As with most projects for Terry Gilliam these days, “The Zero Theorem” developed through a couple of different versions, before it shaped up into the one coming to theaters this summer. At one point, Billy Bob Thornton was slated to lead the film as Qohen, with Jessica Biel and Al Pacino in supporting roles. That didn’t happen. But Thornton’s exit from the project might not be for the reasons—negotiations, scheduling, finances—you might expect.
Chatting on the Empire podcast, Gilliam revealed that the actor “has a fear of old things,” and with production initially slated to take place in London in 2009, Thornton apparently couldn’t handle being around all the old-timey architecture and tea sets or what have you. “I’m astonished, I just don’t get it,” Gilliam said. “These are the things you learn when you start casting people you admire—that they’re more complicated.”
Well, everything worked out, Christoph Waltz eventually signed on, and the movie is supposed to drop this summer via Amplify, but they haven’t set a date yet. Listen to the podcast below. [via Digital Spy]
