I would do the same thing, Jason Segal

If I were hired to write the new Muppet Movie, I would make one thing clear: Only one human is capable of playing the character I'm about to write and that's me, baby. How could you possibly pass on your chance to play with the Muppets in person? Oh, sure, writing them is awesome, but I want to be punched by Miss Piggy, warble with Beeker, and run from Animal. Heat Vision is reporting that Jason Segal, writer of the upcoming Greatest Muppet Movie Ever Made, is no dummy. He just got cast as the lead. As for the script, Slashfilm spilled more than I've heard before with the following:

"Segel’s role is as human Gary, a chap whose best friend is the puppet bear Walter. Together they go on a journey with Gary’s girlfriend Mary to defeat the evil Tex Richman, a man who doesn’t find the Muppets funny and thinks he can smell oil beneath their studio. There are plenty of celebrity cameos written into the script (please, Sean Penn, say yes) and a great showcase piece each for most of my favorite Muppets."

I think I just peed a little. Sean Penn? That's just...inspired. I'm so full of joy at this moment I think I'm ready to run around and wave my arms around like a Muppet myself. Now here's Gonzo and some chickens just for fun.

Bobin to the Muppets

When it comes to opening theme songs, there's "The Muppet Show" and then there's everybody else.

Wow. Quasi-orgasmic. That just got me excited for John Cleese. JOHN CLEESE. No one has been excited for John Cleese in almost 2 decades, so that's impressive. I'm seriously contemplating some adaptation of this for my funeral. Anyhoodle, the news associated with this post is that Vulture is reporting the co-creator of "Flight of the Concords," James Bobin, has been offered the right of first refusal on directing the upcoming, Jason Segal-scripted, big-screen Muppet return. I don't yet know what comical misadventures our fuzzy friends will be engaged in, but I do know that I am so stupid excited for this that I am practically meeping like Beeker. Bobin has a relationship with Judd Apatow, as does Segal, which bodes well for the type of comedy we'll be getting. Then again, that was kind of to be expected given the nostalgia factor expressed by Segal in almost every interview. I don't think the studio realizes what kind of phenomenon they can have on their hands if they play things right. Between people from my age group (let's call that the 25+ group...just to be living in denial) and the market for children (the flippin' Squeakquel did north of 200 milly), this could be a well-timed cultural supernova. Watch out Avatar! I'm sicking Gonzo on your ass!