Muppets Most Wanted Muppets Most Wanted is ' eighth feature film , a direct follow - up to the 2011 feature film " The Muppets " , released by Disney in 2014 . The screenplay was written by James Bobin and Nick Stoller , returning from the previous film . Bobin also returned to direct the film . A new Pixar short , featuring characters from " Monsters University " , precedes the film in its theatrical release . The film has been described as a " comedy caper " set in Europe . Ricky Gervais stars as Dominic Badguy , " a male lead whose intentions are always in question , " along with Ty Burrell as Jean Pierre Napoleon , a French Interpol agent , Tina Fey as " a feisty prison guard named Nadya , " and a " slew of cameos " . According to an interview with Kermit the Frog : Official Synopsis . " Disney ’ s " Muppets Most Wanted " takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour , selling out grand theaters in some of Europe ’ s most exciting destinations , including Berlin , Madrid and London . But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas , as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine — the World ’ s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit — and his dastardly sidekick Dominic , aka Number Two , portrayed by Ricky Gervais . The film stars Tina Fey as Nadya , a feisty prison guard , and Ty Burrell as Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon . Disney ’ s “ Muppets Most Wanted ” is directed by James Bobin and produced by David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman . Bobin co - wrote the screenplay with Nicholas Stoller , who is also executive producer with John G . Scotti . Featuring music from Academy Award ® - winning songwriter Bret McKenzie , “ Muppets Most Wanted ” hits the big screen March 21 , 2014 . " Production . Development . On March 3 , 2012 it was announced in " Variety " that James Bobin and Nick Stoller would pen the screenplay for a sequel to " The Muppets " . Bobin and Stoller started writing the script on April 12 , 2012 which was described as a " comedy caper " set in Europe . In a March 2012 interview , Jason Segel ( co - writer , producer , and star of " The Muppets " ) said that he will not return for the sequel , stating : " I have handed off the Muppets to my writing partner [ Nick Stoller ] and to James Bobin . My goal was to bring the Muppets back and I feel like I accomplished that . I feel like they ' re in really good hands . But it was half a decade of my life , I just want a little breather , and I know that they ' re going to nail it . " Stoller said the film could possibly have a cameo for Jason Segel , however Segel later stated that he will not appear in the film . Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy appeared at CinemaCon on April 24 , 2012 to officially announce that a new Muppet movie is in development . The official Muppets Facebook page reported the news with a teaser image for " The Muppets 2 . " It was reported in November 4 that producer Todd Lieberman and composer Bret McKenzie will return for the sequel , which began filming in late January 2013 at Pinewood Studio in London . Principal production in London wrapped on April 16 , 2013 and filming moved to Los Angeles in May 2013 . In February 2013 , production designer Eve Stewart let slip that she was working on a scene featuring Miss Piggy ' s wedding at the Tower of London . In addition to the United Kingdom , filming also took place outside the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles , to recreate the previous film ' s ending . In January 2013 , Disney announced a release date of March 21 , 2014 for the film . The working title for the film , which was used throughout principal filming , was " " The Muppets . . . Again ! " . " On June 13 , 2013 , Disney announced that the film had been retitled " Muppets Most Wanted " . Casting . In October 2012 , it was announced that Christoph Waltz was originally in negotiations to star as the lead Interpol inspector in the film , however in December it was announced that Ty Burrell was signed to the role ( Waltz had declined the part due to schedule conflicts ) . In an interview posted later that month , Waltz said he ' d been talking about the movie again and may still appear , but " it might just be one of these little what - they - call cameos . " On December 16 , 2012 Ricky Gervais announced that he would star in the film . Gervais tweeted : " I have just signed up to play the lead in the next Muppet movie . I have the biggest trailer but Kermit will spend some time in my sink . " Gervais commented on his role in the film on his website : " You may have read that I have accepted the lead role in the next Muppet movie . I didn ' t so much accept it as jump at the chance . I fucking love The Muppets . ( I ' ll probably have to tone down my language for Disney . ) We start filming in January . I can ' t wait . I ' ll be hangin ' with those cuddly little critters all day . " In January 2013 , reports surfaced that Tina Fey was in the final negotiations to play " a Russian gulag prison guard " in the film . Marketing . In July 2013 , Kermit and Miss Piggy appeared a YouTube video from the cast and crew of " Muppets Most Wanted " congratulating the royal family on the birth of Prince George . Later that month " Muppets Most Wanted " was featured in a series of Disney Channel interstitials starring Disney Channel stars and cameo actors Ross Lynch and Debby Ryan . Disney released the first teaser trailer for the film on August 6 , 2013 and was shown in theaters with screenings of " Disney ' s Planes " . The film ' s theatrical poster was released on October 28 , 2013 and a full theatrical trailer was released on November 21 , 2013 . In the months leading to the film ' s release , the Muppets made many appearances in promotion with the film ; including tie - ins with such clients as Toyota , Lipton , QVC and Club Penguin , as well as appearing on talk shows , web videos , and other media . Merchandise and tie - ins . Several books based on the film — " Kermit ' s Double Trouble " , a read - along storybook and CD , and — were released in February 2014 . Additionally , " The Muppets Character Encyclopedia " featured many of the film ' s new characters . The film ' s soundtrack was released by Walt Disney Records . A collection of Muppet plush dolls - including a doll of the villain , Constantine - were released by the Disney Store in January . for the film was available at Disney ' s Hollywood Studios around Halloween 2013 to promote the film .