Great news, fellow fans of the world’s greatest sketch show. Former Monty Python members Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, and Eric Idle are looking to reteam for ABSOLUTELY ANTHING, which Jones will direct. No word on if the deceased Graham Chapman will appear as well, as he has for reunions in recent years. BLACK SWAN and LIFE OF BRIAN producer Mike Medavoy will produce the film, which will be a mix of live action and CGI.
“It’s not a Monty Python picture, but it certainly has that sensibility,” Jones told Variety.
The film is about a group of aliens (presumably CGI creations) which will be voiced by the team, who endow a Frenchman with the power to do “absolutely anything” to see what a mess he’ll make of things — which is precisely what happens. There’s also a talking dog named Dennis (voiced by Robin Williams!) who seems to understand more about the mayhem that ensues than anyone else does.
If all goes well the film will start shooting in the U.K. this Spring.
“Terry and Gavin [Scott] have crafted a classic farce — something I feel I know a little bit about all the ‘Pink Panther’ pictures we did with Blake Edwards at United Artists,” Medavoy said. “”In fact, the movie even has a pompous Frenchman reminiscent of Inspector Clouseau—but there the similarity ends. Like all projects originated by any of the Monty Python guys, ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING delightfully defies a logline.”
Robin Williams is in talk to play that Frenchman, as well.
As for the Monty Python group, everyone’s signed on to appear except Eric Idle. I’ll ignore the obvious joke and just hope that he gets going on the project.
Perhaps even better news, hidden at the bottom of the article, is that Terry Jones is working on a heavy metal version of “The Nutcracker” with Jim Steinman. Can’t wait.