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Back in February, we reported that Robert Duvall and Terry Gilliam had been meeting, and moving things forward for THE MAN WHO KILLED DON QUIXOTE (up until that point, the film seemed to be mostly just talk). This week Empire filed a report direct from the Cannes Film Festival, and it appears that Ewan McGregor has nabbed a leading role in the project. There’s been an interesting history with Gilliam’s Don Quixote movie, which almost happened a few times before, and at one point was connected with Johnny Depp, who was to play the role Ewan is now cast in. Depp departed the current incarnation as his schedule (primarily the impending PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 4) simply won’t allow time for this picture, which is being done on the cheap according to Gilliam. The budget has been reduced from $35 million (Terry’s working budget in 2000) to a mere $20 million, which is major motion picture dollars is extremely modest. Gilliam says shooting will start in September.
Now comes the question of what McGregor’s character will be, as in the original script Depp’s role was that of a modern day advertising exec that travels back in time to 17th century Spain, and meets Don Quixote… and gets into some adventures with the legend. In the 2000 version, the late Jean Rochefort was to play Quixote, but now Robert Duvall is attached for that role. But the addition of McGregor is brand new.
“Robert Duvall is one of the greats, no question – and he can ride a horse!” laughed Gilliam. “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!”
I’ve always liked Ewan McGregor, and think he has the ability to be very interesting, at least when the scripts he’s working with allow him to be. The idea of him working with Terry Gilliam is pretty cool if ya ask me. Considering the many problems this project has already created for Terry, I can only hope things go as smoothly as possible this time around. One thing is for sure, the final result will definitely be worth seeing.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
