Terry Gilliam Rejected Tom Cruise for Dr. Parnassus
By Laura Aguirre
Terry Gilliam gave superstar Tom Cruise a thumbs down when his agents eagerly lobbied for him to appear in Heath Ledger‘s final film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. According to Collider, Gilliam was trying to keep it in the family when he chose Jude Law, Colin Farrell, and Johnny Depp to portray different incarnations of Ledger’s character, Tony.
“The thing is, I was only interested in people who were friends of Heath. Simple as that,” said Gilliam.
Gilliam also mentioned that Dr. Parnassus isn’t a Heath Ledger movie, but rather a fulfillment of the void left by his unexpected death. Cruise may be Mr. Hollywood or perhaps a bit less than that now, but Gilliam does have a point. Maybe, the relationship that the other actors had with Ledger was used to better their performances of his character.
Cruise’s last leading role was in the historical film Valkyrie, where he played a Wehrmacht Colonel with an eye patch. Frankly, the actor is far from his soaring days of Risky Business, but he’s still one of the biggest celebrities in the world. As for Parnassus, more than likely it will be a huge success due to its sentimental value among fans, and its A-list cast.
What do you think? Would you have liked to see Cruise next to Ledger?
Saturday, September 5, 2009 1:21AM
Parnassus has been unable to find distribution so I'd hold off on the "huge success" label.
Saturday, September 5, 2009 1:36AM
Dr. Parnassus was secured for domestic distribution by Sony Pictures Classics. It will hit theaters in December. That news was announced almost a month ago.
Friday, September 4, 2009 10:46PM
yeah right tell the world that you refused tom cruise so that there will be something to talk about the (soon to flop) movie
Friday, September 4, 2009 10:48PM
its ok to be refused tom, the company or the so called friends is not so flattering anyway
Saturday, September 5, 2009 6:50AM
Thanks Kystal for clearing that up.
Saturday, September 5, 2009 11:28PM
Tom Cruise is a hack, he only wanted in because he saw dollar signs.
Saturday, September 5, 2009 11:31PM
It sounds like it is going to be a great movie. But possibly too much for the mainstream audiences, but just the fact that is Ledger's last film should guarantee a decent return on investment. But then again, Gilliam has a reputation for spending.
Saturday, September 5, 2009 11:54PM
Good grief—Tom Cruise only wanted the part because he thought it would make him more money.
He was turned down because he is a hack with out the finesse to understand the script much less pull off the role.
Sunday, September 6, 2009 7:21AM
I would have refused to watch if Tom had been in it.He is a very selfish obnoxious jerk.I saw video from Heath's memorial service in LA and Tom was laughing! Head thrown back and laughing! At someones memorial service!! I am going to see this movie in a few days at the Toronto film festival.I will love it. I love Heath and Gilliam. All you negative turds commenting here: Go jump off the nearest roofs please. RIP Heath, I miss you bro.
Sunday, September 6, 2009 4:45AM
what the heck! so what if if he’s refused with the role it’s not a big loss and he has a lot in store for him anyway in fact waiting for his approval hello people! tom is bigger than heath and he’s so wasted,,,have u forgotten the reason he died?DRUG OVERDOSED OR SUICIDE AND IT’S NOT SOMETHING TO BE ADMIRED ABOUT HEATH …SUCH AN IMMATURE ACT TO DO!
Monday, September 7, 2009 6:56PM
Do you listen to music Jim?
I'll guess that you do; in the words of Tool, "I think drugs have done good things for us, I really do.
And if you don't believe that drugs have done good things for us, do me a favor.
Go home tonight, take all your albums, all your tapes, and all your cds and burn them.
'Cause you know what, the musicians who made all that great music that has enhanced your lives throughout the years? Real fucking high on drugs."
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 5:19AM
to penny…i disagree with u man, not all good music is to be credited to drugs you know, if you believe that it is because you are one drug dependent loser too just like your idols, heath, the addict musicians as you said, pls. do this world of ours a favor and kill yourself too just like heath so that mother earth would be 1 less of a loser addict like you who does nothing to this world but pollute it! pplllllllzzzzz..
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 12:21PM
yeah u can refuse to watch it if tom is there, nobody's forcing u. PERIOD.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 12:23PM
only 1 thing i can say to you penny,,.birds of the same feather flock together! that's u, heath and the drug addict musicians that you love so much!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 11:54PM
I'm only quoting one of the world's best bands, but I stand by what I mean that regardless of what lead Heath to bed the dust too soon, he could have have been a great artist — and he was — just like many of the bands that we love. Think of The Beatles and their psychedelic hiatus, or Hendrix (they just don't make them like him anymore). So save your insults, you're talking to a scholar.
Thursday, April 26, 2012 6:35PM
You have no idea what Valkyrie is about, huh? What you write sounds like that's just an old Nazi who is disabled.
It's about the most noted would-be assassin in Third Reich among assassination attempts on Hitler.