Thought Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning turn as the Joker in last year's 'The Dark Knight' was inventive? Wait'll you get a load of him in the 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,' a mind-bending fantasy flick that marks his final big-screen performance.Back in August, the 'Parnassus' international trailer offered fans their first peek at the movie, about a traveling showman named Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) who makes a deal with Mr. Nick (Tom Waits), aka the Devil himself, in which he gains immortality in exchange for the soul of his firstborn child on his/her 16th birthday. Flash-forward 1,000 years, and the still very much alive Parnassus has got himself a pretty 15-year-old daughter named Valentina (Lily Cole) whose 16th b-day is fast approaching. Naturally, Mr. nick turns up to collect his bounty, but offers the good doctor a reprieve if Parnassus can seduce five souls before he does. Enter Heath Ledger as Imaginarium Tony, a charismatic loner who is so smitten with young Valentina that he agrees to help Doc Parnassus in his quest to win the surreal wager and save Valentina's soul from a hellish fate.
As anyone who keeps up on their entertainment news knows, Ledger tragically passed away before completing his part, so director Terry Gilliam famously tapped Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell to play different incarnations of Ledger's character -- an interesting solution that both jibes with and adds to the film's fantastical nature.
Now that Sony Classics has picked up U.S. distribution rights to the movie and set it for a Dec. 25 release, we Americans finally have a trailer to call our own. And though it's quite similar to the international version, the clip does offer us some new footage of Ledger and his A-list alter-egos that should delight even the most skeptical of movie aficionados. Check out the brand-new U.S. trailer in all its eyeball-popping, star-studded, whimsical and, yes, extremely weird glory.
Reader Comments (81)
Jamie at 8:26PM on Oct 8th 2009
Sort of makes the dolts who thought he actually scared himself for the Batman film look silly does it not?
drea at 9:55PM on Oct 8th 2009
Who thought that?
This is the first I've heard of it.
Margie at 8:18PM on Oct 8th 2009
Ohh Johnny Depp is in this. He can play any part. Very talented man.
Anna at 8:21PM on Oct 8th 2009
Ahaha! Can't wait! I love Heath Ledger!! Seeing him reminds me of my friend's graduation, which was after his death, and they made awards for each other. One girl's was: "Will probably be the one to bring Heath Ledger back from the dead." We thought it was hilarious!. Anyways, I LOVE HEATH LEDGER!
SWANN at 3:06AM on Oct 9th 2009
WOW COULD YOU BE ANY MORE INSENSITIVE,REALLY LAUGHING AT A DEAD PERSON AT YOUR GRADUATION I GUESS THAT WAS HIGH SCHOOL FOR DUMMIES,AND ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE I TRULY HOPE THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE LAUGHING AT YOU ON THE DAY OF YOUR DEATH.YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP,I HOPE YOU FIND SOME
swann at 3:20AM on Oct 9th 2009
WOW YOU MUST FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF MAKING FUN OF A DEAD MAN,I HOPE WHEN YOU DIE THERE WILL BE MORE THAN PLENTY OF PEOPLE TO GIVE OUT AWARDS FOR YOUR STUPIDITY,AND NOT TO MENTION EVERYONE LAUGHING AND SAYING HOW HILARIOUS YOUR DEATH WAS,BECAUSE SWEETHEART YOU DESERVE IT WHAT KIND OF GRADUATION WAS YOURS FROM SCHOOL FOR DUMMIES I THINK YOU DESERVE A BIG GOLD STAR FOR BEING THE MOST INSENSITIVE PERSON ALIVE.
Anna at 8:28AM on Oct 9th 2009
Swann: Are you really that stupid? I wasn't making fun of him. Did you even read the rest of my comment. BTW, my school is not stupid, we made up that reward because we loved Heath Ledger and his talents and we wish he wasn't dead. So, try thinking about comments before you try to diss a comment that wasn't even bad. Ok? THANKS!
swann at 3:49PM on Oct 12th 2009
im just kidding, lets make out.
Anna at 7:04PM on Oct 12th 2009
Shut-up
jason at 8:25PM on Oct 8th 2009
I think it is sad that Heath Ledger passed away; Especially when you look at what he has done in his carrear as a leading actor. Personally I think he is a great actor, and I am glad to see that they allowed the final creation of his last film. Hopefully one day he will be re-incarnated,born once again, and does not fade away so young.
me at 10:15PM on Oct 8th 2009
i believe in reincarnation to........ he is already been born again.
Victoria at 8:27PM on Oct 8th 2009
Looks utterly fantastic! Will be a great Christmas Day Treat to behold...
jaba at 8:28PM on Oct 8th 2009
His picture on the AOL home page is too disturbing to look at. So why bring him up? Didn't he die or something like that?
Nite Angel at 11:28PM on Oct 8th 2009
Are you really that stupid?
Swann at 2:55AM on Oct 9th 2009
I hope when the day comes for your passing there will be alot of miserable people like yourself to say the exact comment about you.your so cruel and ignorant..to say didn't he die or something like that, why don't you go back under that ROCK you slimed out from under,your a first class BITCH.
dhsaahjk at 8:29PM on Oct 8th 2009
I am so excited. :D
steve at 8:36PM on Oct 8th 2009
a great actor and person taken from us all way too soon
Connie at 8:53PM on Oct 8th 2009
It's utterly amazing Ledger at his best!
Mel at 8:54PM on Oct 8th 2009
Heath Ledger was a very talanted actor, but a troubled person. Please reach out to anyone in your life who is self medicating. Heath's death could have been avoided.
Tiffany at 8:53PM on Oct 8th 2009
Looks like a lame movie, which sucks because I love all the actors in the movie, but I just dont want to risk going to see it and having to sit next to a bunch of freaks in capes....
Just gonna pass on this one :/