The Muppets (2011)

A new Muppet movie, currently referred to simply as The Muppets, is currently in development at the Walt Disney Company. The script has been written by Jason Segel and Nick Stoller, the writer-director team behind the 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall.James Bobin, co-creator of the HBO series Flight of the Conchords, is directing. Bret McKenzie, co-star of Flight of the Conchords, has written the movie's songs.[1] The film started production in September 2010; and Walt Disney Pictures has announced that the movie will premiere on November 23, 2011
==Plot==
Gary (Jason Segel) who works with his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) and his puppet friend, Walter, try to reunite the Muppets for a big show to save their old TV studio which is threatened by oil tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper), who wants to drill for oil under the studio.
;Official Summary
:
“	On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) andMary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets' former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10-million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit the Frog reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzienow performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. With secret, signature, celebrity cameos, "The Muppets" hits the big screen Nov. 23, 2011.	”
==Cast==
:;Human Cast
:*Jason Segel as Gary
:*Amy Adams as Mary
:*Chris Cooper as Tex Richman
:*Rashida Jones as Veronica (CDE Executive)
:*Alan Arkin as Tour Guide
:*Bill Cobbs as Grandfather
:*Zach Galifianakis as Hobo Joe
:*Ken Jeong as "Punch Teacher" Host
:*Jim Parsons as Human Walter
:*Eddie Pepitone as Postman
:*Kristen Schaal as Moderator
:*Sarah Silverman as Greeter
:*Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo as TV Executive (Univision)
:*Raymond Ma as Elderly Asian Man
:*Shu Lan Tuan as Elderly Asian Woman
:*Donald Glover as Junior CDE Executive
:*Dahlia Waingort as TV Executive (FOX)
:*Michael Albala as TV Executive (NBC)
:*Jonathan Palmer as Reporter One
:*Don Yanan as Reporter Two
:*Julia Marie Franzese as "Punch Teacher" Kid
:*Cameron Kasal, Justin Tinucci, Alex Long as Laughing Kids
:*Gunnar Smith as Gary age 6
:*Connor Gallagher as Gary age 9
:*Justin Marco as Gary age 13
:*Aria Noelle Curzon as Waitress
:;Cameo Performances By
:*Jack Black as himself (uncredited)
:*Emily Blunt as Miss Piggy's receptionist
:*James Carville as himself
:*Feist as Smalltown USA resident
:*Whoopi Goldberg as herself
:*Selena Gomez as herself
:*Dave Grohl as Animool
:*Neil Patrick Harris as himself
:*Judd Hirsch as himself
:*John Krasinski as himself
:*Rico Rodriguez as himself
:*Mickey Rooney as Smalltown USA resident
===Muppet performers===
:* Bill Barretta Tyler Bunch  Alice Dinnean Nathan Danforth Dave Goelz  Eric Jacobson Bruce Lanoil Peter Linz Paul McGinnis Michael Oosterom, Karen Prell  David Rudman Matt Vogel Steve Whitmire
==Muppet Cast==
*Muppet Characters (speaking)
::80s Robot, Afghan Hound, Animal, Ace Yu, Artie Springer, Beaker, Beautiful Day Monster, Beauregard, Behemoth, Bobby Benson, Bobo the Bear, Bugsy Them, Baby Koozebanian Creatures, Camilla, Chickens, Crazy Harry, Colleen Barker, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Dr. Teeth, Floyd, Fozzie Moopet, Fozzie Bear, Female Koozebanian Creature, Gary, Gonzo, Hobos, Janice, Kermit the Frog, Koozebanian Phoob, Lew Zealand, Lenny the Lizard, Laughing Boy, Link Hogthrob, Mahna Mahna, Marvin Suggs, Miss Piggy, Miss Poogy, Muppaphones, Miss Belle, Mad Dog, Male Koozebanian Creature, Officer Fuzzy, Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf the Dog, Raccoons, Sam the Eagle, Scooter, Singing Food, The Snowths, Statler and Waldorf, Sweetums, Scruffy, Spot (Dog City), The Moopets, The Newsman, The Swedish Chef, The Mutations, Thog, Terri Springer, The Fazoobs, Uncle Deadly, Undertaker, Walter, Wayne and Wanda, Whatnots, Zoot
*Background Muppets (non-speaking)
