Jan 30 2008Will 'Parnassus' Continue Through CGI and Internets?
Though he seems unclear on the details, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus actor Christopher Plummer has spoken out on how director Terry Gilliam may still try to save Heath Ledger's final performance:
[Gilliam is] trying to work out at this moment how to continue on. Fortunately, because the film deals with magic, there is a way, perhaps, of turning Heath into other people and then, using stills and I think they call it CGI…
It's clear by his grasp of the term CGI that Plummer has no idea of the specifics of this, and may actually be referring to the Internet, mp3s, or the auto-gyro. But if it's true, I'm curious if they're considering "morphing" him into other actors (like the rumored Johnny Depp) to finish the character's scenes or if it's more along the lines of animating a CGI-Ledger for half the film. I hope the latter, because, as experience has taught us, it's not at all creepy when you see a posthumous performance given through lifeless, computer-generated eyes.
Reader Comments
1. grfxho - January 30, 2008 3:43 PM
It worked for Gladiator when Oliver Reed passed away.
2. Nathan - January 30, 2008 4:25 PM
I really hope they do that, not only would it be cool for Heaths Memory, but I was really wanting to check this movie out. I love MOST of terry gilliams stuff, I wasnt really into Brothers Grimm... it was ok i guess but not like a lot of his other stuff. But this had more of the other side of Gilliams work. So I hope they do it. That would be great.
3. wendy - January 30, 2008 4:52 PM
They are missing a possible cash cow if they do this without him in the theater release. My guess is if they put another actor in his place through the whole movie you'd probably get about the same amount of people to see the movie. Sadly not many. Then release it like it was in theaters on DVD, wait 6 months and release a version with Ledger scenes.
Also casting someone else to play the part will likely give the movie some extra attention, granted it will piss a few fans but the right casting can correct that.
4. Nathan - January 30, 2008 7:00 PM
yeah, i agree. Its kinda a damned if you do damned if you dont situation. Its really a matter of how they do it and who they choose to do it with. Or not at all. There are things that could make it awesome, things that could make it shitty. Etc etc
5. Morley - January 31, 2008 3:03 PM
nice simpsons ref.