The presentation wasn’t over just yet. Walt Disney Studios still had a few other upcoming films up their sleeve which included our beloved “Muppets.” But before they presented one of their precious movie gems they showed off a couple more that peaked audiences’ interests.
Oz the Great and Powerful
Although none of the cast or crew were able to make it out for the D23 Expo thanks to shooting, we still got our first behind-the-scenes look at “Oz the Great and Powerful.” Sam Raimi directs the prequel film that shows us how a traveling magician (James Franco) ends up in the magical world of Oz. The rest of the cast includes Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz and Zach Braff. Read on to what we saw footage-wise of “Oz” so far:
* Sam Raimi opens up the video talking about how The Wizard of Oz is such a powerful story that’s stayed within our culture for decades on end. We caught a few glimpses behind-the-scenes of Michelle Williams, James Franco and Zach Braff running around inside a little 1920s circus mobile trailer while being shown concept art for the metropolis-looking Emerald City, the yellow brick road and a forest within Oz.
“Oz the Great and Powerful” will be released on March 8th, 2013.
The Muppets
Miss Piggy rides on in, interrupting Kermit the Frog and Jason Segel’s conversation.
Last but never least is our favorite felt-covered critters, “The Muppets.” Kermit the Frog and Jason Segel were both pushed up onstage in little directors chairs, talking about how happy they were to be at the D23 Expo. They began talking about what footage they were about to show and both came to the horrible realization that neither piece of footage showcased the magnificent Miss Piggy. They both practically gulped in unison as Miss Piggy came out on a two-piece motorcycle. When she asked whether or not she, or as she called herself “moi,” was in the footage, Jason and Kermit slowly explained that she wasn’t in there. Miss Piggy began throwing one of her famous fits, driving off in the two-piece motorcycle and talking about how outraged she was over this discovery. Jason Segel and Kermit both then proceed to introduce the footage and say goodbye to the audience:
* Gary (Segel), Mary (Adams) and the puppet Walter all make their way to Bel Air, scoping the area for Kermit the Frog’s house. When they finally discover the gates that have huge images of Kermit and Miss Piggy on there, Walter asks that Gary throws him over the fence. Unfortunately the minute Gary does that Walter gets electrocuted by the fence after not listening to Mary’s warning about it. He lands on the floor, almost burnt to a crisp only to look up and see Kermit the Frog standing in front of a bright light with a whole choir singing in the background. That’s only because a church choir group was in a bus, driving by, shining the light temporairly on Kermit as the choir sang in unison to themselves. Walter immediately faints at the mere sight of Kermit.
* Walter wakes up to find himself, Gary and Mary inside Kermit the Frog’s house. Walter almost faints again from the fact and before Kermit tries to talk to all three of them, his robot butler comes in. He’s obviously dated from his selection of beverages that he serves them (New Coke, Tab) along with verbal phrases that were once popular in the seventies and eighties. He tries to make his way out of the room but he keeps running into the door.
* Kermit opens the door into the now run-down auditorium where they used to do The Muppet Show. Echoes of some of the guests Kermit has previously had in there ring in his ears. He takes a look around the place which is covered in dust and cobwebs, wondering what they should do next. Walter, Mary and Gary all suggest that they help clean it up. When all the Muppets agree they do so… only it’s rather boring. Walter suggests they do it to music where they begin blasting “We Built This City.” All the different Muppets do their part in cleaning up the mess which includes the Swedish Chef opening up a fridge, finding moldy talking food and setting it on fire with a torch. Walter is used as a sponge on a stick to clean up the higher areas with Gary but then is doing it later with Rowlf, making the poor guy rather sad for some reason. Meanwhile Kermit is going through his old Rolodex, calling celebrities and asking if they can appear at their fundraising event to no avail. Even the chickens are doing their part, dusting the seats of the auditorium with their butts, going along with the tune of the music. Once the entire place is cleaned up and literally sparkling, the song ends.
“The Muppets” finally arrives in theaters everywhere on November 23rd.
