Terry Gilliam's Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

[_____V_____]

January 25, 2008


Johnny Depp is said to be a contender to replace the late Heath Ledger in Terry Gilliam's now-delayed fantasy film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, which is reportedly six weeks away from finishing principal photography.

According to British newspaper The Sun, a studio insider claims, "There is a point in the film when Heath falls through a magic mirror. He could change into another character after that and that is where Johnny would come in."

The source added, "It's a weird, fantasy, time-travel movie so Heath's character could easily change appearance. It would be a poignant moment. ... Johnny's not working at the moment so everyone is praying he will do it."

Production on The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was shut down this week following Ledger's death. The film's producers invoked the "force majeure" clause, which covers work stoppages caused by extraordinary situations, such as the death of a lead actor.

Depp is next slated to star in Public Enemies for director Michael Mann, with filming reportedly slated to begin in March.

Ironically, Depp has worked with Gilliam before on another ill-fated movie, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. That film was scuttled in 2001 after four days of filming when one of the lead actors fell ill.



http://movies.ign.com/articles/847/847747p1.html

[GorePhobia]

That would actually be awesome if they kept Heath and morphed him through a magic mirror into Depp. That would be awesome.

[_____V_____]

Feb 17, 2008


Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus" has been saved from cinematic doom, according to Ain't It Cool News.

Despite the tragic death of pic's star Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell have all signed on to play Ledger's character, 'Tony,' in the film.

"Parnassus," which is being produced by William Vince ("Capote"), Amy Gilliam and Samuel Hadida's banner, was shooting in London when Ledger died from an accidental overdose of drugs on January 22nd.

In the fantasy pic, Ledger's character steps into three different mirrors with each mirror transporting him into a new dimension; these new worlds which will now be inhabitated by Depp, Law, and Farrell.

No word yet on when production will resume but the film is on board for a 2009 release and will be shopped around at AFM by Mandate International.

Other cast members include Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield and Verne Troyer.

Gilliam and Ledger had first teamed on 2005's "The Brothers Grimm."

[tarcher80]

also saw that colin farrell will do some scenes as ledger.

[colubrid660]

It sucks he had to die, but it would be kind of cool. Definitely sounds like a Depp movie.

[massacre man]

This sounds like something I will thoroughly enjoy.

[_____V_____]

March 10, 2008


LONDON -- Shooting has restarted in Vancouver on Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," with Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law replacing Heath Ledger in the cast.

The pic went on hiatus after Ledger's sudden death Jan. 22, when the live action section of the production had just finished in London, and Gilliam was about to embark on several weeks of blue-screen work in Canada.

The decision to use several actors to replace Ledger was made possible because of the fantastical nature of the story, in which characters pass from contemporary London through a magic mirror into various parallel worlds of the imagination.

Ledger had completed the filming of the "realistic" sections, so Depp, Farrell and Law will play physically transformed versions of his character when he passes into the other worlds.

Gilliam commented, "I am grateful to Johnny, Colin and Jude for coming on board, and to everyone else who has made it possible for us to finish the film. I am delighted that Heath's brilliant performance can be shared with the world. We are looking forward to finishing the movie and, through the film, with a modicum of humility, being able to touch people's hearts and souls as Heath was able to do."

In a statement, the producers said, "Since the format of the story allows for the preservation of his entire performance, at no point will Heath's work be modified or altered through the use of digital technology. Each of the parts played by Johnny, Colin and Jude is representative of the many aspects of the character that Heath was playing."

"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" also stars Christopher Plummer, Verne Troyer, Andrew Garfield, Lily Cole and Tom Waits. Producers are William Vince, Amy Gilliam and Samuel Hadida.

[roshiq]

This sounds like something I will thoroughly enjoy.

absolutely!
Superb casting for a great tribute to a wonderful actor.

[The Mothman]

Id like to see another Gilliam fantasy film.
Tideland was bizzare.
"daddy's gonna go on a little vacation"

[_____V_____]

In his first-ever Comic-Con appearance, Terry Gilliam was greeted with warm applause and Comic-Con's Inkpot award for achievement in film arts.
"Where am I going to find room for this in my luggage?" he asked, before wondering if its more pointy bits would mean getting arrested for trying to take it on the plane.

The panel began with a five-minute preview of "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," because, in Gilliam's words, "everyone is waiting to see Heath's last performance. That's why we finished the film."
Footage was light on premise, but included shots of Ledger in character of Tony as well as Colin Farrell, Johnny Depp and Jude Law playing the same part after Ledger's death in January 2008.

