When Heath Ledger died last January 22, 2008, he left a gaping hole not only in the Hollywood industry but also in director Terry Gilliam’s film “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”. There were parts left of the movie left for Ledger to still film but his unforeseen tragedy left Gilliam with no leading man to finish his production. Stepping in to fill his shoes are actors Johnny Depp, Colin Farell, and Jude Law. Each of the men would play a different incarnation of Ledger’s character, the mysterious loner who helps lead character, Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer), save his daughter’s soul from the Devil (Tom Waits).
Recently Depp released an exclusive statement to Moviefone regarding the honor and sorrow of finishing the role left by Ledger in what was supposedly his final big-screen performance. He said: “Though the circumstances of my involvement are extremely heartrending and unbelievably sad, I feel privileged to have been asked aboard to stand in on behalf of dear Heath … He was the only player out there breathing heavy down the back of every established actor’s neck with a thundering and ungovernable talent that came up on you quick, hissing rather mischievously with that cheeky grin, ‘Hey … get on out of my way boys, I’m coming through!’ And does he ever!!!”
“The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus” arrives in theaters in New York and L.A. on Christmas Day and nationwide on the 8th of January.
