The Muppets (2011)





The Muppets is the Muppets' seventh feature film, released in 2011. The script was written by Jason Segel and Nick Stoller, the writer-director team behind the 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall; and was directed by James Bobin, co-creator of the HBO series Flight of the Conchords.

The film started production in September 2010. Principal photography for The Muppets began on October 30, 2010 and concluded on February 11, 2011.

Theatrically, the film was accompanied by a new short film featuring Pixar's Toy Story characters.

The Muppets is also the Muppets' first Academy Award winning film, bringing home the trophy for Bret McKenzie's "Man or Muppet." It is the highest grossing Muppet film, not accounting for inflation (in today's dollars, The Muppet Movie holds this prize).

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the U.S. on March 20, 2012.

Official Synopsis
''On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (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: Fozzie now 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 November 23, 2011.''

Songs
The film features several original musical numbers, plus some classic Muppet songs and covers of popular songs (including those by Nirvana and Cee-lo Green). The film's soundtrack was released on November 21, 2011.
 * "The Muppet Show Theme"
 * "Life's a Happy Song"
 * "Pictures in My Head"
 * "Cars"
 * "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard"
 * "Rainbow Connection"
 * "Back in Black"
 * "We Built This City"
 * "Me Party"
 * "Let's Talk About Me"
 * "Man or Muppet"
 * "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"
 * "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
 * "Forget You"
 * "The Whistling Caruso"
 * "Mahna Mahna"
 * "Lullaby of Birdland"
 * "The Muppets Pit Band Music"
 * "Bad to the Bone"
 * "Together Again"

Production
thumb|300px|right|Jason Segel and Kermit sent a video to Amy Adams in order to convince her to take the part of Mary.

Development
It was working on Forgetting Sarah Marshall with Jim Henson's Creature Shop that initally inspired Jason Segel and Nick Stoller to pitch the movie to Disney.

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. Segel has been very outspoken on his involvement, mentioning his role writing for the Muppets in many interviews and appearances. Drafts of Segel and Stoller's script, originally entitled The Greatest Muppet Movie of All Time!!! circulated. According to early drafts of the screenplay, the film would include celebrity cameos by Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Christian Bale, Ben Stiller, Steve Carrell, George Clooney, Jack Black, Mel Brooks, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Rachel Ray, Bob Saget, Lisa Lampenelli, Jeff Ross, and Charles Grodin. A cameo was also written for Elmo, but it was said it would've been too expensive.

In June 2008, Segel said: "I just turned in my first draft of the Muppets and I'm really excited about it. I think we're bringing them back. Hopefully it will fall right in the pantheon of The Great Muppet Caper, Muppets Take Manhattan, Muppet Movie, you know, we're trying to make one of those."

Stoller commented on the film in a 2008 interview: "Basically, we're gonna do an old school Muppet movie, where the Muppets have to put on a show to save the studio. It's very simple. A big part of the movie is rounding up all the Muppets from around the world, because they've all been separated. So it's collecting them and bringing them together to put on this big show. It should hearken back to Great Muppet Caper and Muppets Take Manhattan and those kinds of Muppet movies. Jason and I are having a lot of fun writing it. We want to get as many cameos and guest stars as possible. Jason will play a human ventriloquist, and his puppet is alive and wants to be a Muppet."

In his March 20, 2009 appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jason Segel talked 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.

Early versions of the script described Gary and Walter as "a ventriloquist and his puppet who's alive and wants to be a Muppet." Later versions described Walter as a nondescript, brown puppet.

Said Jason Segel: "We also did have a great trick where at the end I wrote that Kermit is like, 'And I’m so happy that you guys liked our telethon. As a matter of fact, we’re going to relaunch The Muppet Show starting this fall on ABC.' ABC was like, 'What are you talking about? Take it easy, kid.'" According to the Blu-ray commentary, the note they got back from Disney said "Nice try."

While early reports said Stoller would also direct the film, in January 2010 James Bobin was hired to direct the film. David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman became producers for the film.

The first table read of the script took place in May 2010. In July 2010, the team involved with producing the movie met with creative heads at Pixar to fine-tune the script. Walt Disney Pictures originally announced a Christmas 2011 release for the film, but in December 2010 the release was announced for Thanksgiving 2011.

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."

Segel discussed composer Bret McKenzie's involvement in a January 2011 interview. Segel said that he had considered writing the music himself but thought he might not be able to do it right. Segel said: "I'm good at writing songs that are allowed to just be funny; 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."

In a 2011 interview, James Bobin revealed that early scripts included a different ending, where it's revealed that Tex Richman was really Kermit in a human suit, having made up Tex's plans so that the Muppets would get back together.

