Muppets Most Wanted

Context & Trivia

This film is the eighth theatrical Muppet film and a direct sequel to the 2011 film, "The Muppets". Director James Bobin and screenwriter Nicholas Stoller, who worked on the previous film, returned for this project. The idea for the film, a "comedy caper" set in Europe, was inspired by films such as "The Great Muppet Caper", "The Muppets Take Manhattan", "The Pink Panther", and "The Thomas Crown Affair". Principal photography began in January 2013 at Pinewood Studios in England. The working title for the film during production was "The Muppets... Again!". Costume designer Rahel Afiley was responsible for creating the outfits for the characters, including Miss Piggy's wedding gown, which was designed by Vivienne Westwood using fabric made from recycled water bottles. James Bobin ensured that special effects were as practical as possible, avoiding full CGI characters to maintain the authenticity of the Muppets. The film premiered on March 11, 2014, at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles and was released in North America on March 21, 2014.