A month away from the release of Forgetting Sarah Marshall (April 18) in theaters, and Variety is reporting that Disney has inked Jason Segel and director Nick Stoller to create the next Muppet movie for the studio.
Just like they did with Forgetting Sarah Marshall Segel will write the script (along with Stoller) and Stoller will direct.
Jason Segel’s stock has risen ever since being part of Judd Apatow’s short-lived TV ensemble comedies “Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared.” He stars in CBS’s sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” and appeared in Apatow’s mega-successful “Knocked Up” last summer.
In “Sarah Marshall” Segel’s character writes a “Dracula” musical performed by puppets. Those cloth creatures were custom-made by the Henson puppeteers, and the experience emboldened Segel to pitch his concept for a Muppets movie when he was invited in for a general meeting with exec Kristin Burr. Segel got a deal in the room and enlisted Stoller to co-write and direct the project.
Segel and Stoller has also made another deal with Universal to co-write the comedy “Five-Year Engagement,” with Stoller helming and Segal starring.
Credit: Variety