Many Muppet characters that had not been seen in years were rebuilt for the film. According to Muppet designer Stephen Rotondaro; "A lot of stuff was recreated, some puppets had gone missing—like Marvin Suggs [the Muppet Show musician known for playing an instrument made of living balls of fluff]. At this point, there are bibles, so everything’s patterned and labeled."

Although the film used traditional puppets instead of computer-generated characters, there were several visual effects shots in the film, allowing the traditional characters to do things that they had not been able to do before. Visual effects producer Janet Muswell Hamilton spoke of finding the right balance; "About three months before shooting began, I realized that I needed an education on all things Muppets, because we really didn't want to cheat and use computer-generated puppets. We wanted the original puppets to do more than they've ever been able to do before ... and it was very interesting.

I spent lots of time with the puppeteers (and the director, of course) discussing ways to achieve our ideas. We needed cool concepts that no one's seen before -- all while maintaining the integrity of the Muppets, the Muppet franchise, the Muppet name, the Muppet feeling. The puppeteers were very intent on keeping everything, as they said, very "Muppet-y." It's a lot harder working with the fluffy characters than it is working with their computer-generated counterparts. You must always keep in mind where the puppeteers will stand (because they're there even though the audience doesn't see them), how they hold the puppets, and if they're able to move in certain positions. How can we help them achieve something new and exciting without undermining the creative presence of the Muppets?"

Filming


Production started in September 2010 and filming began on October 30, 2010. The November 12, 2010 issue of Entertainment Weekly featured a 2-page spread about the new Muppet movie. The article featured a summary of the film's concept along with quotes from Segel and Bobin. It also included the first photo of Walter, who up until then had never been seen, 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. A second version of this publicity photo was released including James Bobin, Nick Stoller, and Bret McKenzie.

The exteriors of the Jim Henson Company Studio Lot (the former Charlie Chaplin Studios) were redressed as Muppet Studios in November 2010 for the filming of The Muppets.

Mickey Rooney filmed a cameo for the film in November 2010. Ricky Gervais, Kathy Griffin and Billy Crystal filmed cameos in January 2011.

Hollywood Boulevard was closed for two nights on January 18th and 19th to film the final musical number. The shoot involved Amy Adams, Jason Segel and multiple Muppets singing and dancing in front of the El Capitan Theatre, with several rows of backup dancers and dozens of extras and Muppets filling the busy street.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Kermit will once again sing one of his signature songs, The Rainbow Connection to resurrect classic material, but also to show his range as an actor, as he says he's very dramatic in the film. In an interview Kermit said Segel's "a big kid," and added that "the only problem is he's very tall, so I have to do most of my scenes standing on boxes. He's 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4, and I'm only about 18 inches high." Kermit also said he's excited to be back in the movies: "Not only is it a big project but we get to be big on the screen. It's good for all of us except Piggy. She's not crazy about being any bigger."

Scenes which take place in Paris were achieved through the use of green screen. Other scenes, including Kermit reprising "Rainbow Connection" in a rainstorm, were filmed on a sound stage.

Principal photography was completed on February 11, 2011.

On April 26, 2011, a second unit film crew traveled to Reno, Nevada to film some exterior shots. Including a scene in the Bonanza Casino parking lot with some Muppet characters, and a small shot looking into the casino.

On July 24, 2011, the film crew returned to Hollywood Boulevard to film some re-shoots in front of the El Capitan Theatre with Jason Segel, several Muppets, and extras. Amy Adams was not available for the re-shoots, so her stand-in was on the set.



Cast



 * Muppet Performers
 * Steve Whitmire as Kermit, Beaker, Statler, Rizzo, Link Hogthrob, The Newsman, Lips
 * Eric Jacobson as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle, Marvin Suggs, Animal
 * Dave Goelz as Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Beauregard, Waldorf, Kermit Moopet, Reporter
 * Bill Barretta as The Swedish Chef, Rowlf, Dr. Teeth, Pepe the Prawn, Bobo, Mahna Mahna, Muppet Gary, Behemoth, Beautiful Day Monster, Lead Hobo Muppet, Singing Food
 * David Rudman as Scooter, Janice, Miss Poogy, Wayne, Bobby Benson, Singing Food
 * Matt Vogel as Sgt. Floyd Pepper, Camilla, Sweetums, '80s Robot, Lew Zealand, Uncle Deadly, Rowlf Moopet, Janice Moopet, Crazy Harry, Singing Food
 * Peter Linz as Walter, Singing Food, Mutation, hippie (voice only), Human Walter (voice only)


