2011 will see the usual remakes, spin-offs, and sequels, from an adaptation of The Three Musketeers by Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil series) to a Shrek spin-off titled Puss in Boots. However, the one I’m most excited about is the iconic return of The Muppets, scheduled for Christmas 2011. The Muppets were created by Jim Henson in 1954 or 1955, depending on accounts, and the term itself was coined in 1956. Originally created as a combination of the words “marionette” and “puppet,” the Muppets grew to become so much more. Over the years, they’ve made us laugh, cry, and dance, and we can’t wait to see what the new movie brings.But first, we’ll take a look back at the Muppets’ filmography, since they’re certainly no strangers to the screen. An early version of Kermit the Frog was the first to appear in a 1955-1961 television series named Sam and Friends. Kermit was later one of the earliest Muppets to appear on the children’s television show Sesame Street, along with characters like Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and Elmo. However, it was The Muppet Show, which premiered in 1976, which first showed that the Muppets could be enjoyed by children of all agesincluding adults. The show was notable for its over-the-top humor and variety of guest stars. With the success of the series, the Muppets were catapulted onto the big screen, first in 1979′s The Muppet Movie and then in a wide variety of sequels, often placing the Muppets into different genres (The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan) or classic stories (The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island). The last Muppets film was 2005′s The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz. Six years later, what can we expect from the new film, boldly titled The Muppets? We know it’s co-directed by James Bobin (co-creator of Flight of the Conchords) and James Segel (who also stars, co-wrote and executive produced the film). Nicholas Stoller, director of Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek, is the other co-writer. This is enough to let us know that this newest iteration should return the franchise to the point where it can be enjoyed by both children and parents, and we trust the team to make sure that it retains its family-friendly appeal. We also expect a good deal of musical interludes, given both the Muppets’ and the humans’ histories.In addition to Jason Segel, the film stars Amy Adams (as Segel’s girlfriend), Chris Cooper as the primary antagonist, and Rashida Jones as an attractive network executive. Cameos have been confirmed from Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Billy Crystal, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, and others.