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One of the best acting discoveries of the past few years has to be Christoph Waltz. When Quentin Tarantino cast the actor in Inglorious Basterds, I didn’t know what to think. Aside from a couple dozen roles in some films in his native home of Austria, Waltz was a relative unknown. But Tarantino’s gamble paid off, with an amazing turn from Waltz as Hans Landa (a.k.a the Jew Hunter), one that eventually propelled him to Oscar gold. And well it’s highly unlikely that this film will do the same, at least he’ll be hunting another race this time around: the Muppets in The Muppets 2.

The Hollywood Reporter was the first to break the story, claiming that Waltz has been cast in a pretty substantial role in the sequel to the 2011 hit. So yes, this won’t just be a Muppet style cameo; he’ll actually be playing a character this time around and, from the looks of things, he’ll be playing one of the main antagonists.

Right now the plot details are kind of fuzzy, but we know that Waltz will be playing an Interpol Inspector who is mostly likely after the Muppets. This goes back to previous reports that the film would be “a caper” of sorts, taking the Muppet characters all around Europe. Other roles that will be in the film according to THR are a Russian femme fatale and a male lead who’s “intentions are always in question.” Segel is still not expected to be back this time around.

Honestly, I think this is awesome news. I love Waltz, and find this to be perfectly up his wheelhouse. He’s taken comedic roles in The Green Hornet and Carnage, and is more than suited for a dastardly villain (if that is indeed the case). Either way, I’m excited to see what director James Bobin and writer Nicholas Stoller will do with the sequel. Even though I was bumbed that Segel left the series, I can at least say its in relatively good hands.

-Matthew