"I don't like to deal with studios, thus I don't have the money or resources other more talented filmmakers do," Gilliam said.
Indeed, he said the genesis of "Parnassus" came from the poor performance of his last film, "Tideland."

"I felt like an artist traveling around trying to tell stories, except that nobody pays attention," he said.
This translated into the story of Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer), a former monk who tries to save his daughter's soul from the Devil with assistance from the chameleonesque Tony.
This character, Gilliam said, was inspired by Tony Blair -- "one of our greatest prime ministers, who got us into a very silly war" -- someone whose silver tongue is so persuasive that even he believes what he says.

Appearing with Gilliam was Verne Troyer, an actor best known as Mini-Me in the "Austin Powers" franchise.
The director said he created a role specifically for Troyer after working with him on "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Said Gilliam, "I liked Verne's attitude and he hadn't had the chance to show what a great, great serious actor he is."

Next, Gilliam will return to his notoriously aborted "Don Quixote" project.
"I didn't read the script for seven or eight years, because it was perfect... But then I reread it recently. So it's been totally rewritten now. It maybe needed the break. So now I'm on the hunt for actors and money."

"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" is slated for release this fall in a number of international territories; it has yet to find a domestic distributor.

[The_Return]

I know it hasn't been picked up yet in the States - but any word on a Canadian release? I haven't found anything :(

[_____V_____]

On their website Entertainment One, a distributor in Canda has announced that it will distribute Terry Gilliam’s much anticipated Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus in 2009.

While at the same time, Cinema Clock has announced that the release date for Canada will be September 24, 2009 in Vancouveron.


http://imaginariumofdrparnassus.com/blog/dr-parnassus-gets-canadian-release-date-for-september/01/

http://www.cinemaclock.com/aw/crva.aw/bri/Vancouver/e/31492/The_Imaginarium_of_Doctor_Parnassus.html


;)

[The_Return]

Heh, I guess thats what I get for only checking IMDB :o

Thanks!

[_____V_____]

Heath Ledger’s final film has finally found a Stateside buyer.

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group is in advanced talks to pick up "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," with plans for it to go out theatrically, likely this year, via Sony Pictures Classics.

Pic is expected to be a lucrative homevideo title due to the Ledger angle and the other star power. Terry Gilliam’s adventure also features Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, who replaced Ledger in various fantasy scenes after the thesp died during the film’s production in January 2008.

"Parnassus" was officially unveiled at Cannes this year in an out-of-competition slot toward the end of the festival. Several buyers screened the film just before Cannes, but a deal didn’t immediately emerge.

The "Parnassus" deal with Sony has long been in the works and could be made official this week.

Reps on the deal, including sales agent John Sloss, remained mum.

The film goes out in the fourth quarter through various distributors in European territories including the U.K., France, Germany and Italy, plus Australia and New Zealand.

[_____V_____]

Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," featuring the final perf by the late Heath Ledger, will have its U.S. preem at the 17th annual Hamptons Film Festival, closing the event on Oct. 11.

Opening this year's edition on Oct. 8 will be Shana Feste's debut feature "The Greatest," starring Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan.

Brian Koppelman and David Levien's pic "Solitary Man," starring Danny DeVito, Sarandon, Mary-Louise Parker, Jesse Eisenberg and Jenna Fischer, will screen on Oct. 10 as the centerpiece film.

Ledger had finished shooting only the "real world" scenes in Gilliam's fantasy film when he died on Jan. 22 of last year. In order to complete the movie, Gilliam enlisted Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell to play Ledger's part -- one actor for each of the different worlds to which his character travels.

Pic had its world preem at Cannes and will play at the Toronto Film Festival this month as well.

The Hamptons fest runs Oct. 8-12.

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http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/36687.jpg

[Ghoulie Newmar]

tom waits as the devil...i cant wait for this...

[Zero]

this could be great - though Gilliam's last really great film was 12 Monkeys. since then he's been hit and miss (though still more interesting than 80% of the filmmakers out there)

[Ferox13]

Looking forward to this - he did redeem himself with Tideland after a piss poor Brothers Grimm but this really looks a return to his true force..

[Zero]

was tideland good? after bro grim i chose not to see tideland

[Zero]

ok - i saw the imaginarium and my worst fears were realized - gilliam has forgotten how to make a film. lots of visual stuff but no clear story. actors seem to be walking around saying lines at random. lily cole is insanely hot and johnny depp is actually pretty good in his brief bit but otherwise, it is a huge mess. god bless heath ledger but this should have been burned and let Dark Knight be his last film. poor gilliam - he's really lost it as a basic storyteller.

oh - i wanted to add that tom waits is by far the best part of the film - though badly used