Kermit the Frog, Ricky Gervais, Constantine, James Bobin and Miss Piggy Press Conference

Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour, selling out grand theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations, including Berlin, Madrid and London. But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine—the World’s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit—and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two, portrayed by Ricky Gervais. The film stars Tina Fey as Nadya, a feisty prison guard, and Ty Burrell as Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon.

Hosted by Edith Bowman, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Constantine, Ricky Gervais and Director James Bobin spoke about The Muppets sequel Muppets Most Wanted in London during an in depth press conference, where they discuss the family friendly sequel, working with the ultimate diva Miss Piggy, dance moves, relationship advice, all star celebrity cameos and filming on location in the Tower of London.

Kermit, how did it feel to be an action star in this film?

Kermit the Frog: I think of myself as kind of getting to do a bit of an action role in this. It’s something I haven’t done before. In order to prepare for that role I watched all of Bruce Willis’s movies, and when that didn’t work I just went to his hairdresser. (Laughter)

Ricky, how much of a dream come true was this job?

Ricky Gervais: It’s not a job is it. This is fun. I’m a big kid and I can’t believe my luck. I’ve been a fan of the Muppets for 30 years. I used to watch them on Sundays with my family. So this was a good call to get. I didn’t know this guy (Constantine) before but now he’s one of my best pals.

(Laughter)

Constantine: That is right we are buddies. You will give me your email address right? I keep asking for it but he does not give it. How are we supposed to stay in touch if you do not give email address!?

(Laughter)

Ricky Gervais: I think about Constantine a lot. I say to my girlfriend… I wonder where Constantine is today… it’s usually in a bag.

Constantine: This is Right!

(Laughter)

Constantine what does it feel like for everyone to hate you?

Ricky Gervais: Wow.. I don’t hate him, that’s usually my question!

Constantine: Ricky you want to field this one? Well you know being the bad guy… oh it’s such a tough question to answer. There is part of me that kind of enjoyed being the bad guy and enjoyed being hated. I was written that way so what can I say.

Kermit the Frog: Lady Gaga did a song about that – ‘I Was Written that Way’, I have to say though we don’t hate him. It’s sort of just a story from the movie, he’s actually an old pal from the swamp. Ricky is his best friend now and he’s a good guy, he’s a good guy.

Ricky Gervais: In the movie he’s evil but I think doing this movie and meeting me has thawed his little heart of stone. You see he was born in a pond in Russia one of 800 brothers and sisters. All tadpoles. Many of them dead, eaten by fish! But showing him love has made him quite a cuddly little thing.  (Tickles Constantine under his chin)

Constantine: (Laughs uncontrollably) Stop it stop it. Do NOT tickle me!

Ricky how did it feel being upstaged by the Muppets?

Ricky Gervais: I knew it was going to happen.  I knew from day one. The first thing that worried me in the script was the song and dance number. I’m okay at singing. I’m a failed pop star. I always sneak a song in. I wrote a song with David Brent, I’m still doing it. I wrote a song with David Bowie for Extras. I wrote a song in Sesame Street with Elmo. The Simpsons. But dancing… a little bit awkward. Then I thought it’s alright there’s going to be frog on screen dancing, they’re not really going to be caring what you’re doing with your clumsy little short legs.So I got away with it. It was sort of meant to be awkward as well. But I love being upstaged by the Muppets. I ruined a lot of takes by jus laughing. One I just went “Hehehe I’m In the Muppets!”. They yelled cut and said yes you are in the Muppets so let’s do that again and just don’t say that!

Constantine are you worried about being typecast?

Constantine: Well you know the one thing I’m really worried about are authorities catching up with me. And also my face being plastered everywhere. So I think maybe I need to change my career path. Maybe I will be an agent in Hollywood!    Does this sound good?

Ricky Gervais: Yeah you could do that.. anyone can.

(Laughter)

How do you feel about people using the word ‘Muppet’ as a derogatory term?

Kermit the Frog: Well we’re sort of like a rep company. I’m not a species called Muppet, I’m a frog. I belong to a group called the Muppets and quite frankly… I see the point. They’re a little slow.

Ricky Gervais: Yeah, it’s sort of a term of affection as well. You call someone a Muppet when they’ve made an error. We all made mistakes, especially the Muppets and that’s why we love them. It’s a term of affection.

Kermit the Frog: I think there are worse things to be called!

Ricky Gervais: I’ve got a list!

(Laughter)

In the movie we see you paying off an Irish journalist for good reviews, is that quite accurate in real life?

Ricky Gervais: Do you want some money? Just say it! (Takes out a handful of money) I don’t think so. I think everything is heightened. I was with an Irish journalist yesterday and he mentioned about Irish people in the film wearing flat caps. I did an episode of Alias that wasn’t a joke and it was meant to be set in a pub in Dublin. All that was missing was a horse! There was straw on the floor, people smoking pipes it looked like the 1950s. But it was just heightened; it’s playing with stereotypes if anything.

