Tuesday 19 February 2008

Trio to Save Ledger's Last Film.


Jonny Depp, Colin Farrell and Brit actor Jude Law are to appear as Heath Ledger’s character in the unfinished film “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”.

It all sounds a little confusing but Variety has explained the theory behind hiring three actors to play one part.
"Ledger's character steps into three different dimensions, each transporting him into a new world; worlds which will now be inhabitated by Depp, Law, and Farrell."

Filming for the Tony Gilliam movie was postponed after the tragic death of Ledger on 22 January.

But the director was determined to finish the film in honor of his close friend who died of an accidental drugs overdose.

It was originally reported that he planned to finish it by using Computer Generated Imagrey.

Chris Plummer who is also starring in the movie said:

“Terry’s throwing himself into the job of trying to salvage the picture. Fortunately, because the film deals with magic, there is a way, perhaps, of turning Heath into other people and then, using stills and…CGI. He very wants to go on with the movie…Because he wants to dedicate it to Heath.”
But is now thought that three actors will stand in for the late star.

BBC said:
“It is thought that original footage of Ledger will remain while Law, Depp and Farrell will play different incarnations of his character, Tony.”

Sounds like a lot of pressure for the three stand-ins.

BuzzSugar is glad filming is continuing but waiting with baited breath to see the outcome.

“Good for these guys for stepping up to the plate and taking on such a challenging and delicate task. I'm curious about this whimsical film and I look forward to seeing what these three can do with the part. I hope they can do justice to Heath's last role.”

Irish actor, Farrell has admitted that he feels honoured to be replacing Ledger in the film but he is still struggling to deal with the reality of the stars death.

He was reported by Now Magazine to have said:

"It makes me feel uncomfortable to think about it too much…It's an incredibly painful honour to have, an honour I wish wasn't bestowed, but an honour none-the-less."

But he is determined to do a good job.

"It's about getting Heath's work out there…he is too good for any of his work not to be seen, and I'm really keen and looking forward to doing it and just doing the best job I can do."
It has not yet been confirmed if British hunk, Jude Law will be getting involved but it looks hopeful.

A spokeswoman for Law told the
Time Online that he is in discussions to appear along side the other stars as the lead character Tony.

"Negotiations have not yet been finalised…his participation will depend on the whole thing falling into place."
Over all, it sounds like the best solution but there has been mixed reactions to the new recruits.

Mariarty posted her excitement on
Ain’t It Cool News.

"Have I mentioned how much I love this idea? Because I do. I think it’s beautiful that the script loaned itself to this sort of idea, that we’re going to see Heath Ledger’s work in Terry Gilliam’s new film, and that we’re also going to see three very interesting actors step up to offer interpretations of him as a way of paying one final tribute."
Others can’t understand how it is going to work.

Celebitchy, a showbiz blog, said:

“When I first read this story I thought it must have been something cooked up by a journalist with an overactive imagination, and it very well might be.”
All in all, everyone is in agreement that it is a sad situation when an actor has to be replaced because of his life being cut short.

HerBadMother summed it up well.

"I, for one, am thrilled that we'll get to see a Colin-Johnny-Jude sandwich - of a sort - but, yeah - the cost of it was far too high."

We will have to wait until its release in 2009 to see how “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” will turn out.

1 comment:

Karen Asbury said...

I think it is great to see everyone paying tributes to Ledger in different ways. Rather than just say how good an actor he was, why not show it?
The other actors will be expected to give an outstanding performance so the pressure really is on.