“Terry Gilliam has said that he wants me to come to Spain to play Don Quixote in his movie. I don’t know if it will ever come to be. I don’t think that’s going to happen,” the long attached Robert Duvall told ComingSoon this spring about his role in the filmmaker’s forever developing “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.” But it looks like the director may have found a replacement.
A helpful reader has pointed us in the direction of a recap over at [Sci] of the Derby Film Festival, where John Hurt participated in a Q&A this weekend. And according to the site: “Terry Gilliam has asked John to star as Don Quixote in the long-delayed, oft-cancelled film of the same name, and hopes to start filming this year.”
It’s certainly some hopeful news that this project will finally come to fruition. Last we heard, production is slated to start this fall in the Canary Islands, with Gilliam considering crowdfunding the movie as well. And while we really like Hurt as the new lead, he may not be fully confirmed just yet, and as always (particularly with Gilliam’s films) anything can happen between now and when shooting is slated to start. However, it does seem the elements are coming together, and we’ll keep an ear out for more firm news to arrive.
Update: Variety reports that production will begin in early 2015, with casting now underway.
Great choice! Quijote needs to be a kind of a "lost" spirit. Living inside his own mind. Duvall plays down to earth, cranky best. I'm thinking that this new iteration will surpass what would have ended up being the first go at "The Man Who Killed…" Hopefully all the hard work and frustration will pay off for Gilliam and his team.
Yeah, I much prefer this choice anyway. Duvall is obviously a brilliant actor, but I could never see his as Quixote. He's far too self-serious and I think he'd have a hard time pulling off the more absurd qualities of the characters. Hurt brings a similar gravitas but also a more manic, playful nature.
Most excellent choice.