Updated: More pics of
Amy Adams/Jason Segel and
WalterHERE. I really didn't expect to be genuinely looking forward to a new
Muppet movie but every detail I hear about
Jason Segel and
Nicholas Stoller's brainchild production adds that extra pinch of excitement and now I honestly think this film is going to be something significant. And as far as The Muppets are concerned, I can't even remember the last time anyone could say that with a straight face. Rather than re-adapting a famous Dickens or Stevenson literary classic and awkwardly forcing our beloved Muppet characters in there (which I always found derivative and beneath these characters) - Segel and co have put together a nostalgic story about 'the band getting back together' to save their failing studio from a greedy oil tycoon who wants to use the ground to drill. In a scene-chewing role
Chris Cooper plays the oil tycoon, but the real heart of the film is with the new muppet - Walter - based on the appearance of and will indeed be voiced by
Paul Rudd. He is described as a sweet, slightly naive twenty-something Everypuppet who, in the movie, is the best friend and roommate of Segels character, Gary" and "who has a little bit of a self-confidence issue because hes the only person like him that hes seen aside from the Muppets. His dream is to meet the Muppets and be around people who are like him.
The movie is currently filming in L.A. where the old Jim Henson Studios on La Brea Avenue in Hollywood has been transformed to the set of where the Muppets used to film their shows and invite the audience to witness what they were creating. This will be an important backdrop to the movie and the production team have done a great job making it look rundown and dilapidated...
I don't want to spoil Slash Film's exclusive, so
CLICK HERE to read the rest of their scoop. Meanwhile, the following are the list of cameo's from the new movie as revealed by
Bleeding Cool. If you want to be surprised by the celebs who turn up in the film then don't read the article any further for fear of
spoilers... Eric Stonestreet, John Krasinski and Ed Helms Lady Gagas entourage. I dont know if Gaga is in as well as the pop stars named in the script, or instead of them but I expect the latter Jane Lynch A prison guard with that special Jane Lynch vibe Danny Trejo A prisoner with that special Danny Trejo vibe Donald Glover I have no idea what role he has, but Id die of joy if they acknowledge his Spider-Man campaign some how Jack Black In a recent-ish draft of the script, Black plays himself and has a good number of scenes Zach Galifianakis A hobo called Hobo Joe Alan Arkin Ive got no idea, but theres a judge character hed be really good for Barbara Eden Jeannie, as in I Dream Of French Stewart Gabe Lou, wristwatch salesman. Wristwatches and indeed clocks and time in general are of some importance to the plot Kristen Schaal The moderator of an anger management group. Ther I'm hearing there is also a role for Sean Penn - and as we already know there are much larger roles for
Amy Adams (as Segel's girlfriend) and
Rashida Jones (as an ABC exec). The Muppets has a Christmas Day 2011 release date.