Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey to star in Muppets 2 - report

Tina Fey. Photo/AP

Ricky Gervais and Tina Fey have signed up to star in the sequel to 2011's hit Muppets revival movie, a report says.

The Muppets... Again! will be a 1960s-style crime caper film which sees the Muppets, including Kermit and Miss Piggy, accidentally embroiled in an international theft plot as they attempt to take their show on a world tour.

Gervais will play a sidekick to the film's main villain Constantine, who looks exactly like Kermit, while Fey has taken the role of a prison guard called Nadya, Reuters reports.

While hosting the recent Golden Globe awards, Fey joked that Gervais could not be at the ceremony because he was "no longer technically in showbusiness".

Flight of the Conchords star Bret McKenzie, who won an Oscar for his work on The Muppets, has signed on to compose the soundtrack.

Modern Family star Ty Burrell is set to play an Interpol agent on the film, Reuters reports.

Director James Bobin, who also helmed the 2011 Muppets movie starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams, said the sequel would pay tribute to the 1960s Pink Panther films.

"It's a tip of the hat to the old-school crime capers of the '60s, but featuring a frog, a pig, a bear and a dog - no panthers, even pink ones - along with the usual Muppet-y mix of mayhem, music and laughs."

Gervais created the British version of The Office, and went on to produce the comedy series Extras and host the Golden Globe awards three times.

Fey is best known for creating and starring in the sitcom 30 Rock alongside Alec Baldwin and Tracey Morgan.

- Herald Online