Disney Moves 'The Muppets Movie' From Christmas To Thanksgiving

By Peter Sciretta/Dec. 8, 2010 2:23 pm EST

Walt Disney Pictures have announced that they are moving the release date of The Muppets from the previously announced Christmas release to a Thanksgiving date of November 23, 2011.

Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie the Bear, Gonzo, Animal and the rest of the gang will reunite in theaters just in time for the 2011 Thanksgiving holiday weekend. "Disney has had incredible success opening films over the Thanksgiving weekend, and thanks to Tangled, we have the top three Thanksgiving openers of all time," said Chuck Viane, president of global distribution for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. "I have spoken with The Muppets, and we all agreed this comedy is a great fit for the holiday 2011 time frame."

So update your calendars – The Muppets and Turkey, sounds like a winning combo? While the press release also calls the film "The Muppets Movie". Initially someone from Disney confirmed this to be the new tentative title for the film, but there seems be no firm decision by the company yet. Read the full press release after the jump

DISNEY TO RELEASE NEW MUPPETS MOVIE THANKSGIVING 2011

BURBANK, Calif. – December 8, 2010 – The Walt Disney Studios announced today that it has moved the release date for its upcoming The Muppets Movie to November 23, 2011. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie the Bear, Gonzo, Animal and the rest of the gang will reunite in theaters just in time for the 2011 Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

"Disney has had incredible success opening films over the Thanksgiving weekend, and thanks to Tangled, we have the top three Thanksgiving openers of all time," said Chuck Viane, president of global distribution for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. "I have spoken with The Muppets, and we all agreed this comedy is a great fit for the holiday 2011 time frame."

The Muppets star alongside Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, and Rashida Jones. The movie will feature cameos by Alan Arkin, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Billy Crystal, Wanda Sykes, and more surprise appearances. The feature film, currently shooting in Los Angeles, was written by Segel and Nicholas Stoller, and is being directed by James Bobin.

Commenting on the new release date, Miss Piggy noted "it was actually moi's idea to open the movie then," stating she wants to give everyone a big reason to give thanks next Thanksgiving. "It doesn't get any bigger than moi.... And don't you dare quote that out of context!"