 * Additional Muppet Performers
 * Tyler Bunch (Fozzie Moopet, Thog, Hobo, Reporter), Bruce Lanoil (Singing Food, Hobo Muppet), Michelan Sisti (Singing Food), Paul McGinnis, Greg Ballora, David Barclay, Tim Blaney, Kevin Carlson, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Kristin Charney, Nathan Danforth (Mutation), Alice Dinnean (Afghan Hound and Wanda), Julia Gunn, BJ Guyer, Tanya Haden, Patrick Johnson, Sean Johnson, Len Levitt, James Murray, Michael Oosterom, Karen Prell, Mike Quinn, David Skelly, Andy Stone, Art Vega, Alex Villa, Chase Woolner


 * 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


 * Stunts:
 * Mickey Giacomazzi, Simon Rhee, Bryan Becker, Charlie Brewer, Chris Carnel, Jeff Chumas, John Cypert, Max Daniels, Mark Donaldson, Zoli Dora, AJ Dunn, Thomas Dupont, Debbie Evans-Leavitt, Jeremy Fitzgerald, Jeremy Fry (Anger Management Member), Derek Graf, Dave Hayles (Hobo carrying Jack Black ), Steve Kelso, Scott Leva, Bonnie Morgan (Smalltown Circus Acrobat ), Gary Morgan ("Punch Teacher" Teacher), Nicole Randall, David Reinhart, Kerry Rossall, Buddy Sosthand (Anger Management Member), Glenn Takajian, CC Taylor, Jimmy Waitman (stunt double for Jack Black), Webster Whinery, Dan Wynands (Anger Management Member), Alvin Zalamea (Anger Management Member)

Casting Notes

 * Rob Corddry, Billy Crystal, Ricky Gervais, Kathy Griffin, Sarah Hyland, Sterling Knight, Wanda Sykes and Danny Trejo filmed cameos; however, their scenes were cut from the final film. These cameos were all included in the bonus features of the film's Blu-ray release; additionally, Sykes and Trejo's scene was featured in the film's "The Fuzzy Pack" teaser trailer.
 * Although uncredited, veteran Muppet performer Jerry Nelson can be heard as the announcer during The Muppet Telethon. Also uncredited, Greg Berg (voices on Muppet Babies) can be heard as a crew member counting down to the start of the telethon, while the same scene has director James Bobin appearing in the control room.
 * The Disneyland Band makes an appearance during the "Life's a Happy Song" number at the beginning of the film.

Muppet Cast

 * Muppet Characters
 * 80s Robot, Afghan Hound, Animal, Beaker, Beauregard, Behemoth, Bobo the Bear, Camilla, Chickens, Crazy Harry, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Dr. Teeth, Floyd, Fozzie Moopet, Fozzie Bear, Gary, Gonzo, Janice, Kermit the Frog, Lew Zealand, Link Hogthrob, Mahna Mahna, Marvin Suggs, Miss Piggy, Miss Poogy, Muppaphones, Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf the Dog, Sam the Eagle, Scooter, The Snowths, Statler and Waldorf, Sweetums, The Moopets, The Newsman, The Swedish Chef, Uncle Deadly, Walter, Wayne and Wanda, Zoot


 * Background Muppets
 * Atrics Drummer, Babies, The Barbershop Cactus Quartet, Beautiful Day Monster, Bertha, Big Mean Carl, Blustering Bellowpane Monster, Bobby Benson, Crocodile, Droop, Dr. Julius Strangepork, The Early Bird, Frackles, Frogs, Iguana, James Bobin Muppet, Lips, Luncheon Counter Monster, Mo Frackle, Monkeys, The Mutations, Nigel, Nigel the Conductor, Penguins, Pokey, Rabbits, Rats, Rizzo the Rat, Robin the Frog, Sheep, Singing Food, Thog, Trumpet Girl, Whatnots, Yolanda Rat

Credits

 * Director: James Bobin
 * Writers: Jason Segel and Nick Stoller
 * Producers: David Hoberman, and Todd Lieberman
 * Executive Producers: Segel, Stoller, John G. Scotti, Martin G. Baker
 * Director of Photography: Don Burgess
 * Production Designer: Steve Saklad
 * Costume Designer: Rahel Afiley
 * Original Score: Christophe Beck
 * Music Supervisor/Original Songs: Bret McKenzie
 * Choreographer: Michael Rooney
 * Associate Producer: Bill Barretta
 * Stunt Coordinator: Allan Graf
 * Assistant Choreographers: Danny Valle, Michael Riccio

