With production gearing up on the franchise reboot “The Muppets” starring Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Rashida Jones and Chris Cooper, we now have our first look at the wild and wacky felt-covered gang being assembled for the pic. And if you look closely, you’ll notice a new face in there.
Yep, the Muppet on the right holding the iPhone is a new character named Walter, and he plays an important role in the film. In an EW profile on the film (not yet online), he’s described as “a sweet, slightly naive twenty-something Everypuppet who, in the movie, is the best friend and roommate of Segel’s character, Gary. Both Gary and Walter are die-hard Muppet fans.”
“Walter is the kind of guy who faints when he sees Kermit,” director James Bobin told the magazine. Segel elaborated on the character, adding “Walter has a little bit of a self-confidence issue because he’s the only person like him that he’s seen aside from the Muppets. His dream is to meet the Muppets and be around people who are like him.” It sounds like a really fun way to introduce a new character, and a sweet premise on which to launch the film; we definitely dig it.
The new film will take place within a showbiz setting and follow the Muppets as they try to save their studio from a greedy oil baron (Cooper) who wants to dig for oil. Segel is set to play the lead who reunites the Muppets for one last show to save the studio; Adams is his girlfriend, while Jones will play an ABC executive. Zach Galifianakis was recently rumored to be taking part in the film as well and we guess it will be one of the many cameos that are apparently being lined up for the project.
“The Muppets” will land next on Christmas Day 2011. [ComingSoon]
