Muppets Most Wanted



Muppets Most Wanted is the Muppets' eighth feature film, a direct follow-up to the 2011 feature film The Muppets, released by Disney in 2014. The screenplay was written by James Bobin and Nick Stoller, returning from the previous film. Bobin also returned to direct the film.

A new Pixar short, featuring characters from Monsters University, precedes the film in its theatrical release.

The film has been described as a "comedy caper" set in Europe. Ricky Gervais stars as Dominic Badguy, "a male lead whose intentions are always in question," along with Ty Burrell as Jean Pierre Napoleon, a French Interpol agent, Tina Fey as "a feisty prison guard named Nadya," and a "slew of cameos".

According to an interview with Kermit the Frog: "The idea of this film is that our gang is on this global tour, and we're selling out these grand theaters all over Europe—in Berlin, Madrid, London—but we sort of get into a little bit of trouble when we run across my doppelgänger. He's the world's number one criminal, Constantine, and he happens to look an awful lot like me. I won't tell you any more than that, but let's just say mayhem ensues."

Official Synopsis
''Disney’s "Muppets Most Wanted" takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid and London. But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine—the World’s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit—and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two, portrayed by Ricky Gervais. The film stars Tina Fey as Nadya, a feisty prison guard, and Ty Burrell as Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon. Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” is directed by James Bobin and produced by David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman. Bobin co-wrote the screenplay with Nicholas Stoller, who is also executive producer with John G. Scotti. Featuring music from Academy Award®-winning songwriter Bret McKenzie, “Muppets Most Wanted” hits the big screen March 21, 2014.''

Cast



 * as released by Walt Disney Studios


 * Muppet Performers
 * Steve Whitmire as Kermit the Frog, Foo-Foo, Statler, Beaker, Lips, Rizzo the Rat, Link Hogthrob, The Newsman
 * Eric Jacobson as Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle, Animal
 * Dave Goelz as The Great Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Zoot, Beauregard, Waldorf
 * Bill Barretta as Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, The Swedish Chef, Bobo the Bear, Big Mean Carl, Baby Boss, Carlo Flamingo, Leprechaun Security Guard
 * David Rudman as Scooter, Janice, Miss Poogy, Bobby Benson, Wayne
 * Matt Vogel as Constantine, Floyd Pepper, Sweetums, Pops, Robin, Lew Zealand, Crazy Harry, 80s Robot, Camilla, Uncle Deadly
 * Peter Linz as Walter, Manolo Flamingo


 * Human Cast
 * Ricky Gervais as Dominic Badguy
 * Ty Burrell as Jean Pierre Napoleon
 * Tina Fey as Nadya
 * Tony Bennett as Himself
 * Hugh Bonneville as Irish Journalist
 * William Brand as Berliner #2
 * Andres Cantor as Announcer
 * Jemaine Clement as Prison King
 * Kenneth Collard as Berliner #1
 * Sean Combs as Himself
 * Rob Corddry as First AD
 * Mackenzie Crook as Prado Museum Guard #1
 * Céline Dion as Piggy Fairy Godmother
 * Lady Gaga as Herself
 * Zach Galifianakis as Hobo Joe
 * Josh Groban as Maximum Security Prisoner
 * Salma Hayek as Herself
 * Tom Hiddleston as The Great Escapo
 * Tom Hollander as Theater Manager
 * Toby Jones as Prado Museum Guard #2
 * Frank Langella as Beefeater Vicar
 * Ray Liotta as Big Papa
 * Ross Lynch as Young Florist
 * James McAvoy as UPS Guy
 * Aleksandar Mikic as Other Guard
 * Chloë Grace Moretz as Newspaper Girl
 * Fleur Poad as Berliner #3
 * Dylan "Hornswoggle" Postl as Prisoner One
 * Usher Raymond as The Usher
 * Miranda Richardson as Berliner at Window
 * Saoirse Ronan as Herself
 * Til Schweiger as German Cop
 * Russell Tovey as Delivery Man
 * Danny Trejo as Danny Trejo
 * Stanley Tucci as Ivan the Guard
 * Christoph Waltz as Himself


 * LA Muppet Performers
 * David Barclay, Tim Blaney, Julianne Buescher, Tyler Bunch, Kevin Carlson, Nathan Danforth, Alice Dinnean, Tanya Haden, Patrick Johnson, Sean Johnson, Brian Jones, Bruce Lanoil, James Murray, Michael Oosterom, Brett O'Quinn, Mike Quinn, Michelan Sisti, David Skelly, Art Vega, Alex Villa, Chase Woolner


