Ricky Gervais Will Star In The Muppets 2 Confirmation from the horse's mouth 19 December 2012 | Written by Phil de Semlyen | Source: The Hollywood Reporter
UPDATE: It's official - Ricky Gervais will take the lead role in the upcoming Muppets sequel, his first since 2009's Invention Of Lying. Tweeting the news, Gervais has said: "I have the biggest trailer but Kermit will spend some time in my sink."
Ricky Gervais is in talks to join The Muppets follow-up according to The Hollywood Reporter. The comedian will take the Jason Segel role as the main human lead at the heart of the Muppety action. Singing, capering and the kind of improv Gervais excels at? No doubt, although we're not sure Miss Piggy will take kindly to any showboating.
As you can see from the video above, Gervais has worked closely with Henson talent like Elmo before, and there's the unscreened cameo in the 2011 movie, so fitting in with the cream of the Muppets again should be a cinch. He may even get the chance work alongside his favourite Muppet in the process. Alongside him in the movie's human cast will be Modern Family's Ty Burrell.
No word on what Gervais's role would be, but Burrell will play an Interpol 'tec in the movie, which will see Kermit and gang heading to Europe and dealing with both the law and a mysterious Russian beauty. Luckily, Kermie has a very particular set of skills...
The so-far untitled Muppets sequel sees James Bobin return to direct. Bobin also takes over co-writer duties from Segel alongside The Muppets' vet Nicholas Stoller. The whole shebang kicks off at Pinewood in coming months so expect one or two more casting notices — that Russian femme fatale amongst them — before then.
I always thought that Gervais was a muppet .............. ironic huh? ;) More
Posted by BagEnder at 15:57 on 02 January 2013 | Report This Post
RE: not impressed
L: AxlReznor
I find him funny sometimes. But he's not a good fit for The Muppets. His brand of comedy is for children, and unlike Jason Segel, he'll be able to adapt to child-friendly fareuote]
Flanimals. That is all I'm still looking forward to this as much as I was before I read this news. It probably helps that I'm still a fan of Gervais I'd imagine n't the first person I'd think of to star in a Muppet film but then again neither was Michael Caine and that worked out alright. More
Posted by Harry Tuttle at 15:17 on 02 January 2013 | Report This Post
RE: Brilliant news
It'd make perfect sense if he brought in Karl Pilkinton surely "King Of The Muppets!"r there was one. More
Posted by Wild about Wilder at 13:40 on 19 December 2012 | Report This Post
RE:
Ouch - going from someone as effortlessly likeable as Jason Segal to someone as smug and creepy as Gervias is going to be jarring.
Unless, of course, he's playing the villain. More
Posted by Histeria at 12:00 on 18 December 2012 | Report This Post
RE: not impressed
I find him funny sometimes. But he's not a good fit for The Muppets. His brand of comedy is for children, and unlike Jason Segel, I doubt he'll be able to adapt to child-friendly fare. More
Posted by AxlReznor at 10:16 on 18 December 2012 | Report This Post