::Andy and Randy Pig, Angel Marie, Atrics Drummer, Babies, The Barbershop Cactus Quartet, Bertha, Big Mean Carl, Blustering Bellowpane Monster, Billy Bob the Lemur, Bubba, Chip, Crocodile, Droop, Dr. Julius Strangepork, The Early Bird, Frackles, Fraggles, Frogs, Goat, Iguana, Inkspots, James Bobin Muppet, J. G., Johnny Fiama, Large Marvin Fraggle, Luncheon Counter Monster, Lips, Mo Frackle, Monkeys, Mudwell the Mudbunny, Murray the Minstrel, Nigel, Nigel the Conductor, Penguins, Pigs, Pokey, Prairie Dogs, Quongo, Rabbits, Rats, Rizzo the Rat, Robin the Frog, Sal Minella, Sheep, Sprocket, Trumpet Girl, Yolanda Rat
==Developments==
*In 2008, Jason Segel and Nick Stoller pitched a concept for a Muppet movie to Disney Vice President Kristin Burr. The pitch was well received and the pair was offered a deal to develop their script. In March 2008, Variety first reported that Disney signed a deal with Segel and Stoller to create the next Muppet movie; with Segel and Stoller penning the script and Stoller attached to direct.[12] Segel has been very outspoken on his involvment, mentioning his role writing for the Muppets in many interviews and appearances. Drafts of Segel and Stoller's script, entitled The Greatest Muppet Movie of All Time!!! have circulated. In the film, the Muppets must reunite to save Muppet Studios in Hollywood from an evil Texas oil tycoon. To save the studio, the Muppets have to put on a show at the Muppet Theater and attract an audience of ten million people.
*When asked about the upcoming movie in a May 2008 interview with MovieWeb, Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bearappeared playfully unaware of the project. Shocked and excited upon hearing that a new Muppet movie was being made, the pair rush out of the interview to go tell all their friends.[13]
*In his March 20, 2009 appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jason Segel talks about his love for the Muppets, and his then-current work on the script for the next Muppet movie.Statler and Waldorf appeared in the audience to heckle Fallon and Segel.
*In September 2009, Disney announced a slate of projects at their D23 Expo. Among the projects listed was a Muppet film project, entitled The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made!.[14]Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl worked on a concept for a film entitled The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made! The new project may be a reference to, or a revival of, that idea. There was no mention as to Segel and Stoller's involvment, if any, in developing this script or idea.
*In January 2010, James Bobin, co-creator of the HBO series Flight of the Conchords, was hired to direct the next Muppet film. According to a Hollywood Reporter article, "Plot details are being kept secret, but Bobin is expected to bring a musical sensibility to the project." [15] David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are said to be producing the film.
*On February 10, 2010 a more detailed plot was posted. As quoted: "The Greatest Muppet Movie of All Time is about Gary, Mary, and Walter (a man, his girlfriend, and the man’s life-long nondescript, brown puppet best friend) getting the old Muppet gang — now retired entertainers known for the same Muppet show we know them from — together to save the TV studio that the original show was shot in. A villain, Tex Richman (nice name, on par with Doc Hopper), bent on drilling for oil underneath the studio, is due to take over the studio in weeks and the only way to stop him? Putting on a show that draws ten million viewers."[16]
*On March 16, 2010, The Hollywood Reporter announced, "Jason Segel has found his rainbow connection with Disney's Muppets movie, signing to star as the human lead... [Segel] also co-wrote the script and will serve as producer." James Bobin is mentioned as the director, although the plot and title of the film are "under wraps." [17]
*On April 22, 2010, Disney studios chairman Rich Ross reconfirmed their committment to the film.[18]
*On April 23, 2010, chairman Rich Ross said that the film will feature a new puppet character named Walter, who is "in felt and fur rehab now as we build him." [19]
*On April 27, 2010, Kermit the Frog mentioned on The Nerdist that filming may start in the Fall.
