I have yet to find a Terry Gilliam movie I don’t like. I’m even a fan of some of his lesser-appreciated movies like The Brothers Grimm and Jabberwocky. So any news about upcoming Gilliam movies is a cause for excitement. Dreams: the Terry Gilliam fanzine has an inside look at Gilliam’s next project: The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.
First off, the site has headshots for most of the key cast members. Among the talented cast is Christopher Plummer as Dr. Parnassus, and other Gilliam-actors like Heath Ledger (The Brothers Grimm) and Tom Waits (The Fisher King). There are also a few newer faces thrown in, such as Verne Troyer (Austin Powers), Andrew Garfield (Doctor Who), and Lily Cole (Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll).
According to the plot synopsis, this is a kind of Faust-tale, with the title character making several deals with “Mr. Nick,” the devil. First he makes a bet and gains immortality, then he trades that for youth when he falls in love, but he has to give up his first-borne when she reaches 16. The movie takes place as Parnassus’s daughter, Valentina, approaches her 16th birthday, with a contest between Parnassus and Mr. Nick to be the first to seduce five women winning Valentina’s soul.
Take a look at more detailed coverage at Dreams: the Terry Gilliam fanzine
