Worst kept secret: Jason Segel will star in Muppets

Since the very day it was announced that Jason Segel would be developing a new Muppet movie for Disney with FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL director Nicholas Stoller, most people assumed that Segel would also be starring in the film. Now we have confirmation. In addition to co-writing the script and producing the film, Segel has officially signed on to lead up the project, which is scheduled to begin filming later this year.

In the film Segel will star as Gary, a somewhat naive and Muppet obsessed guy who leaves Smalltown, USA to head to Los Angeles and winds up helping the Muppets put on a show big enough to save their theaters which is at risk of being torn down by a ruthless oil man. James Bobin (FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS) is directing the film, which still will need to cast its human female lead.

Segel has kept himself busy lately with roles in the upcoming Cameron Diaz comedy BAD TEACHER and co-starring with Ed Helms in JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME. No word on exactly when THE GREATEST MUPPET MOVIE OF ALL TIME (the current working title) begins filming but Disney is moving quickly on the production and I expect it to begin some time this summer.