felt-filled history. It is the kind of movie fans quote every December.

That affection is exactly why a new commercial has the internet buzzing. Walmart has teamed up with Disney and The Muppets Studio to revive the story in a holiday campaign, with an actor stepping into Caine’s top hat. And the Muppets are back on a snowy Victorian street.

The campaign is called ‘A Who Knew Carol,’ and it debuted on Monday, October 26, starring Walton Goggins as Ebenezer Scrooge.

The centerpiece is a long-form video of just over 2 minutes that recreates ‘Scrooge,’ the opening song from the original movie. It is the latest chapter of Walmart’s ‘Who Knew?’ brand platform, and it reworks the story to spotlight gifts, brands, deals and express delivery. Walmart has said additional videos and social content will arrive throughout the holiday season.

The ad is not a sequel or a new movie. Earlier, a mysterious teaser involving an old TV and a VHS tape had fans wondering whether a follow-up was in the works, but the reveal turned out to be a marketing campaign.

‘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, best known for ‘The White Lotus’ and ‘Fallout,’ serves as Walmart’s brand spokesperson, and he steps into the Victorian costume of Scrooge. Last year he appeared as the Grinch in Walmart’s holiday ads, so this is a switch from furry green to top hat and waistcoat. In the new video, he even gets to throw open Scrooge’s window and yell down at the street.

Stephanie Beatriz plays Scrooge’s niece, a reimagined version of the nephew Fred from the film. She also leads the Spanish-language spots. Walmart says it has worked with both actors for a year and a half, and the team described the casting as a natural fit.

The ensemble includes Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, the Great Gonzo, Rizzo the Rat and Pepé the King Prawn, with Fozzie and Scooter also appearing. Gonzo and Rizzo reprise their roles as Dickens and Rizzo to introduce the story, and the song keeps beloved lines such as the one about cheeses for meeces.

Statler and Waldorf are back too, haunting Scrooge as the ghostly Marley brothers. Rizzo even complains that Walmart didn’t exist back then, a nod to the anachronisms that fill the video.

The biggest change is the trio of spirits who visit Scrooge. In this version, he meets the Ghost of Christmas Presents, the Ghost of Deals to Come and the Ghost of Christmas Fast. Each one represents a different part of Walmart’s holiday story, from its gift lineup to Black Friday savings to fast delivery.

Walmart also created a new Muppet named Bagsy, based on its shopping bag. The company says its teams built the campaign with reverence for the original, hiding Easter eggs for die-hard fans and working with The Muppets Studio on custom music and detailed sets.

The campaign appears to be rolling out in stages. Reports suggest the ads will arrive at irregular intervals, possibly extending through Cyber Monday. Walmart first teased the collaboration last week with a social video of Goggins meeting Kermit on a studio lot.

The ad also kicks off three major holiday shopping events running from November 12 through December 2. Walmart’s chief marketing officer, William White, said the campaign is meant to be playful, memorable and full of surprises all season long.

The reaction online has leaned heavily toward nostalgia. For many people, seeing the Muppets back on a snowy London street, singing a version of a song they know by heart, is irresistible, even in an ad. Goggins’ comic range, meanwhile, makes him a natural for a Scrooge who learns the same old lesson in a new setting.

Whether it’s a clever marketing move or simply a fun reminder of a classic, the video has put the Muppets back in the holiday conversation. And for fans who wish there were a new special, it’s a good excuse to rewatch the original.