<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Jumped The Snark]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://jumpedthesnark.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[skeim01]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://jumpedthesnark.com/author/skeim01/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Dreams Do Come True: Paul Rudd is in for the Muppet&nbsp;Movie!]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s official!  As <a href="http://jumpedthesnark.com/2010/10/18/muppet-monday-rashida-jones-may-join-greatest-muppet-movie-ever-made-moving-us-closer-to-a-state-muppet-movie-directed-by-judd-apatow/" target="_blank">we</a>, and <a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-new-muppet-movie-adds-some-nonmuppets,46411/" target="_blank">everyone else</a> on the Internet, predicted, Paul Rudd is joining his <em>Knocked Up</em>, <em>Forgetting Sarah Marshall</em> and <em>I Love You Man</em> co-star Jason Segel in <em>The Greatest Muppet Movie Ever Made</em> (but we maintain we called it first).  As soon as word leaked the Segel was writing the movie with his <em>Sarah Marshall </em>director Nicholas Stoller, <a href="http://jumpedthesnark.com/2010/02/02/muppet-movie-monday-tuesday-the-muppets-inch-closer-to-the-judd-apatow-chart-balls-in-your-court-james-bobin/" target="_blank">we began speculating</a> which members of the <a href="http://jumpedthesnark.com/judd-apatow-effect/" target="_blank">Apatow-verse</a> would be joining in, and Rudd was at the top of the wish list.  When we learned that Apatow-charter Rashida Jones and comedian of the moment<a href="http://jumpedthesnark.com/2010/10/26/zach-galifianakis-to-play-fozzie-bear-in-the-new-muppet-movie/" target="_blank"> Zach Galifiniakis</a> were also slated to appear, Rudd seemed like an inevitability.  And, now, according to <a href="http://twitter.com/prodweek/status/2877667187630081" target="_blank">Production Weekly</a>, it&#8217;s a reality, with Rudd on board to voice the new &#8220;<a href="http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Anything_Muppets" target="_blank">anything Muppet</a>&#8221; Walter, who, as <a href="http://jumpedthesnark.com/2010/11/08/muppet-monday-the-muppets-break-their-personal-record-for-two-page-photo-speads-in-entertainment-weekly-in-one-calendar-year/" target="_blank">we previously noted</a>, will portray Segel&#8217;s roommate in the movie.  And this, even without any direct Judd Apatow involvement, cements <em>The Greatest Muppet Movie Ever Made</em>&#8216;s status on the Judd Apatow Chart.</p>
<p>But that&#8217;s not all!  Production Weekly also reports that fellow Apatow-charters Jack Black and Jane Lynch are in, as is Rashida Jones&#8217; former TV flame John Krasinksi (who <a href="http://jumpedthesnark.com/2009/10/01/john-krasinksi-would-make-an-excellent-muppet/" target="_blank">we suggested</a> over a year ago might make for a great Muppet), Krasinki&#8217;s <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/182216/the-office-become-one-of-them#s-p7-sr-i1" target="_blank"><em>Office </em>co-star</a> (as well as Galifiniakis&#8217; <em>Hangover</em> castmate) Ed Helms, Krasinski and Helm&#8217;s NBC Thursday night comedy brother <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/112754/community-nighty-night-troy" target="_blank">Donald Glover</a>, and Danny Trejo, who cameo&#8217;d in the Apatow-produced <em>Anchorman</em> (and <em>Modern Family&#8217;</em>s Eric Stonestreet, whom we&#8217;re having trouble connecting to the rest of the cast).  So in a word: <strong>WOW</strong>.</p>
<p>Oh, and <a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQz2LMan7uurOxR2VZY37PoWSwATLr3zl5QzsbxNNgrNQO6Z3cHMw" target="_blank">Lady Gaga</a>, apparently.  Whatevs.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a preview of what the Muppet-Rudd collaboration might look like:</p>
<span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe class='youtube-player' width='640' height='360' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/v8Fkir1zqck?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;' sandbox='allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation'></iframe></span>
<h4><a href="http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/11/the_new_muppet_movie_will_invo.html" target="_blank">via Vulture</a></h4>
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