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Back in February we told you that (at the time titled) THE GREATEST MUPPET MOVIE EVER MADE was going to happen. Now it looks like the film may have an official release date. Entertainment Weekly is reporting Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller (though still not having an official greenlight on their revamp of The Muppets) has been given a December 25, 2011 release date by Walt Disney Studios. However, now it looks like the title is back up in the air. There’s a possibility the film may be called THE CHEAPEST MUPPET MOVIE EVER MADE, which is in fact actually the original title.
Stoller and Segel, who wrote Forgetting Sarah Marshall together, are just about to turn in a new draft for director James Bobin (Flight of the Conchords). Segel will star with Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the gang. The movie will introduce a new muppet to the clan, but all other plot details for the film have been kept under wraps. At least we know what we’re doing Christmas 2011.
SlashFilm notes, “The Cheapest Mupper Movie Ever Made is a reference to an old unproduced film idea by Jim Henson which involved Gonzo blowing the movie budget on the opening credits resulting in the remainder of the feature film being shot in the same back lot, clumsily redressed to look like different locations from around the world. The new film won’t likely feature the same storyline, as Segel has said that his story follows the Muppets, who must unite to save the Muppet Theater from an evil oil tycoon. As it turns out, the old theater its on top of some black gold.”
The film is said to be in the tone of classic Muppet films like The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, and Muppets Take Manhattan. Segel will play the lead role, a human named Gary, whose best friend is the puppet bear Walter. Together they go on a journey with Gary’s girlfriend Mary to defeat the evil Tex Richman, a man who doesn’t find the Muppets funny and thinks he can smell oil beneath their studio. As one would expect with a Muppet film, there are plenty of celebrity cameos written into the script (including Sean Penn) and Segel apparently got verbal commitments from most of the stars during the writing process.
I’ve always loved The Muppets, and the movies are a treat to watch. Some of the later efforts weren’t quite as memorable, but they’re almost always fun. I’m intrigued by this new effort, and hopefully it will be a way to introduce a new generation to these fantastic characters… or perhaps just remind everyone how great they are. Are you excited about a new Muppet movie? Tell us in the comments below.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
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