Gilliam casts Ledger, Plummer and Waits in new fantasy

Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer and Tom Waits will costar in director Terry Gilliam’s modern-day fantasy-adventure “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” set to begin production next month in London, the producers announced today.

The story, co-written by Gilliam and longtime collaborator Charles McKeown, has the odd twists so beloved by Gilliam fans.

Dr. Parnassus (Plummer) is the immortal leader of a traveling theater troupe who has the power to guide the imagination of others by helping them pass through a magical mirror into a fantastic universe. But he made a deal with the devil (Waits) for his youth and eternal life, and promised to give up his first-born (Lily Cole) on her 16th birthday in return. When the devil comes to claim his prize, a new, more adventurous wager is negotiated. Ledger plays the daughter’s love interest, a charming outsider with his own motives.

The film, produced by William Vince, Amy Gilliam and Paris-based producer Samuel Hadida, has no distributor yet. Los Angeles-based Mandate International will launch sales at the American Film Market.

“This fun and humorous story about the consequences of our personal choices in life will resonate worldwide,” producer Amy Gilliam said in a statement.

–