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Palin, Jones, Cleese and Gilliam sign on for animated flick


Silly walk fans rejoice, for the Monty Python cast will soon be reuniting on the big screen. However, it won’t be for a new Monty Python film, but for animation Absolutely Anything.

The film, set to be directed by Terry Jones, will combine live action sequences with CGI animation, and will tell the story of a man granted the power to do anything he likes by a group of benevolent aliens.

“It’s not a Monty Python picture,” clarified Jones to Variety, “but it certainly has that sensibility.”

The Pythons will voice various different characters, with Michael Palin, John Cleese and Terry Gilliam all having signed on.

Jones also expects Eric Idle to join the production sooner rather than later.

In addition to the Python crew, Robin Williams is also in place to lend his voice to a talking dog named Dennis, as well as possibly playing "a pompous Frenchman."

Jones has been developing the script for two decades with co-writer Gavin Scott ("Small Soldiers"), and indeed, the film was previously announced a couple of years back.

Veteran producer and studio head Mike Medavoy (who worked on "Monty Python's Life of Brian") is backing the film, along with David Thwaites ("What To Expect When You're Expecting"), Chris Chesser ("Major League") and Bill and Ben Productions, who also reunited the Pythons for an animated version of Chapman's memoir "A Liar's Autobiography" that's currently in post production.

Medavoy tells the trade that, "Terry and Gavin have crafted a classic farce -- something I feel I know a little bit about after all the 'Pink Panther' pictures we did with Blake Edwards at United Artists.".

Absolutely Anything is slated to go into production this spring. And who know, if things go well, we might get another full-blown Monty Python production after all.