Comic 'in talks' for starring role

Ricky Gervais is in talks to take the lead role in the next Muppets movie.

His potential role is unclear, but film industry newspaper The Hollywood Reporter says it could be along the lines of the part played by Jason Segel in last year’s comeback film.

Gervais shot a cameo for the first movie, but the scene didn't make the final cut. And he is used to working with Muppets – and not just Karl Pilkington – having filmed several internet sketches with Sesame Street’s Elmo, below.

There are said to be three main human stars in the new movie, with Modern Family actor Ty Burrell in line to play one of them, a lazy Interpol inspector. Segel will not be returning, the trade paper says.

The Muppets sequel will be directed by James Bobin, and written by Nicholas Stoller – the same as last year’s hit, which made more than £92million at the box office.

Published: 18 Dec 2012