Terry Gilliam's The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

Back in September 2000, Terry Gilliam started filming The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, which was his take on Cervante's famous tale. Gilliam had wanted to do his take on the tale for a decade, ever since The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, he had taken it around many studios and companies, but they thought Gilliam's take on the tale was too ambitious and too rich for their tastes. In 2000, Gilliam was able to secure financing for it, through several European film companies, (including Pathe and Studio Canal).

Gilliam had cast Johnny Depp in the film, and renowned French actor Jean Rochefort as the titular Quixote. Gilliam's version of the tale took alot of inspiration from Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, (which Gilliam once wanted to do a film version of.) The plot would have Depp as 21st Century advertising executive Toby Grosini, (a name based on that of the films co-writer Tony Grisoni), who whilst on a advert shoot in Spain which involves Don Quixote, finds himself back in 15th Century Spain, and encountering the real Don Quixote (Rochefort), who mistakes him for his old squire, Sancho Panza. Everything seemed to be going well with the production, what could possibly go wrong?? Well...

Sadly, the project was abandoned after 6 days of shooting due to unforeseen setbacks and shaky financing. Such as NATO jets flying over the set, a flash flood destroying the set, and ultimately, Rochefort suffering a hernia, and being unable to continue. The film was shut down by the German insurers, much to the anguish of Gilliam. Since then, it's been stuck between a rock and a hard place with the German Insurers and the French Producers. It's troubled production was documented in Lost in La Mancha, which was heartbreaking to watch, and all that's left is the few minutes of footage shot during the production and stills like these...









Now, it seems that there is a new glimmer of hope for Gilliam's dream project!! Yes people, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote might see the light of day after all!!

The Observer reported from Cannes in 2005...

"Terry Gilliam, the film director and former Python, is about to try to breathe life once more into his notoriously ill-fated film The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. Production partners on Tideland, one of his two new films, have promised to look at ways to bring the project to the screen at last. The catastrophic first attempt to shoot the film was chronicled by the acclaimed documentary Lost in La Mancha. Now Peter Watson, chief executive of British producer Jeremy Thomas's Recorded Picture Company, has confirmed his interest. 'We are attempting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the corpse of Don Quixote,' he said this weekend. Gilliam is in Cannes to show 20 minutes of his latest epic fable The Brothers Grimm, which stars Monica Bellucci and Matt Damon and has a rumoured budget of $80 million. It is still not finished."

3 years later, it looks as if it's finally, finally, FINALLY happening again!! Gilliam has got the rights back to his script from the German insurers!!

If this film happens, I will be over the moon for sure!! This is one that we ALL want to see happen, even Johnny Depp said that he'll be back if Gilliam get's production started again!! If it does happen again, we'll have Jeremy Thomas to thank. He's recently worked with Gilliam on Tideland, can he and his two companies, (Recorded Picture Company and Hanway Films), be the people to save Gilliam's film?? I hope so!! The only thing I'm worried about is whether Gilliam will have to make any budgetary cuts in order for it to be made again, it might come to that, but then again, maybe not. Watch this space!! For the time being, Gilliam is doing The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, which has had it's fair share of problems when poor Heath Ledger died during production, but it's bacon was saved when Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell took over from Heath!! If that can be saved, maybe Don Quixote has a chance!!

Will it be second time lucky for Gilliam?? I hope so!! The stills from the first attempt show that it was an ambitious project, but one that looked wonderful. When the project was announced back in 2000, Gilliam had Vanessa Paradis, Miranda Richardson, Bill Paterson, Christopher Eccleston, Jonathan Pryce and Ian Holm up for parts in the film, I'm still hoping he can get them back for the revival!! Let's support this one, and pray to God that it does happen!!

I'd be very happy if this finally got made. Still, the failure did lead to one of the finest documentaries I've seen.

Anyways, it would appear Rochefort may not be able to come back to do the part of Don Quixote, however, it would appear one of Gilliam's old friends could play Quixote. Michael Palin!! Yep, although Palin has said he won't act again, he seems he'd be willing to do a favour for his old mate... Could he do it??

