Ewan McGregor joins Duvall in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

While schmoozing at Cannes, Empire got the scoop from Terry Gilliam that someone new would be joining the cast of his long awaited, THE MAN WHO KILLED DON QUIXOTE.

Ewan McGregor will take on the role that Johnny Depp was originally set to play when the film was first trying to get off the ground. The actor switch was made because of a conflict due to Depp’s upcoming work for PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES.

McGregor will play a 21st century advertising executive that travels back to the 17th century, if they are faithful to the original attempt. He then meets Don Quixote and goes on numerous adventures with him.

Gilliam gushed about Duvall as well as McGregor, “Robert Duvall is one of the greats, no question – and he can ride a horse! And Ewan has gotten better over the years. He was wonderful in The Ghost. There’s a lot of colours to Ewan that he’s not been showing recently and it’s time for him to show them again. He’s got a great sense of humour and he’s a wonderful actor. He’s wonderfully boyish and can be charming – when he flashes a smile, everybody melts. He wields it like a nuclear bomb!”

Filming starts in September with a budget near $20 million, according to Gilliam.