Gilliam’s next rolling

It’s easy to get nervous when Terry Gilliam plans to make a new movie. While he’s made some brilliant films during his career, in recent years he’s suffered the wrath of the Fates (see LOST IN LA MANCHA), studio interference (THE BROTHERS GRIMM) and questionable decisions (TIDELAND). Not to mention the dozen or so other projects he’s historically been unable to launch.

But he’s actually managed to get cameras rolling on his latest, THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS. The movie is now shooting in and around London (keep your fingers crossed!), with a cast that includes Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield and Verne Troyer. The script comes from Gilliam and Charles McKeown (BARON MUNCHAUSEN, BRAZIL).

The official synopsis: 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.