Three Actors Replace Ledger in Parnassus
February 18, 2008

It takes not one, not two, but three A-list actors to replace a talent like Heath Ledger, which is what is happening with the odd story of Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. The script was always about a doctor who transports into three separate dimensions and, from the sound of today's Variety report, enough was filmed for Ledger to play the doctor in the real world and then be played by three separate actors when he travels. In the fantasy worlds, his character of 'Tony' will be played by Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell. Sounds awesome.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is being directed by Terry Gilliam and produced by William Vince, Amy Gilliam, and Samuel Hadida. It was shooting in London when Heath Ledger dies of an accidental overdose on January 22nd. There's no official word in the Variety report today about when production will resume but the film is still scheduled for a 2009 release and is being shopped around for distribution, so expect production to start again very soon. Other Parnassus cast members include Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield, and Verne Troyer.

Terry Gilliam and Heath Ledger worked together before on 2005's The Brothers Grimm. The one-time member of Monty Python also directed Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Time Bandits, The Meaning of Life, Brazil, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Fisher King, Twelve Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Tideland.

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