Studios Arena Presentation at the D23 Expo 2011
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As Hedges and Garner departed, Sean Bailey again took the stage, saying, "There are few stories as beloved as The Wizard of Oz." He explained that the next film would present an untold part of the Oz saga, the Wizard's own story. Oz: The Great and Powerful is scheduled for release in March 2013. Joining to create the original film based on L. Frank Baum's characters are director Sam Raimi, producer Joe Roth, and production designer Robert Stromberg. Bailey was particularly pleased to enumerate the cast: James Franco as Oz, Mila Kunis as Theodora, the witches, played by Rachel Weisz as Evanora and Michelle Williams as Glinda, and Zach Braff as both Frank and the voice of Finley. While none of the cast was present, a special video with director Sam Raimi was presented, showing the company hard at work.
Bailey introduced the next film by
calling it, "This year's movie going event of the holiday season." As the
graphic for The Muppets filled the screen, the arena erupted in cheers and
applause. The crowd was further delighted when Bailey promised that they were
the first to get a truly inside look at the eagerly anticipated feature. To help
out, he introduced stars Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, and Jason Segal.
The curtains parted, and a platform slowly wheeled forward. Seated on director's
chairs were Kermit the Frog and Jason Segal. Noting the crowd's reaction, Segal
queried, "Have you been here before?" Kermit matter-of-factly replied, "I'm a
regular." Jason looked around and asked, "Where is Miss Piggy?" Kermit pointed
out that they had just spent weeks shooting with her. "Did she ever show up on
time?" he concluded.
Miss Piggy's absence was perhaps not such a bad thing, they both agreed, in
light of the exclusive clips they had brought to share. Due to an oversight,
Miss Piggy did not appear in either of them. As they implored everyone to keep
this from her, there was a commotion at the side of the stage. To the crowd's
delight, Miss Piggy made a grand entrance, sitting in the sidecar of a
motorcycle, complete with "outlaw" driver. After acknowledging the cheers of
"her" crowd, Miss Piggy called for the clips.
The first was an extended scene, in which Gary and Mary (played by Jason Segal
and Amy Adams), accompanied by a new Muppet character Walter, attempt to gain
entry into the estate of the long since retired Kermit the Frog. After some
comic business with the electrified fence, Kermit himself welcomes them. Inside,
Kermit's home is lost in the 80s. He offers them their choice of a Tab or New
Coke, as they examine his 30-year-old collection of wall art. The clip ended
with the trio imploring Kermit to reopen the Muppet Theater.
The second clip gave the crowd their first glimpse of the derelict Muppet
Theater. The whole Muppet gang arrives, and is shocked at how far it has fallen.
As they begin to slowly pick up the pieces, the soundtrack begins to throb with
"We Built This City." Before the song has ended, the theater has been put back
to rights, although Kermit has discovered, to his surprise, that his Rolodex is
filled with useless cards.
As the lights came up, Kermit and Segal had bigger issues to deal with, as an
irate Miss Piggy headed over to deal with them. They beat a hasty retreat, Miss
Piggy in hot pursuit. Rich Ross entered, shaking his head. He had just seen Miss
Piggy backstage, he said, and assured the crowd that she was the best, kindest,
and easiest star he had ever dealt with.