*In a May 3rd interview with MTV, Muppets Studio general manager Lylle Breier confirmed that the next movie will be Segel's Greatest script, while the Cheapest treatment from Henson's days has been set aside.[20]
*While making the press rounds for Get Him to the Greek in May, co-writer Nick Stoller reported that the first table read of the script had recently taken place with the Muppets. The script read through was filmed for use later on home video. [21]
*Walt Disney Pictures officially announced December 25, 2011 as the release date in June 2010.[22] Six months later, the release date was pushed up to November 23.[2]
*Interviewed at a movie premiere in June, Jason Segel revealed that shooting for the new movie will start in September. [23]
*On July 21, 2010, the team involved with producing the movie met with creative heads at Pixar to fine-tune the script.[24]
*On October 15, 2010, it was announced that Amy Adams, Rashida Jones and Chris Cooper were nearing deals to join the movie. According to a report on Hollywood.com, "Segel will star in the lead role, with Adams as his girlfriend. Jones takes the role of an ABC executive. Cooper plays the villain, a greedy man who wants to drill for oil underneath the studio. And he also has a personal vendetta against the Muppets: he never thought they were funny." [25]
*In an October 29, 2010 appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Jason Segel announced that filming had begun on the movie.
*Reports of celebrity cameos have included Zach Galifianakis [26] and Alan Arkin. [27] News In Film also reported that Michael Cera is being considered for the voice of the new puppet character, Walter. [27]
*The November 12, 2010 issue of Entertainment Weekly featured a 2-page spread about the new Muppet movie, referred to simply as "The Muppets". The article featured a summary of the film's concept along with quotes from Segel and Bobin. It also included the first images of Walter, along with new photos of the Muppets and the movie's co-writer/co-star Jason Segel posing at a mock table read for the film.[28]
*Mickey Rooney filmed a cameo for the film in November 2010. [29]
*Ricky Gervais and Emily Blunt are rumored to have filmed cameos for the film as well, along with Billy Crystal, Jack Black and Jean-Claude Van Damme.[30] Gervais himself confirmed the reports on his personal blog: "You may have heard I'm doing a cameo in the new Muppet Movie. Should be a laugh. I'm in L.A. anyway for the Globes, so... convenient. Hope my mate Elmo is around that day."[31]
*Jason Segel confirmed to MTV that Peter Linz will be puppeteering and voicing Walter, not Michael Cera or Paul Rudd as previously rumored: "He also revealed that Rudd was never intended to be the voice of the new Muppet named Walter; rather, puppeteer Peter Linz is going to be singing and voicing (and moving) Walter for the film. There was instead a moment when Walter imagines himself as a human, and Rudd seemingly would have played that human. Segel wouldn't confirm or deny whether or not Michael Cera is now in contention to take that role."[32]
*In an interview for Dread Central, Danny Trejo confirmed he was going to be involved in the movie: "I am going to be in the Muppet movie. I was hoping they were going to make me one of the old men in the balcony. Remember them guys? I wanted to be one of those guys, but I don’t know."[33]
*Segel discussed composer Bret McKenzie's involvement in a January 2011 interview: "Segel had considered doing the Muppets music himself but thought he might be too swamped to do it right. 'Also, I'm good at writing songs that are allowed to just be funny,' he says. 'They don't need to have a tremendous amount of musical merit, but these Muppet songs have to be great. The lineage of the Muppet songs, things like Rainbow Connection and all that, it's not a job for an amateur. (McKenzie) really knows what he's doing, and his songs have just been beautiful.'[1]
==Behind the scenes photos==
Category:Muppet Movies
Category:2011