Academy Award®-nominated writer/director Terry Gilliam (The Brothers Grimm, Twelve Monkeys, Brazil, Time Bandits) is filming THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS on a variety of locations in and around London, it has been announced by Academy Award®-.nominated producer William Vince, producer Amy Gilliam, and Paris-based producer/distributor Samuel Hadida. The modern-day fantasy adventure stars Academy Award® nominee Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight, Brokeback Mountain), Christopher Plummer (Man In The Chair, Inside Man, The Lake House), Tom Waits (Domino, Coffee and Cigarettes), Lily Cole (Marilyn Manson’s Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll, St Trinian’s), Andrew Garfield (Lions for Lambs, Boy A) and Verne Troyer (the Austin Powers trilogy). Principal photography began in London on December 9th and will move to Vancouver in the New Year.
In THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS, Dr. Parnassus’ (Plummer) has the extra-ordinary gift of guiding the imaginations of others. With his traveling theatre troupe, Parnassus offers audience members the chance to transcend mundane reality by passing through a magical mirror into a fantastic universe of limitless imagination. However, Parnassus’ magic comes at a price. For centuries he’s been gambling with the devil, Mr. Nick (Waits) who is coming to collect his prize – Parnassus’ precious daughter, Valentina (Cole) on her upcoming 16th birthday. Oblivious to her rapidly approaching fate, Valentina falls for Tony (Ledger), a charming outsider with motives of his own. In order to save his daughter and redeem himself, Parnassus makes one final bet with Mr. Nick which sends Tony, Valentina and the entire theatre troupe on a ride of twists and turns, in and out of London and the Imaginarium’s spectacular landscape.
The film is written by Gilliam and Academy Award® nominee Charles McKeown (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Brazil) and will be produced by Academy Award® nominee William Vince (Capote, Saved!, Just Friends, Push), Amy Gilliam (Push) and Samuel Hadida (Resident Evil trilogy, Silent Hill, Domino, Good Night and Good Luck, True Romance). Mick Audsley (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Twelve Monkeys, Interview with the Vampire) will serve as editor; Mychael Danna (Surf’s Up, Little Miss Sunshine, Capote) will compose the music and the director of photography will be Nicola Pecorini (The Brothers Grimm, Tideland, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). Mandate International is handling international sales of the official Canada/UK co-production.
Terry Gilliam commented, “Collaborating with writing partner Charles McKeown and joined by a spectacular array of talent, this project is a further inspiration to me in bringing this magical world to life. Working with Samuel, Amy and William, I am supported in our shared belief and passion in making this special film. Embarking into the world of a modern fantasy adventure I can't think of a better team working together.”
Producer Hadida said, “Terry stands out as one of the great film directors of our time. What is amazing and very exciting about THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS is that he has conceived a large scale fantasy adventure with tremendous humor, originality and dramatic flair. In a time when so many films follow set formulas, Terry’s imagination and visual gifts are priceless.”
Amy Gilliam added, “This fun and humorous story about the consequences of our personal choices in life will resonate worldwide. I am excited by the opportunity to collaborate with my father – whose unique vision will transform this timeless story into a creative spectacle. ”