 * UK Muppet Performers
 * Louise Gold, Nigel Plaskitt, Mak Wilson, Warrick Brownlow-Pike, David Silva Covarrubias


 * Additional UK Muppet Performers
 * Don Austen, William Banyard, Daisy Beattie, Sue Beattie, Lynn Robertson Bruce, Dave Chapman, Marcus Clarke, Richard Coombs, Sue Dacre, Phil Eason, Iestyn Evans, Damian Farrell, Andy Heath, Paul Jomain, Mark Mander, Alison Mcgowan, Helena Smee, Katherine Smee, Andrew Spooner, Olly Taylor, Chris Thatcher, Robert Tygner, Fiona Wilson, Sheila Clark, Matthew Crowfoot, Geoffrey Felix, Rachel Leonard, Tony Lymboura, Stan Middleton, Colin Purves, Neil Sterenberg, Mandy Travis

Muppet Cast

 * Muppet Characters (speaking)
 * Andy and Randy Pig, Animal, Babies, Beaker, Beauregard, Big Mean Carl, Bobby Benson, Bobo the Bear, Chickens, Constantine, Crazy Harry, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Dr. Teeth, Floyd, The Flying Zucchini Brothers, Foo-Foo, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Janice, Kermit the Frog, Leprechauns, Lew Zealand, Link Hogthrob, Manolo and Carlo Flamingo, Miss Piggy, Miss Poogy, The Newsman, Penguins, Pepe the King Prawn, Pops, Rizzo the Rat, Robin the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, Sam the Eagle, Scooter, Statler and Waldorf, The Swedish Chef, Sweetums, Uncle Deadly, Walter


 * Background Muppets (non-speaking)
 * 80s Robot, Afghan Hound, Angel Marie, Annie Sue, Armadillo, Behemoth, Beautiful Day Monster, Black Dog, Blind Pew, Blustering Bellowpane Monster, Bubba, Bulls, Calico, Captain Pighead, Carter, Croaker, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Droop, Frackles, Frogs, Geri and the Atrics drummer, Gorillas, Gramps, Howard Tubman, J. G., Lips, Mahna Mahna, Marvin Suggs, Mildred Huxtetter, Muppaphone, Muppets Tonight Band drummer, The Mutations, Nigel, One-Eyed Jack, Pigs, Pigeon, Pokey, Quongo, Rats, Shark, Sheep, Snowths, Spamela Hamderson, Spotted Dick, Thingy-Thing, Thog, Trumpet Girl, Unicorn, Walleye Pike, Wayne and Wanda, Whatnots, Zoot

Crew

 * Director: James Bobin
 * Writers: James Bobin and Nick Stoller
 * Executive Producers: John G. Scotti, Nick Stoller
 * Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman
 * Original Songs: Bret McKenzie
 * Music by: Christophe Beck
 * Muppet Designers and Builders: Puppet Heap
 * Puppet Heap: Paul Andrejco, Lauren Attinello, Barbara Bosak, Kelli Burton, Michael Bush, Stephanie Cathro, Vanessa Chan, Rhys Chapman, Ceili Clemens, Melissa Creighton, Carole D'Agostino, Isabelle Dufour, Richard Dyar, Henri Ewaskio, James Godwin, Anthony Grosso, Elizabeth Hara, Deborah Hertzberg, Ann Marie Holdgruen, Lisa Howard, Jean Marie Keevins, Tom Mclaughlin, Danielle Obinger, Anna Paniccia, Maria Scheibe, Diana Schoenbrun, Mari Tobita, David Valentine, Cynthia Woodie, Brendan Yi-Fu Tay
 * Interns: Jane Andrejco, Margaret Andrejco, Owen Andrejco, Emily Irvine, Casey Miller, Sarah Pickup, Devora Reiss, Nelly Reyes, Yu-Chun Wang


 * Muppet Workshop
 * Puppet Captain: Bill Barretta
 * Special Effects Supervisor (puppets): Jane Gootnick
 * Special Effects Senior Technicians (puppets): Mary Brehmer, Scott Johnson, Peter Mackennan, Andrea Detwiler
 * Animatronics Supervisor (puppets): Thomas O. Newby
 * Animatronics Designers (puppets): Tim Rose, Adam Keenan
 * Modelers (puppets): Janet Knechtel, Darryl Worbey
 * Puppet Workshop Coordinator: Catriona Rings
 * Puppet Workshop Assistant: Joanne Chan

