The wait is over. Kermit and the Muppet gang are back in Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted, a sequel to the successful 2011 reboot of Jim Henson’s Muppets franchise. This is the eighth Muppet movie and the film picks up pretty much right where The Muppets left off, as the gang continue their comeback with a European tour, only to get caught up in an international crime caper, involving evil Kermit look-alike Constantine and his Number 2 sidekick, Dominic Badguy (pronounced “Bad-gee” – it’s French) played by Ricky Gervais.
James Bobin (Flight of the Conchords and the upcoming Alice in Wonderland sequel) returns to the direct as well as co-writing this time, with Nicholas Stoller (The Muppets, Get Him to the Greek). The film also co-stars, Tina Fey as Nadya, and Ty Burrell, as Jean Pierre Napoleon.
During his show business career, which began on television in 1955, Kermit has shared the stage and screen with a lot of Hollywood A-listers. His other credits include; the international television hit The Muppet Show, an Oscar nominated song, “Rainbow Connection,” a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a memoir, “Look Before You Leap: A Frog’s Eye View of Life’s Greatest Lessons” published in 2006. Not bad for a charming amphibian discovered on a lily pad, eh? When Kermit’s not busy hobnobbing with the stars, he resides in a swamp, where he maintains a bachelor pad.
Miss Piggy aka the Divine Swine made her show business debut as a chorus performing pig on The Muppet Show, and soon pushed herself to the front row (a diva in the making) right next to the star frog. The rest is history. The Muppet Show ran from 1976-1981, and other television specials include Miss Piggy’s Hollywood and The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show. She’s graced international magazine covers and has appeared at the Academy Awards as a presenter – but still not a winner (or even a nominee). Her last book, “The Diva Code: Miss Piggy on Life, Love and the 10,000 Idiotic Things Men/Frogs Do,” was a bestseller.
Kermit and Miss Piggy found time in their hectic schedules to sit down with Screen Rant to discuss reuniting with the old gang (again) for Muppets Most Wanted as well as the secret to Miss Piggy’s youthful appearance in the film.
Screen Rant: Can you talk about reuniting together with the cast and the crew after three years?
Kermit the Frog: It was great!
Miss Piggy: Well a lot of the cast and crew were different this time around.
Kermit the Frog: Well, that’s true. That’s true.
Miss Piggy: We shot the last movie in Los Angeles primarily.
Kermit the Frog: True. True.
Miss Piggy: And this one we shot in merry old England.
SR: How did you enjoy England? Did you break for high tea or see the Crown Jewels?
Kermit the Frog: Well I’d seen them before. I did the tour you see. I do have to say that was an incredibly well done set.
Miss Piggy: I always visit the Crown Jewels.
Kermit the Frog: You do?
Miss Piggy: Every time I go to England, yes. It’s a kind of a mecca for me.
SR: I’m sure you have some jewels of your own.
Miss Piggy: Yes, I’m sorry what was the question?
SR: What’s the universal message of this film?
Miss Piggy: I don’t thing that was the question?
SR: We’re moving on to a different question now!
Kermit the Frog: It’s a different question.
Miss Piggy: Okay so we will just forget about the last question.
Kermit the Frog: I would say for me the universal message of the film is… well, we all have friends and don’t take your friends for granted. And remember where you came from.
Miss Piggy: And remember anniversaries. Birthdays.
Kermit the Frog: Was that in the film?
Miss Piggy: You know special occasions.
SR: I think she’s hinting.
Kermit the Frog: I don’t remember that, but I will make a note.
Miss Piggy: I think it’s clearly one of the main messages of the movie.
Kermit the Frog: Okay.
SR: Miss Piggy, I just want to marvel at your beauty. You’ve been around for 30 years and you haven’t aged a day. Where is the “Fountain of Youth”?
Miss Piggy: Ha ha, I’m not telling you! I don’t want the fountain to run dry!
SR: Are you having suckling injections? In any case, you look fabulous.
Miss Piggy: Thank you.
SR: You have a big number with Celine Dion in this movie. Can you talk about working with her?
Miss Piggy: Yes. We got along fabulously. I think she’s going to be something one day.
SR: Did you learn anything from he or did she learn mostly from you?
Miss Piggy: Ha ha ha! Did I learn anything from her? Oh please. (Clears her throat) You know, I’m just hoping she can ride my coat tails all the way to the Oscars next year.
Kermit the Frog: You’ve got a lot of coat tail going on there. I’m sure she can ride them.
Miss Piggy: I think she’s going to be something, I really do. That’s all I gotta say.
SR: Do you have any ideas for the next Muppet movie? We can’t wait another three years. Where would your dream location be and who would be your dream co-star? Would it be Kevin Bacon?
Miss Piggy: My dream co-star…
Kermit the Frog: I see what you’re doing there.
Miss Piggy: I know what you’re doing there but I’m not falling for it. My dream co-star is always Kermit.
Kermit the Frog: It’s always six degrees of Kevin Bacon.
[Miss Piggy blows kisses at Kermit and he responds in the same fashion!]
Miss Piggy: I would preferably like to shoot some place where it is warm.
Kermit the Frog: Oh I know, I have the perfect place, how about the swamp? Yes the swamp where I come from. It’s very warm.
Miss Piggy: Yeah I’m not talking human warm, I’m talking you know, Southern California warm.
Kermit the Frog: It’s wonderful, it’s very warm. Have you been to the swamp ever?
SR: I was going to ask you, do you miss the swamp?
Kermit the Frog: Oh sure, we’re in Los Angeles right now as you know. It’s very dry here and I really must stay very moist and the swamp is the perfect place.
SR: And one last question, what can audiences expect from watching this film because it’s got every genre – there’s a crime caper, music, humor.
Miss Piggy: (Whispers) I know! This movie has everything doesn’t it?
Kermit the Frog: Everything you can think of.
Miss Piggy: I know!
Kermit the Frog: Everything.
Miss Piggy: And it’s got me on top of it!
Kermit the Frog: And you’re a part of everything and so you have it.
Miss Piggy: That was very universal.
Kermit the Frog: Yes, that is the universal message of this movie. Miss Piggy is a part of everything.
Miss Piggy: And you should always remember anniversaries.
Kermit the Frog: That too.
SR: Thank you so much, it’s a pleasure to meet you both.
Kermit the Frog: Oh you too. Thank you for coming all the way over to us.
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Muppets Most Wanted opens in theaters on March 21.