Did you evoke the character of David Brent for any of your dance moves?

Ricky Gervais: I did that song and dance many times, most of it was choreographed, I didn’t complain once, but that bit was ad libbed. That’s my best dancing!

James Bobin: Yeah, the rest of the dance is choreographed, that’s just pure Ricky!

Was Ricky harder to work with than the gaggle Muppets?

Constantine: No there was only one character who was really hard to work with. Super hard to work with, everybody knows who it is. Let’s Just get it out in the open… (Miss Piggy Arrives) … Right on cue Pig!

(Laughter)

Miss Piggy: I’m here everyone it is I. My ears are burning, where you talking about Moi? Hello Ricky… Hello person over there…

Kermit the Frog: This is Edith Piggy… she’s not with me for the record.

Kermit and Piggy I’m about to get married next week and I wondered as one of the world’s most high profile celebrity couples if you had any advice. Piggy for my beautiful soon to be wife and Kermit for me as a soon to be husband?

Miss Piggy: I think I need some advice from you and you’re lovely because you’re engaged and I’m not!

Kermit the Frog: I advise full compliance. I think it’s the only way to go in a modern Marriage. But are you marrying a barnyard animal or a human woman?

Just a beautiful human woman.

Kermit the Frog: Oh good… well it still applies!

Ricky Gervais: Have you noticed in the Muppet movies when they get married and have children it’s ether a frog or a pig, there’s no hybrid weird abominations. We’ve not got three frigs and a pog!

(Laughter)

Ricky what’s the true spirit of the Muppets?

Ricky Gervais: I think trying your hardest and optimism and the acceptance of difference, which isn’t even commented on other than being a good thing. I like the fact that they struggle. I do that a lot in comedy it’s essential. I learnt that from Laurel and Hardy. They were precarious, they called fall at any moment but I loved the relationship. Optimism is another thing I’ve always supported. I like David Brent because he made a fool of himself but then he got back up and I think that’s the spirit of the Muppets, it’s lovely. It’s fun deconstructing that for an adult audience. Not cynicism but that awareness of this magical world.

James Bobin: Try your best is very important to me, our human stars and to the Muppets. I don’t want you to be able to sing and dance perfectly I just want you to try your best. That’s lucky for you Ricky!

Miss Piggy: The real spirit of the Muppets is flawless beauty.

James Bobin: Yeah, that as well, yeah.

The film is packed with star cameos how do they come about?

James Bobin: Well largely we write those in at a script stage. We even write the name of the particular person down. Usually we find because there’s such a great love out there for the Muppets people tend to say ‘yes’. I’ve done it a lot of other times and it doesn’t go that way. It’s amazing when we write for someone to be Piggy’s spiritual advisor and duet with her. We think who would be amazing for that… of course Celine Dion. We call her up and she’s like yeah of course I’ll do that no problem. That never ever happens and it’s amazing.

Can you explain why Rolf talks but Fou Fou doesn’t?

Kermit the Frog: Well Fou Fou is just a pet, she’s hardly sentient. Rolf is an old piano playing dog. I don’t think we need to explain it any further!

(Laughter)

Having done so many different types of films, is there a genre you’d like to explore for the next Muppets adventure?

Ricky Gervais: The best genre is obviously sequel, everyone knows that. As we know films get better and better with every sequel… Rocky 6, Grease 2, Godfather Part 3. So we’re just looking forward to the next sequel, whatever it is. Muppets Less wanted.

James Bobin: It doesn’t really matter what it is because often the Muppet movies don’t really follow in sequence anyway. They’ve done everything so it could really be anything.

Kermit the Frog: I’m personally hoping for Muppets Well Rested. That would be really good. Yes… yes.

How difficult was it to work with the beauty of Miss Piggy as a constant distraction on set?

Ricky Gervais: Honestly….um

James Bobin: Don’t worry Ricky she can’t reach you!

Kermit the Frog: Now you guys know how I feel like all the time!

Ricky Gervais: I want Constantine to answer this!

Constantine: I’m sorry I was not paying attention… how was it to work with Pig and her constant beauty?

Miss Piggy: I’m distracting in this press conference even. You can’t take your eyes off me can you boys?

Ricky Gervais: Constantine you had to pretend to love her in the movie didn’t you

Constantine: Yes it was my BEST ACTING!

(Laughter)

Ricky Gervais: I had to help him out after the scene by doing this…. (sticks his finger down Constantine’s mouth)

Constantine: (Bleergh cough cough) I knew that was going to come sometimes! Hey Ricky did you have salad for lunch? That’s what it taste like!

