New Muppet movie in development for potential 2013 release

I personally feel they should've just left it as being announced another movie is being made with the aim of it being released next year. It's kind of annoying to me just giving us teasers when I don't even think James and Nick know how they want the story to go. They probably won't even get the script done till towards the end of this year. So in some ways I don't think they should release anything until shooting has started.

It's the curse of 24 hour news. There always has to be an update, even when there's clearly nothing new to report.

Haha its almost like "gotta tell them something" lol!

Sorry for the excitement guys! I didn't realize the interview predated the development of the next film. *Walks of embarresed*

As fans, we tend to overly-scrutinize and/or overly-praise each production. Entertainment is ultimately about commerce. Most everything in life comes down to the bottom line. Maintaining quality standards can be a crucial part of maintaining a franchise. Running brands into the ground can also be a way to make millions of quick bucks. We've seen Disney try both of these methods.

Things have greatly improved since Michael Eisner and his bargain cheapquels have departed the Walt Disney Company. The dreadful, poorly drawn video sequels for Little Mermaid and other beloved properties are gone and replaced by things like the Tinkerbell franchise. That might seem like a lateral step to some, yet it's a series that's geared to tweens without feeling the need to directly scar the Peter Pan legacy. It's a balancing act and not a perfect one. It's unreasonable to ask a company to lock these precious properties in a box to prevent further tinkering no matter how much some fans would wish it so. Tinkering is going to happen and it can happen with a thoughtful game plan in place.

Cars 2 didn't excite me. It wasn't Pixar's worst film. It wasn't their best either. Nonetheless it was moderately enjoyable with plenty of eye-popping graphics, funny gags and quality craftsmanship. It also sold an insane amount of toys. I'm actually looking forward to Monsters U. I felt there were many squandered opportunities with the original movie and this origin story doesn't meddle with the Monsters Inc masterpiece.

I think this new Muppet movie has the potential to be absolutely anything. Some fans are going to be optimistic. Others are going to find things to worry about. It's rather presumptuous for any of us to worry at this point. If a 22 minute Muppet Show script can be written in less than a week, a quality 90 minute Muppet movie script can certainly be penned in a few months. I'm just having a good time hearing about all the new Muppet happenings in the works!

If I could like your comment 20 times jvccaroll I would. You make some really good points.

I feel I have to mention this...

The Tinkerbell movies are based off of Italian Disney comics. I feel there's a LOT of untapped potential for DTV/cartoon series based on the Italian Disney comics, and Tinkerbell's just scratching a surface that desperately needs to... uh... keep being scratched up.

Pixar thus far only made 3 sequels. Toy Story 2 was just about forced on Pixar by Disney, but Pixar ran with it. The third one was clearly a challenge, egged on by Disney's threat of making one without them. And hearing Disney's Below Saturday morning quality version, it's almost like Pixar went, for lack of a better term, Super Sayian with the biggest emotional film they could. Because of that, I find the film a HUGE middle finger to Eisner just for that.

Cars 2 seems like a 90 minute episode of a Cars cartoon series. But the point was clearly to sell little car toys and get the 5-8 year olds that love the first movie back for the second. I have no idea what to expect out of Monster University, but I have nothing but optimism for the project. I think Boom's Monsters Inc 4 issue limited series proved there's a lot of life in those characters.

I don't see why there's any negativity at all. Other than the fact that we don't even have a solid plot yet, the last film proved they can bring life back into the franchise without having to stoop to the weird gimmicks they tried back in 1992. Above all, the last film was establishmentary. That's why it was a "get the gang back together" film.

To me, the only reason I wouldn't be excited is if they announced the next film would be another classic retelling or another Christmas project. This film can be anything, and what it could potentially be is an exciting surprise. I'm sure once the script is done, something will be leaked, we'll see what's going down... and it will probably be a first draft. There's nothing to worry about.

As much as I'd like to see day-to-day dealings in the theatre from a cinematic perspective, I kind of think a road trip movie would work really well. I have no clue what the movie could be about. They've probably picked an even better idea. I just hope this time out that they can expand the characters' nuances and dimensionality. "The Muppets" was really the prequel/advertisement for a full-fledged Muppet movie.

I just know I'm excited and can't wait for the new Muppet movie!!!

A Road Trip movie would be cool and all, but how would they differentiate it from the first movie, or even Follow that Bird?

Somehow I'd like to see some sort of weird Mystery that gets weirder the closer they are to solving it. Maybe make it a period piece that's so self aware that it is one that someone always accidentally makes an anachronistic reference every so often.

But I agree... I wouldn't really want to see the theater, unless they have a good basis for it being there. The Muppet Theater worked for VMX and TM, but the reason why the first three movies worked as well as they did was that there was no references at all to the theater. That would be a nice third movie, using the theater as a basis... but I'm thinking that we need to get out of the TV setting and run wild somewhere. When they did that on Muppets Tonight, the show improved greatly.

I like the road trip idea, too. I think a vacation movie might be fun. The Muppets at Walt Disney World was a good special. Bo dragging Miss Piggy on all those rides, Gonzo and Camilla exploring "Walt Disney's Laundry Land", plus you had Animal chasing Snow White around and a lot of other funny stuff.

It would be fun to see the Muppets doing a type of "National Lampoon's Vacation"-type of spoof. They couldn't afford to stay at Motel 6's, so they had to settle for a "Motel 3 1/4". Gonzo could drive for a while, ignore the map (we know he's a bad driver) and wind up at the Biggest ball of Twine in Minnesota, which he would be thrilled about. (Insert long-overdue Weird Al cameo here).

The writers could find all kinds of bizarre tourist traps that really exist across the USA and have a lot of fun with them (or make up their own). Kermit would try to keep everything under control and stay on track (as always). A lot of people could relate to that because the Muppets are a family and how many of us have gone on a family vacation where a lot of stuff went wrong?

They might or might not have a main antagonist. Heck, they didn't have one in Manhattan and it was still a good movie.

That sound just different enough from Muppets go to Walt Disney World, and both road movies (TMM, FTB) to work.

Whats FTB?

It really wouldn't have to be all that different. I mean, how many "rally together to put on a show" projects have the Muppets done? The pitch is always identical, the execution is different.

Follow That Bird, the first Sesame Street movie.

YES!!! Weird Al's 2003 Eminem parody "Couch Potato" (spoofing "Lose Yourself") name-checked "the Muppet Show where they go 'Mahna Mahna'" so it's time to return the favour!!!

Seriously, count me in on the "Muppet road trip" idea. One of the things I like the best about Muppet movies are the exterior shots where they're clearly mixing with "our" world. We saw bits and pieces of that in The Muppets but I hope to see much more of it in the new movie.

Oh, Duh! Thanks!

Honestly I don't think you CAN do anything that HASN'T already been done. There's only so many original stories so no matter what Nick and James decide it's more then likely gonna be something that The Muppets have already done or something similar to.

I remeber how excited I was this past year for the movie! We get to go through the whole thing again!! Just the anticipation alone was a lot of fun! Can't wait to do it again!

same herer muppet fan 123