It’s time to play the music. It’s time to light the lights. According to fast-rising funnyman Jason Segel, it’s time once again for the Muppets, in a brand new movie that hopes to make things right.
“I’ve just grown a little disappointed with ‘Muppets in the Old West,’ ‘Muppets Under Water,’ and all these weird concept movies,” sighed the 28-year-old “How I Met Your Mother” star, speaking for the first time on his recently-revealed plans to resurrect Rowlf and the gang. “I just want to go take it back to the early 80’s, when it was about the Muppets trying to put on a show. That’s what I’m trying to bring back.”
In next month’s buzz-heavy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” Segel plays a broken-hearted musician with a hilarious desire to make a puppet musical out of Dracula’s life. Segel wrote the scene based on a real-life idea he once had, and was thrilled when it came time to live out his lifelong fantasy of becoming Jim Henson.
“When you see the movie, you’ll see that there’s a puppet musical at the end. I’ve always loved puppets, and the Henson Studios designed those puppets for us,” Segel explained of his inspiration. “While I was there, I was talking to them and asking when the next Muppets movie was coming out, and they said ‘We don’t control the Muppets anymore, Disney does.’ And that just made me think back to those early 80’s Muppet movies, and The Muppet Show.”
Citing his love for “The Muppet Movie,” “The Great Muppet Caper” and “The Muppets Take Manhattan,” Segel revealed plans to similarly enlist big-name cameos for the flick; in fact, he’s already approached several members of the Judd Apatow stable that includes Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig and Paul Rudd. “All of our friends that I’ve brought it up to are pretty excited by the prospect of it. Everyone loves the Muppets; they’ve got a warm place in most people’s hearts,” he explained. “We want a lot of cameos. You look back at Charles Grodin, Charles Durning, there were just such great performances in those movies.”
“I remember thinking that Kermit was the original Tom Hanks - he was the everyman for a kid,” Segel said, revealing that the plot would focus heavily on the banjo-picking frog. “I remember watching Kermit and thinking ‘That’s what I want to do when I grow up.’ I don’t think I realized he was a puppet.”
Adding that “Miss Piggie and Fozzie Bear” were also among the stars of his script, Segel stopped short when asked about ill-received 90’s newcomer Clifford, the Rastafarian Muppet. “We shall see on that one,” he laughed. “We’ve got a great plot. I think if we can execute it right, it will be terrific. But I can’t tell you more - it’s top secret.”
Segel hopes to dive in to the flick after his soon-to-shoot movie “I Love You, Man,” and is currently on the fence about whether he’ll be the primary flesh-and-blood star of the Muppet revival. “We haven’t figured that out yet,” he said of the lead role. “Right now, we’re just focused on trying to turn in an amazing script.”
Which Muppets do you want Segel to put in the movie? Which ones could you do without?
March 17th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Animal - he’s every kid’s dream. He just pounds on drums all day. I think it’d be especially appropriate since Segal played a drummer on “Freaks & Geeks.”
March 17th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Don’t hate on Clifford! He was great when he was first introduced on the Jim Henson Hour, but when his personality changed to be the host on Muppets Tonight! that’s where things went wrong. Having the cool Clifford back as was the case in Muppets from Space would be great!
March 17th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I think he should leave them ALL out. Who cares about the frickin Muppets anymore?
March 17th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
That movie needs to have some version of Rainbow Connection in it, if it has Kermit, regardless of the plot. It HAS to.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Well…people will be wanting every last Muppet in there from Beau, to Sweetums, to Robin, to Uncle Deadly…
…but the most important thing is that we have the main group — Kermit, Fozzie, Piggy, Gonzo, Rowlf, Camilla, Rizzo, Scooter and the Band.
March 17th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
It sounds as if he really has a wonderful grasp on what to do with the muppets. I am so excited for him, Disney, the muppets and all involved. I love his ideas already!
I would like to see Annie Sue and Miss Piggy duke it out once and for all in this one…
March 18th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Good read and to whomever said that no one cares about the Muppets pft you must be kidding yourself because you had to some what care because you can to read this.
Anyway I’d love to see all the characters from Kermit to long lost Muppet monsters and obscure ones like Digit, Leon, and Bean Bunny!
And please try very hard to get Paul Williams to do the music, the man is simply brilliant!
I’d also really like them to find people who can do justice to the voices of characters such as Rowlf & Dr. Teeth.
March 18th, 2008 at 12:31 am
I agree that NOBODY cares about the stoopid Muppets anymore. Why would Disney waste money on something like this? Why would Jason Segal waste his time? Only Muppet-geek would pay to see a muppet movie. And thankfully such geeks are few and far between. Nuttiest thing I ever heard…
March 18th, 2008 at 5:03 am
–>> .. and alot of ‘ NON - Muppet ‘ geeks..
..and alot of Moms and Dads and kids.
It’s pure fun.
Nothing wrong with that .. i’ll take my neice to see it. She loves the Muppets !!
>v
March 18th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Hey, whata great idea! The Muppets are always fun, this is something that should be great for the whole family….
March 18th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
As if that Muppet wizard of oz (where Gonzo as the Tin Man talked about his nipples!) wasn’t bad enough, now we get a muppet movie from 2 guys who make R-rated comedies. Good gawd, let Kermit die already.
March 23rd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Admittedly, I thought that Jason Segel writing the Muppet script would be weird, considering the films and tv shows he’s been in aren’t exactly family friendly. But, I think that Jason Segel still has the heart of a kid and the right idea. I loved the old Muppet movies when I was younger and could care less about the newer ones that were made in the 90s. I think we should at least give him a chance, show us what he can do. I doubt Jason Segel would make the Muppets into some quasi-Greg the Bunny show.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I would Love to see alot of Piggy. There wasnt alot of her in Muppets From Space. But I could do without Fozzie!
April 5th, 2008 at 2:39 am
I think this will be great. He seems to have a real enthusiasm to make a great movie. Also, Rowlf the dog was retired for good when Jim Henson died, as this was his favorite character.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Throw in the Swedish Chef! Bork bork bork!
April 24th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Beaker…..and of course Dr. Bunsen Honeydew
May 9th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Rolf! I’ve been dying to hear him sing Coddelston Pie again… Maybe he can be backed by the Electric Mayhem!
I’d also like to see Jason utilize the Jim Henson look alike Muppet. I think it would be an amazing tribute.