It’s time to get things started! Pics and plot details emerge for ‘The Muppets … Again!’
Thing are moving right along (doog-a-doon doog-a-doon) on “The Muppets” sequel as the first pics, a plot synopsis and official title have hit the online Rainbow Connection … courtesy of Kermit the Frog himself.
Kermit sat down for an interview with Entertainment Weekly to discuss the new Euro-adventure that’s now going by the name of “The Muppets … Again!”
“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 doppelganger,” said the longtime star. “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.”
Will that “mayhem” involve, say, Electric Mayhem? It appears they’ll be back for the sequel, along with the rest of the gang.
“The Dr. Teeth Band had to cancel a couple of engagements,” said Kermit. “They were playing at this little bar in Hoboken and they let that go just to come to London to do the movie.”
Walter, the latest member to the Muppets gang and the star of 2011’s “The Muppets,” will also be returning for the sequel, though his brother Gary (Jason Segel) won’t be. In fact, “The Muppets … Again!” will feature a brand-new human cast, including Ricky Gervais (as Constantine’s villainous sidekick), Tina Fey (as a Russian prison guard) and Ty Burrell (as an Interpol agent). Gervais in particular seems to be a natural for all things Muppet.
“Ricky Gervais is kind of like a Muppet, if you think about it,” said Kermit. “He fits right in. He’s about our size. I actually think when this film ends it’s going to be hard to get rid of him.”
The human crew is pretty psyched about next year’s most sensational inspirational celebrational Muppetational movie, too.
“I always loved those classic jewel-heist capers from the ’60s and ’70s, so I was very keen to do a movie that had elements of that [genre] featuring the Muppets and comedy and songs,” said director James Bobin, who co-wrote the script with Nicholas Stoller.
Indeed, everyone seems to be having a merry old time while on location in merry old England, a prominent country in Muppet lore both behind the scenes and as the setting for 1981’s “The Great Muppet Caper.”
“We have lots of old friends here. And I’ve met the queen,” said Kermit. “She doesn’t know I’m in town yet but I plan to go see her. I try to stay close to the royalty. There’s always that outside chance I could get turned into a prince, you see. Pretty important stuff for a frog.”
“The Muppets … Again!” will raise the curtain in theaters on March 21, 2014.