TerryPratchett Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Aside from the long-in-the-works adaptation of Good Omens, Neil Gaiman would like all of his works made into movies by Terry Gilliam. He told Empire last week that he would "always give anything to Terry Gilliam, forever." That includes Sandman, which the writer said should be Gilliam's if he wants to do it. Currently, though, Gilliam is shooting an untitled movie about the "band" The Gorillaz, and then he's back to familiar territory with The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, about a travelling theater production, which reunites him with screenwriter Charles McKeown (Brazil; The Adventures of Baron Munchausen) and stars Heath Ledger, Tom Waits, Verne "Mini Me" Troyer and Lily Cole. But according to Gaiman, Gilliam is still trying to make Good Omens, based on the hilariously comic fantasy novel by Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Gilliam is having trouble getting financing for the project; Gaiman said he needs about $70 million, if anybody is interested.

It is great to see Gaiman have so much faith in Gilliam. After the barely tolerable (I did enjoy it) The Brothers Grimm and the barely watchable (I hated my first Gilliam film!) Tideland, I'm a bit worried about my longtime favorite filmmaker. But I must agree with Gaiman that Gilliam would likely be a better choice to adapt his works than anyone else in Hollywood. Certainly better than Joel Schumacher. Gaiman told Empire that he wants the person directing Sandman to have the same passion that Peter Jackson and Sam Raimi had with The Lord of the Rings and Spider-Man, respectively. And that Zach Snyder seems to have with Watchmen. Would Gilliam have that passion? Is he a huge Sandman fan? Who knows? I guess Gaiman, who also said he'd rather have no Sandman movie than a bad Sandman movie.

With Terry Gilliam's luck what it is these days, it might be smart for him to move ahead with projects when he can. In the case of his next film, Good Omens, may mean not casting as he would prefer. It seems that the religious fantasy comedy, which is based on the novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, may begin shooting as early as this winter now that Stephen Evans has stepped in as producer. Brendon Connelly at Film Ick points out that schedule won't fit Johnny Depp's, and the actor will therefore not be starring as was hoped. In fact, actors Gilliam had in mind for other characters, namely Robin Williams (who is always good in Gilliam films, if not much else) and Jonathan Pryce, are also expected to be unavailable at that time.

As an enormous fan of Gilliam, I have to say I'm completely bummed. Not so much because of Depp and Williams not being in the movie, but more because I would prefer it if Gilliam could deliver his exact vision, as he so famously fought for on his earlier pictures. Sure casting is just one simple part of the vision, and using actors who aren't your first choice isn't as horrible as being forced to shoot a happy ending to Brazil or urged to use CGI in The Brothers Grimm, but knowing that a different movie exists in Gilliam's warped and brilliant mind, is enough to make for a disappointing end-product. I will admit that Grimm probably wouldn't have been much better had (supposedly) original choices Depp and Williams been cast, and I was surprised at how enjoyable Matt Damon and Heath Ledger are in the film. So, don't think I will be taking prejudice with whoever is cast in Good Omens. But I won't be able to help imagining the film that should have been.

Now that Terry Gilliam has made the two most disappointing films ever (for a huge Gilliam fan like myself, anyway), he will hopefully return to the kind of brilliant work that made him one of the most visionary auteurs of our time. Good Omens sounds like the right project for his comeback, and it is one that has been associated with him for some time, only to constantly be put on the back burner due to difficulties with funding. Unfortunately there are a few reasons why such an ambitious film isn't likely to be coming for awhile. Gilliam's last passion endeavor, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, ended horribly (it wasn't finished) and his most recent big studio picture, The Brothers Grimm, was a flop. Plus, Good Omens is based on a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, which is somewhat similar to Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide series in that most of the good parts are in the exposition, not the plot, making it less hilarious in translation to the screen. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, as good as it was, wasn't great like the books are. It also wasn't a huge enough hit to have financiers knocking on Gilliam's door for something similar.

Regardless, Gilliam is making the attempt again on Omens, telling the UK's Teletext, "I have struggled to find big projects that inspire me, but this book has. It's ... about the Anti-Christ and devils and angels, it's very funny and inspiring." There is already a script, likely the version by Gilliam and Tony Grisoni, and it is probably safe to say that Robin Williams and Johnny Depp remain the top choices for the casting of the two main characters, Aziraphale and Crowley.

I'm crossing my fingers that this film gets underway soon, and I'm praying that it comes out at least as great as Twelve Monkeys, if not as great as his best.