Christopher Plummer Is Dr. Parnassus - And Our First Look At A Design From The Film

In a truly genius piece of casting, Terry Gilliam has made Christopher Plummer his Dr. Parnassus. As previously reported, Tom Waits is involved - but as Mr. Nick, the devilish villain of the piece.

Phil Stubbs came good on his promise and has published the image below in his new piece on the film. He's also confirmed the Heath Ledger, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield and Vern Troyer casting as covered here as the weeks and months have gone by.

For many, many more details I'll point you towards my previous script review, which gives a good idea of the characters and plot. No doubt Phil Stubbs will be bringing us more as the film progresses, and I'll be doing my best to find out what I can also, in the many long moons until it is expected to be released in early 2009.

Please send me any information - any information at all - you have about this film.

The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus Is Go Go Go

I've received a couple of e-mails from fellow Terry Gilliam lovers, each containing different, but exciting, information about his next film, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.

The first included a partial cast list - but a quick check of imdb showed it was already there. As well as Heath Ledger and Tom Waits, who we already knew about, and Lily Cole, that I mentioned last week, there are also roles for Vern Troyer - Mini Me from the Austin Powers films, as well as a waiter in Gilliam's own Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - and Andrew Garfield, who recently graduated from British TV to roles in Boy A, Lions for Lambs and The Other Boleyn Girl. See Garfield at the bottom of this post.

The other e-mail simply told me that the film was now pretty deep into pre-production. Sniffing around, I ended up finding very little on the film - only a brief mention of the film's status by the producer, Samuel Hadida, and a teaser for upcoming news on Phil Stubbs' Gilliam fansite.

Stubbs has promised to feed a link for his piece to AintItCool, so expect to see Parnassus exploding across the web very soon.

And let's hope as hard as we can that being in pre-production actually means production, post-production, release and greatness follow.

Who Is Going To Play Heath Ledger's Love Interest In The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus?

It looks like Terry Gilliam is lining up a cast and crew for the Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
even while the funding is being chased. I reported a while back that Tom Waits was Gilliam's number one selection for the title role, with Heath Ledger giving the mysterious-romantic lead part. Now, after a bit of chasing and e-mailing, it seems that I can confirm who Gilliam and his producers have attached as the female lead.

It's the model (and since the St. Trinians remake at least, actress) Lily Cole. I don't know if she simply came in and read for Gilliam, or if he saw some footage of her in St. Trinians or if, basically, she's been attached at this stage to attract funding but I'm told that she's been lined up and is getting shipped around as part of the 'package', with Gilliam, the script, Ledger and Waits.

I've no idea what's going on with the money (anybody who does, please drop me a line) but, fingers crossed, things are moving in the right direction and a new Gilliam film is approaching. There's a story about Hugh Grant's involvement in the film that I'm still trying to chase down and when I do find something, anything out, I'll let you know.

In the meantime, here's a couple of Lily Cole pictures so you know who on earth it is they're lining up to kiss on Heath.