Billy Bob Thornton to Topline Terry Gilliam’s "Zero Theorem"

[J_UNTITLED]

From slashfilm.com...

It became apparent a month or two ago that Terry Gilliam was working with producer Richard Zanuck and screenwriter Pat Rushin on Zero Theorem. Just what that film was going to be wasn’t so apparent.

So I e-mailed Rushin… and he sent me a very nice, polite “Can’t Tell You” type response. But he did send me a short story he had written, in order to demonstrate the sensibility he’d also applied to Zero Theorem - or, to give it his pet-name, Zip-T. I’m happy to report that Vow: A Prolix Parable was wonderful, like an episode from The Phantom of Liberty if written by Borges.

News finally breaks today - in France, for no clear reason other than they are a generally somewhat cine-literate nation and appreciate Gilliam more than many other places - that the project is to go before cameras as of the 1st of May. Thanks, Tout Le Cine, you’ve given me a grin so wide that a mild breeze could blow the top half of my head clean off.

This scheduling is possibly tied in to delays re-mounting The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, delays very probably due to one J. Depp and his crowded schedule. Perhaps Gilliam can’t conceive of Quixote without Johnny… or perhaps the financiers can’t.

The star of Zero Theorem is to be Billy Bob Thornton, apparently playing a tormented, reclusive genius trying to find final answers to the many enigmas of existence. This will not be Transformers 2. This will not be Dance Flick. This will not be The Pink Panther 2. This will actually be worth your hard-earned and foldy, your precious time and your intelligent consideration.

There’s supposedly a Curse of Terry Gilliam - in much the way there is supposedly such a thing as ghosts, or that homeopathy supposedly works - and, rather amusingly, Defamer have also “identified” a Curse of Billy Bob Thornton. Pat Rushin, Richard Zanuck - triple your life insurance policies now.

Now… how do I get a hold of the Zero Theorem screenplay? Anybody want to e-mail it to me?

To give you a taste of Rushin’s writing, here’s the opening of Vow:

The man hadn’t slept well that night, and at dawn he was already up and dressed. He opened his bedroom window to the winter air, startling a flock of cackling grackles from the branches of his backyard oak. His wife, still snugly quilted in bed, murmured a cranky protest at the draft. “Shut it,” she complained, and at that moment, though he’d be hard pressed to articulate why, the man decided to cease speaking for the rest of his life.

At first, no one seemed to notice.

[bainbridge's_stache]

Leaked trailer

Zero Theorem Trailer - YouTube

[legendarymatt92]

Looks fantastical, surreal and thought-provoking in the way that only Gilliam can do, so I'm certainly interested in it. Reminds quite a lot of Brazil.

Not a fan of basically the whole story being condensed into that one trailer, though.

[Tony208]

It is all over the place

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Tony208

It is all over the place

Which is Gilliam's trademark.

Looks intriguing, could be very good, could all fall to shit. The big problem I have is how tacky the thing feels, Gilliam's style is not fit for digital, it looks like a student rip off film over an actually film, hopefully this'll be ironed out in post production.

[bainbridge's_stache]

Official trailer

Zero Theorem Official Trailer (2014) Christoph Waltz, Terry Gilliam - YouTube

[metalsonic]

Looks great!

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by bainbridge's_stache

Official trailer
Zero Theorem Official Trailer (2014) Christoph Waltz, Terry Gilliam - YouTube

Comes out in March over here, actually looking forward to it despite it being completely all over the place. Church of Batman has me sold.

[toddly6666]

I wish it didnt have that digital look - this would have looked better shot on film.

[wonkavision]

I'm really looking forward to this one.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by J_UNTITLED

The star of Zero Theorem is to be Billy Bob Thornton, apparently playing a tormented, reclusive genius trying to find final answers to the many enigmas of existence. This will not be Transformers 2. This will not be Dance Flick. This will not be The Pink Panther 2.

If will not be The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, I'll be happy.

[esteban²]

I like the idea, but I don't like the cinematography in this trailer so far. Not at all.

[qb2333]

I don't see Billy Bob Thornton, but that girl is pretty hot

[wonkavision]

Originally Posted by qb2333

I don't see Billy Bob Thornton, but that girl is pretty hot

Check on the girl. Billy Bob Thornton doesn't seem to be in the film.

[*PREACHER*]

All over this baby!!!

[esteban²]

The title of this thread is a classic example of why I would like to see the following idea to turn into reality : Making the topic-starter able to update the titles of their own thread.

[Akijama]

Terry Gilliam's Anticipated 'The Zero Theorem' Finally Lands US Distribution

[chris_sc77]

Well Go?
might as well be direct to video.

oh well.
I for one cant wait to see this one.
Probably just blind buy the Blu