Heath Ledger, the Australian actor who sadly passed away at too young an age last month, was working on Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” at the time of his death, a film that will now be salvaged through the participation of actors Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell.
Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” a work in progress at the time of Heath Ledger’s untimely demise, has been saved from obliteration, according to Ain't It Cool News.
Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell have all signed on to play Ledger's character, ‘Tony,’ in the film. This is possible because the script, penned by Terry Gilliam and Charles McKeown, has Ledger’s character travel to three magical worlds through a magical mirror; in each world, he will be incarnated by one of the three new cast members.
The cast also includes Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield and Verne Troyer.
William Vince (“Capote”), Amy Gilliam and Samuel Hadida are producing “Parnassus.” Ledger had taken a small break from filming in London when he was found dead in his New York apartment on January 22, from an accidental overdose.
Variety reports that no date has been set yet for production to resume, but the film is scheduled for a 2009 release.
Terry Gilliam and Heath Ledger first worked together on 2005’s “The Brothers Grimm,” also a fantasy film. Gilliam has also worked before with Johnny Depp, on “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and a project ultimately aborted due to production problems, titled “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.”
Heath Ledger’s final complete film is upcoming “The Dark Knight,” a sequel to 2005’s “Batman Begins,” in which he portrays the villainous Joker, opposite Christian Bale.
He was only 28 when he died, leaving behind former fiancée Michelle Williams and their 2-year-old daughter Matilda Rose. He was buried earlier this month in his hometown of Perth.
Image credit: The film’s official website, currently in construction, www.doctorparnassus.com.
By Jane Ivory
memoriam
in memoriam