Oh, and for those of you wanting to see it, Here's 6 minutes of footage from the 2000 attempt. Here you get to see what would be worth making the whole film for in the first place, Johnny Depp arguing with a fish!!

Donald McKinney wrote:

Oh, and for those of you wanting to see it, Here's 6 minutes of footage from the 2000 attempt. Here you get to see what would be worth making the whole film for in the first place, Johnny Depp arguing with a fish!!

That would be worth the price of admission alone!



I'd love to see Palin make a return to the big screen.

Gimli The Dwarf wrote:

Donald McKinney wrote:

Oh, and for those of you wanting to see it, Here's 6 minutes of footage from the 2000 attempt. Here you get to see what would be worth making the whole film for in the first place, Johnny Depp arguing with a fish!!

That would be worth the price of admission alone!



I'd love to see Palin make a return to the big screen.

It would be nice to see him return, I know he was offered a chance at Hollywood stardom, but he didn't like the look of the lifestyle, and refused. He travels the world instead, and he's all the better for it. The last film he did was in 1997 with erm... Fierce Creatures.

Ooh, hope it finally gets made

Palin must do this! He can't end his big screen career with Fierce Creatures!

Fierce Creatures wasn't THAT bad!! It had a good supporting cast, including Robert Lindsay, Derek Griffiths (off Playschool), and Ronnie Corbett!!

Oh no, I do like it, but with a career that includes Brazil, A Fish CAlled Wanda, 4 Python films, A Private Function, American Friends and Time Bandits, it's not really going out with a bang. A reunion with a colleague of over 40 years, that's be the way to call an end to yor film career.

Gimlis right, but Fierce Creatures is great

A little update for you all!! Terry Gilliam was present at a screening of Time Bandits and Brazil on Saturday Night at the BFI Southbank cinema, and Gilliam gave the confirmation that Don Quixote is officially back on!!

Terry said that He did confirm that Quixote is a go and is only waiting on the availability of a certain J. Depp. The script has indeed been revised, (Gilliam is happy with his new script, and is apparantly happy that the first attempt never got made!! ) But, with Depp attached to the likes of Public Enemies, Shantaram, The Rum Diary, POTC 4, Alice in Wonderland, Dark Shadows and now... The Lone Ranger. Gilliam joked that if Depp is unavailable for much longer he will have to cast him as Quixote instead!! (Now THERE'S a thought!! )

Oh, and Gilliam confirmed that Good Omens and The Defective Detective, (two long in development films of his), will be made one day!!

Nothing much has happened yet, but according to this list of films set to be produced by Hanway Films, it would appear it's still on!!

Here's a little article on Gilliam's writing partner, Tony Grisoni. It makes for interesting reading!!

God saved my ass from making Don Quixote, says Terry Gilliam

So, he seems pleased he didn't make it first time around, can he make a better film of it second time lucky??

PROOF that it's one step closer to coming back!!

Well, Michael Palin won't be Don Quixote, Gilliam confirms it was all a rumour...

Plus, Gilliam was in Dubai recently at the Dubai International Film Festival, and said another rewrite is due in January. Plus, he also jokes about the possibility of making Don Quixote in Dubai, he said "at least there are mountains here!"

It's back on!! Rewrites are underway!! And Gilliam is determined for shooting to start later this year!!

Excellent!!

Shame about Palin though. I think he was the most talented actor out of the Pythons.

GOOD NEWS FROM CANNES!!

And from that, it looks as if it could be on for a Spring 2010 start!! Lets hope that Johnny Depp is available!!

JOHNNY DEPP IS OFFICIALLY BACK FOR IT TOO!!

Uh-Oh, is Depp having second thoughts about returning??

Bad news, Depp is out...

But, could Colin Farrell replace him?? ::

Here's Mark Kermode's thoughts on Depp leaving in favour of Pirates 4... He does make a point.

Could Robert Duvall be Don Quixote!?

Now THAT's a good choice!!

GREAT NEWS!! TERRY GILLIAM SAYS JOHNNY DEPP WILL BE BACK FOR DON QUIXOTE!!

BEST. CHRISTMAS. PRESENT. EVER!!