Release Dates

 * Argentina - March 20, 2014
 * Philippines / United States - March 21, 2014
 * UK - March 28, 2014
 * Australia / New Zealand - April 3, 2014
 * Netherlands - April 16, 2014
 * Singapore / Portugal - April 24, 2014
 * Germany - May 1, 2014
 * France - May 7, 2014
 * Brazil - June 26, 2014

Development
On March 3, 2012 it was announced in Variety that James Bobin and Nick Stoller would pen the screenplay for a sequel to The Muppets. Bobin and Stoller started writing the script on April 12, 2012 which was described as a "comedy caper" set in Europe. In a March 2012 interview, Jason Segel (co-writer, producer, and star of The Muppets) said that he will not return for the sequel, stating: "I have handed off the Muppets to my writing partner [Nick Stoller] and to James Bobin. My goal was to bring the Muppets back and I feel like I accomplished that. I feel like they're in really good hands. But it was half a decade of my life, I just want a little breather, and I know that they're going to nail it." Stoller said the film could possibly have a cameo for Jason Segel, however Segel later stated that he will not appear in the film.

Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy appeared at CinemaCon on April 24, 2012 to officially announce that a new Muppet movie is in development. The official Muppets Facebook page reported the news with a teaser image for "The Muppets 2."

It was reported in November 4 that producer Todd Lieberman and composer Bret McKenzie will return for the sequel, which began filming in late January 2013 at Pinewood Studio in London. Principal production in London wrapped on April 16, 2013 and filming moved to Los Angeles in May 2013.

In February 2013, production designer Eve Stewart let slip that she was working on a scene featuring Miss Piggy's wedding at the Tower of London. In addition to the United Kingdom, filming also took place outside the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, to recreate the previous film's ending.

In January 2013, Disney announced a release date of March 21, 2014 for the film. The working title for the film, which was used throughout principal filming, was "The Muppets... Again!." On June 13, 2013, Disney announced that the film had been retitled Muppets Most Wanted.

Casting
In October 2012, it was announced that Christoph Waltz was originally in negotiations to star as the lead Interpol inspector in the film, however in December it was announced that Ty Burrell was signed to the role (Waltz had declined the part due to schedule conflicts). In an interview posted later that month, Waltz said he'd been talking about the movie again and may still appear, but "it might just be one of these little what-they-call cameos."

On December 16, 2012 Ricky Gervais announced that he would star in the film. Gervais tweeted: "I have just signed up to play the lead in the next Muppet movie. I have the biggest trailer but Kermit will spend some time in my sink." Gervais commented on his role in the film on his website: "You may have read that I have accepted the lead role in the next Muppet movie. I didn't so much accept it as jump at the chance. I fucking love The Muppets. (I'll probably have to tone down my language for Disney.) We start filming in January. I can't wait. I'll be hangin' with those cuddly little critters all day."

In January 2013, reports surfaced that Tina Fey was in the final negotiations to play "a Russian gulag prison guard" in the film.

Marketing
In July 2013, Kermit and Miss Piggy appeared a YouTube video from the cast and crew of Muppets Most Wanted congratulating the royal family on the birth of Prince George. Later that month Muppets Most Wanted was featured in a series of Disney Channel interstitials staring Disney Channel stars and cameo actors Ross Lynch and Debby Ryan.

Disney released the first teaser trailer for the film on August 6, 2013 and was shown in theaters with screenings of Disney's Planes. The film's theatrical poster was released on October 28, 2013 and a full theatrical trailer was released on November 21, 2013.

In the months leading to the film's release, the Muppets made many appearances in promotion with the film; including tie-ins with such clients as Toyota, Lipton, QVC and Club Penguin, as well as appearing on talk shows, web videos, and other media.

Merchandise and tie-ins

 * See Muppets Most Wanted Merchandise

Several books based on the film—Kermit's Double Trouble, a read-along storybook and CD, and a junior novelization—were released in February 2014. Additionally, The Muppets Character Encyclopedia featured many of the film's new characters.

The film's soundtrack was released by Walt Disney Records. A collection of Muppet plush dolls - including a doll of the villain, Constantine - were released by the Disney Store in January. A trick-or-treat bag for the film was available at Disney's Hollywood Studios around Halloween 2013 to promote the film.

Advance screenings

 * Muppets Most Wanted World Premiere, Tuesday, March 11, 2014
 * New York International Children's Film Festival, Saturday, March 15, 2011