Ricky Gervais: I’d love to do that with real mates.

(Laughter)

Ricky, you’ve hosted the Golden Globes and you’ve worked with a lot of the leading actresses in Hollywood, how does Piggy compare?

Ricky Gervais: She’s a bigger diva and I think she won’t mind me saying that she takes it as a compliment. That she talk about herself all the time!

Miss Piggy: Not all the time, if other people are talking about me I’ll be quiet.

Ricky Gervais: (puts on Miss Piggy voice) “Oh Kermy.. does this dress make me look fat?” No Piggy all the pies do.

(Laughter)

Miss Piggy: hahaha!

Who Inspired you guys growing up?

Kermit the Frog: I think for me it was probably the great American actor Walter Brennan. Nobody has a clue who I’m talking about. But I was inspired by so many people. I had great grandparents. Old frogs are great. I’m struggling for an answer here. Help me Ricky give me something funny!

Constantine: There is great safe cracker named Thomas ‘The Knuckle’ O’Brian there explosive expert he is Thomas the toenail Lewis.

Ricky Gervais: You love Al Pacino too don’t you. Do your impression of him

Constantine: Oh I love Al Pacinos. I do his famous line for movie. (puts on weird voice that sound nothing like Al Pacino) “Oh I am Al Pacinos from the Godfather movies I go outside and then I gotta get back inside”.

Kermit the Frog: I think that was more cappuccino than Al Pacino.

Miss Piggy: Well Moi is an inspiration to everyone of course and even to me myself. Before I go on stage or on camera I always just look in the mirror.

Kermit the Frog: Then look the other way very quickly and just keep on going!

Did the Muppets open doors at the Tower of London?

James Bobin: I think they did, famously you’re not allowed to film in the Tower of London and they’ve turned down everyone who’s asked to film there before. But suddenly you turn up with Muppets and ask for favours and people change their minds. So we actually got to film there for three or four days which was amazing. So maybe someone in the royal family is a big Muppets fan.

Kermit the Frog: We have a great connection with the Royals, I love those people.

Miss Piggy: I had to sign so many autographs!

Ricky you had a cameo in the last Muppets movie that was cut, were you surprised to be asked back?

Constantine: This will be a good time for Ricky and the director to hash this out.

Ricky Gervais: It wasn’t really a role it was me and Billy Crystal turning up as ourselves. The host of the Oscars and the Golden Globes. But James told me and I agreed that you can’t put it in there just because you filmed it. They film about 4 hours of this to cut down.

Kermit the Frog: The good thing about our director James is he tells you that before you shoot the scene. We’re not going to use this but please come by.

(Laughter)

Ricky given your newfound friendship with Constantine have you thought about planning an Idiot Abroad special with him and Karl?

Ricky Gervais: I see a lot of similarities. Little round head and up there is where the brain would be if the head didn’t stop. I’d do anything with Constantine. I would travel the world with Constantine.

Constantine: We will not go to France though!

Ricky Gervais: No we don’t have to ever go to France, but I would host the Oscars with Constantine.

Constantine: Okay let’s make it happen!

Constantine what qualities do you look for in a number 2?

Constantine: This is good question. You must have evil snarl like Ricky Gervais has. You must have opposable thumbs to move things around. Also library card so you can check out books for evil plotting. But you always make sure to return the books; I am evil criminal not disrespectful to library system.

Kermit the Frog: You don’t want to go to jail for something as simple as that.

Are there any other fictional characters the Muppets would like to team up with?

Kermit the Frog: It’s tough because we’re the only ones these days who aren’t computer generated in the fictional world. So they’re not really there. It would be tough to work with them.

Constantine: You could not see them at press conference.

Kermit the Frog: If we were those guys here’s what the press conference would be… (Kermit and Constantine duck down under the table disappearing. Miss Piggy looks  around confused).

Miss Piggy: What! I’m real… okay parts of me aren’t real… this nose for instance.

Constantine: Wig isn’t real.

Ricky Gervais: That’s an important point actually because I’ve just done Night At the Museum 3 with Ben Stiller is in it a lot, and there’s scenes where all the animal comes to life, but they’re not really there. So Ben spent 6 weeks running around talking to a tennis ball on a stick. But with the Muppets your acting with these guys The timing and affection makes a difference.

Constantine: You cannot stick your finger down tennis ball’s throat.

Kermit the Frog: You could never host the Oscars with a tennis ball!

Ty Burrell from Modern Family plays a very French detective in the film what inspired that?

James Bobin: He’s an amalgamation of every French character ever. When you have Sam eagle being a patriotic American you need the Frenchest French person as a foil for him. So I told Ty just to be the most super French person ever, don’t bother about what region of France he comes from.  Just do that and it works perfectly well.

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