New trailer for Terry Gilliam’s The Zero Theorem is crazy sci-fi perfection

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Last year, we shared the first look at the trailer to Terry Gilliam‘s latest film, THE ZERO THEOREM. The footage was promptly taken down only to reappear now, virtually unchanged. This time, the trailer was posted on what looks like the official site for the film.

THE ZERO THEOREM premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year and yet has no release date set for North America. With Gilliam’s last few films faring poorly at the domestic box office, it seems like this may be another to not see the inside of a movie theater. Having Oscar winner Christoph Waltz in the lead certainly should help matters, but time will tell.

Qohen Leth is an eccentric and reclusive computer genius who lives in an Orwellian corporate world and suffers from existential angst. Under the instruction of a shadowy figure known only as “Management”, Qohen works to solve the “Zero Theorem” – a mathematical formula which will finally determine whether life has any meaning. Qohen’s work in the burnt-out chapel that serves as his home is interrupted by visits from Bainsley, a seductive woman, and Bob, the teenage son of Management.

The poster and trailers rightfully invoke the titles of TWELVE MONKEYS and BRAZIL, two of Gilliam’s films this most resembles. Waltz looks brilliant and Melanie Thierry looks hot as hell. Glimpses of Peter Stormare, David Thewlis, and Ben Whishaw hint at a great cast of characters while the special effects do look more complete than in the prior trailer. The producers are also not amping up the cameo by Matt Damon to try and boost the film.

In the end, any new Gilliam is a great thing for movie fans. Here is hoping THE ZERO THEOREM is more like his classic works rather than movies like THE BROTHERS GRIMM.