Jason Segel has been cast as the human lead of the next Muppets film.  Segel, who also wrote the film with Nicholas Stoller, plays a man who is looking to reunite the Muppets.  Apparently, something must have happened after the last film (which is either Muppets From Space or Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie depending on who you ask) to drive them apart.

The film will be directed by James Bobin, who had previously worked on Da Ali G Show (which gave us Borat and Bruno) and Flight of the Conchords.  This looks like it could be a very offbeat Muppet film.

I’m excited to see the Muppets hit theaters again, but this could go very wrong or very right.  I just hope they focus on the Muppets more than humans - everyone knows that’s who we’re there to see!  Also, I’m crossing my fingers that someone gets the Janice voice down and she makes more than a non-speaking cameo…

Yeah, if it’s Muppet centered as characters like the original Muppet Movie was bringing the Muppets together (with fun yet aporopiate guest stars) it could be good. It could, as has been said, go very wrong too.

I liked The Great Muppet Caper, Muppets Take Manhattan and Muppet Christmas Carol as well but newer stuff than that I wasn’t as into.
I think they did a couple of DVD/ Made-for-TV movies. Disney has kind of languished with the brand but no one has done well with big cast kids movies (like the Warner cartoon ones).

Jason Siegel must love puppets, he was on Crag Ferguson’s all puppet episode of his talk show (performing as Dracula singing his lament :p )

I love that someone here also loves Janice, she was one of my favorite parts in Muppet Caper when everyone is told to be quiet- “and I was all this is this and that is that ...*silence*” That and the crazy “I brought the paper towels” guy.

Now I have to go dig out my DVDs.

PretenderNX01 - 17 March 2010 07:46 AM

Jason Siegel must love puppets, he was on Crag Ferguson’s all puppet episode of his talk show (performing as Dracula singing his lament :p )

I love that someone here also loves Janice, she was one of my favorite parts in Muppet Caper when everyone is told to be quiet- “and I was all this is this and that is that ...*silence*” That and the crazy “I brought the paper towels” guy.

Now I have to go dig out my DVDs.

Jason Segel wrote and starred in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which has his character writing a Dracula musical using puppets.  That’s probably part of why he got the job writing and starring in the new Muppet movie.

As for Janice, she hasn’t spoken much since her primary performer, Richard Hunt, died in 1992.  She was semi-retired out of respect for his memory.  The same thing was done with Rowlf the Dog after Jim Henson died, since Rowlf was the Muppet he was most identified with.

Yeah, when they Janice speak a one-off line in the Letters From Santa movie, it was SO noticeably not right.  Much as I’d like to have the ol’ gal back, I’d rather she continue as a background character and nod to the past if they can’t get the voice right.  Of course, I do a pretty killer impression myself…lol

I think I’m going to go light a few candles in the hopes that this movie is awesome and actually gets off of the ground without studio interference.