Whether we like it or not, studios NEED films that they can depend on to be hits. Yes, Fox just had the biggest movie of all time with "Avatar," but 2010 was a dissapointing year for them overall, with tentpole releases such as "The A-Team" and "Knight and Day" underperforming. And with the exception of "X-Men: First Class," they don't have that much coming out next year that they can really depend on.
I know that people like to condemn Hollywood for wanting to make a profit, but the bottom line is, studios MUST make a profit. Otherwise you wind up in deep you-know-what like MGM has (even though they've been bailed out recently).
And regarding "The Muppets," I don't think we need to worry too much about a "Kermit Vs. Alvin" fight taking place. The week before Christmas release has done wonders for both previous installments in the franchise, so Fox won't want to mess with a formula that works.
(And Estefan, studios never make "appologies" or "donations" to their enemies. You only feed the competition that way.