Muppet Workshop

 * Puppeteer Captain: Bill Barretta
 * On Set Puppet Workshop Supervisor: Jane Gootnick
 * Puppet Specialists: Carol Binion, Mary Brehmer, Andrea Detwiler, Brad Elliot, Alex "Jurgen" Ferguson, Scott Johnson, Peter MacKennan, Stephen Rotondaro
 * Puppet Mechanical Effects: Thomas O. Newby
 * Key Puppet P.A.: Tiff Gravel
 * 80’s Robot and Muppet Man Effects Designed and Created by Legacy Effects
 * Costumes by Jim Henson's Creature Shop
 * Muppet Costumes: Polly P. Smith, Constance Peterson, Muriel Stockdale Grabe, Jason Weber, Doug James, Rebecca Jarrell, Anney Fresh Ozar, Cheryl Blalock, Erin Slattery Black, Marc Borders, Nicola Gardiner, Rollie Krewson
 * Muppet Designers & Builders: Puppet Heap
 * Designers/Builders: Paul Andrejco, Jean Marie Keevins, Danielle Obinger, Lauren Attinello, Megan Bailey, Matthew Brennan, Kelli Burton, Michael Bush, Steph Cathro, Melissa Creighton, Amy Delay, Richard Dyar, Isabelle Dufour, Henri Ewaskio, Morgan Filteai, Duncan Gillis, Vanessa Gillis, James Godwin, Ariella Goldstein, Anthony Grosso, Paul Hartis, Jim Kroupa, Lars MacLean (sic), Laura Manns, Tom McLaughlin, Jeff Mills, Colette Nickola, Anna Paniccia, Jane Pien, Diana Schoenbrun, Sally Thomas, Laureen Vierno, Nate Wilson

Promotion
See: The Muppets Promotion


 * Posters
 * Domestic
 * Foreign
 * Trailers
 * Green with Envy
 * The Fuzzy Pack
 * Being Green
 * First official trailer
 * The Pig with the Froggy Tattoo
 * Second official trailer
 * The Final Muppets Parody Trailer
 * Commercials
 * AMC Theatres
 * Alamo Rent a Car
 * Cravendale
 * Orange
 * Underwriters Laboratories
 * Wonderful Pistachios
 * Other video
 * TV spots
 * Film clips and interviews
 * Appearances
 * Magazines
 * Entertainment Weekly
 * Disney twenty-three
 * Wired
 * In Style
 * New York Magazine
 * American Way
 * Delta Sky Magazine

Merchandise and tie-ins

 * See The Muppets (2011) merchandise

Several books based on the film - I Am Kermit the Frog and Meet the Muppets along with a junior novelization - were released in October 2011. The Muppets: The Reusable Sticker Book and The Muppets: Theater Stage Set were also released as a direct tie-in to the movie.

The film's soundtrack was released on November 21, 2011 from Walt Disney Records. A series of plush dolls - including a doll of the film's new Muppet, Walter - were released by the Disney Store.

OPI produced a line of Muppet nail polish during the 2011 holiday season, to tie-in in with the release of The Muppets. SpiritHoods produced a line of Muppet hoods featuring Kermit, Miss Piggy and Gonzo, as part of the SpiritHoods Kids line, to promote the release of the film.

A set of The Muppets PEZ dispensers will be released featuring Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and for the first time, Animal.

The Muppets made promotional tie-ins and cross-promotional material for AMC Theatres, Alamo Rent a Car, Cravendale, Google+, miniclip.com, Orange, Underwriters Laboratories, Wonderful Pistachios and Yamaha.

Selected Awards
Academy Awards

WON
 * Best Song: Man or Muppet - Bret McKenzie, Peter Linz (as Walter) and Jason Segel

Broadcast Film Critics Association Award

WON
 * Best Song: Life's Happy Song - Bret McKenzie, Amy Adams and Jason Segel

NOMINATED
 * Best Comedy
 * Best Song: Man or Muppet - Bret McKenzie, Peter Linz (as Walter) and Jason Segel
 * Best Song: Pictures in My Head - Chen Neeman, Aris Archontis, Jeannie Lurie and Steve Whitmire (as Kermit)

Golden Reel Awards (from the Motion Picture Sound Editors)

WON
 * Best Sound Editing: Music in a Musical Feature Film - Lisa Jaime  and Richard Ford

The Comedy Awards (from Comedy Central)

NOMINATED
 * Comedy Director, Film - James Bobin

Kids' Choice Awards

NOMINATED
 * Favorite Movie
 * Favorite Movie Actress: Amy Adams

Sequel

 * See Muppets Most Wanted

Advance screenings

 * The Muppets World Premiere, Saturday, November 12, 2011
 * Museum of the Moving Image, Thursday, November 17, 2011
 * The Muppets' Fan-A-Thon Screenings, Saturday, November 19, 2011