Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Jane Lynch, Lady Gaga, Ed Helms Into "Muppets"

Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Jane Lynch, Lady Gaga, Ed Helms Into "Muppets"

Movie News


By our guest blogger, Matthew Jussim

The upcoming "Muppets" film, which is set to be released next Christmas, is starting to shape up beautifully, adding some big names to the already stacked cast.

Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper and Rashida Jones have already been cast in the project which James Bobin ("Flight of the Conchords") is directing from a script co-written by Nick Stoller and Segel.

Now news is starting to filter out about some other big names joining up. According to The Wrap, "Glee" star Jane Lynch will join in as a prison guard, while "Machete" star Danny Trejo will pop up as her prisoner. The site also reports that Donald Glover is in as well, in an undisclosed role.

On top of that, Production Weekly added some more rumored names to the list, mentioning the likes of Jack Black for a role, Zach Galifianakis as Hobo Jo, and Paul Rudd as Walter the Muppet. They also allude to Lady Gaga appearing in the project with John Krasinski, Eric Stonestreet and Ed Helms playing members of her entourage.

While nothing is quite set in stone, to me this huge and welcome news for this project. Anyone who saw "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" knows Segel is the real deal when it comes to Muppets, and after a two-page spread previewing the movie in last week's Entertainment Weekly, I am sold.

The comedic names attached to this film are just amazing, and anyone who was worried that the "Muppets" franchise may be in the wrong hands is sorely mistaken. Even if the project gets half of the names mentioned here, they will be in good standing.

While I like everyone, the ones that really get me jumping is Donald Glover and everyone involved who is on "The Office" (aka, John Krasinski and Ed Helms). Glover is fantastic on "Community" and after seeing him do standup at Carnegie Hall last week, I am a fan for life--his addition to the film would be awesome.

The film's plot (part of which was revealed in the EW spread) involves Segel and a new Muppet character named Walter who are roommates and huge "Muppet" fans. When the duo finds out that the Muppet Theater is in danger of being torn down, they set out to save it, hoping they can get the famous group of Muppets to reunite.

Everything about this film is getting me excited for next Christmas. How do you think the film will pan out?).