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Do you look like Heath Ledger? If so, Hollywood is calling!

February 29th, 2008 by Scott Marks

the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus.jpg
Heath Ledger in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Poor Terry Gilliam can never seem to catch a break. Remember all the difficulties he had during the filming of Brazil (1985)? Gilliam tangled with studio producers over how the picture should end; the director wanted it to be downbeat while the producers insisted on the usual Hollywood sap. The studio won out and a 94 minute cut was released to theaters. Gilliam threatened to disown the film which was eventually rereleased at its proper running time of 142 min. Gilliam became so stressed that he temporarily lost the use of his legs for several weeks.

In 1999, he began work on The Man Who Killed Don Quixote with Johnny Depp, Vanessa Paradis and Jean Rochefort. The shooting halted after only a couple of days when Jean Rochefort suffered a herniated disc (that prevented him from riding a horse) and a flood leveled the set. The only thing left over from the doomed production is a $15 million insurance claim. Both Depp and Gilliam are unable to revive the project because the insurance company owns the rights to the script.

Even if he wins he loses. The director was J.K. Rowling first choice for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), but Warner Brothers studios refused to even consider him opting instead for the “more family friendly ” Chris Columbus.

Gilliam reportedly tinkered for months with The Brother Grimm while Miramax repeatedly shuffled opening dates. According to imdb.com, “In June 2004, a stalemate occurred between Bob Weinstein and Terry Gillam over the final cut of the film. Terry Gilliam decided to place the film on hold for six months.” He went on to do Tideland, which he and Harvey Weinstein also quarreled over, and came back to finish this feature in January 2005.

In January of 2007, Gilliam announced that his next feature would be The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. One year later production ground to a halt when the film’s lead, Heath Ledger, died from an accidental overdose. According to Variety, Ledger’s participation was what got the film financed in the first place.

Ain’t It Cool News reports that instead of finishing the film with a CG Ledger, Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Johnny Depp have been recruited to replace the late actor. Cinematical quotes a studio insider reportedly saying: “There is a point in the film when Heath falls through a magic mirror. He could change into another character after that and that is where Johnny would come in.”

Gilliam still needs someone to double all of the actor’s blue screen work and a request for Ledger lookalikes has been sent out to actors’ agents.

It reads: “Please only suggest actors who look like Heath Ledger and are between five foot 11 inches and six foot three inches.”

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Comments

12 Responses to “Do you look like Heath Ledger? If so, Hollywood is calling!”

  1. nicolewild on March 21st, 2008 12:48 am

    i think a total look a like of heath ledger is Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

  2. Drew on March 28th, 2008 2:04 pm

    I’ve been told i look like the man.

  3. Brock on March 28th, 2008 2:06 pm

    i do, but where do i send my picture to?

  4. Scott Marks on March 28th, 2008 3:48 pm

    Sorry Brock and Drew, but the role doesn’t call for a schizophrenic.

  5. Mark Leith on May 2nd, 2008 11:13 pm

    I am a 28 year old Aussie, living in Australia, over 6 foot and get told “has anyone ever told you that you look like Heath Ledger?”

    I never thought the guy was very good looking, I just thought he looked like me on a bad day.

    As much as I like acting, I would rather be involved in Australian Film rather than pursue a career being a look a like for a great actor who cannot and should not be replaced.

    I think audiences would prefer a more creative approach to this issue.

  6. Scott Marks on May 3rd, 2008 12:47 am

    Yeah, but if the money is good…

  7. justin james coles on August 18th, 2008 4:54 pm

    I AM TOLD EVERYDAYYY OFFF MY LIFE !!!!!!
    People take pictures of me, and send them to their friends ..

  8. justin coles on August 18th, 2008 4:57 pm

    I GET THAT EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE. YOU WILL NOT FIND A BETTER HEATH LOOK A LIKE. I PROMISE YOU .

  9. Cesar Salazar on August 21st, 2008 7:13 pm

    Hello Scott, I am from Monterrey Mexico,I am really interesting in this calling opportunity.I really appreciate if you can give me some email address in order to send you several from my pics so you can decide if I look like or not.

    I´ll be awaiting for your response.
    Thanks and have a nice day!

  10. Scott Marks on August 21st, 2008 8:17 pm

    Hola, Cesar,

    Sadly, I think your time may have passed. This entry was written some six months ago and I am pretty certain that the job has already been spoken for. As I said in the article, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell have agreed to complete Heath Ledger’s role. According to Ain’t It Cool, “The film’s fantasy premise, and some clever rewrites, will let the actors play a man whose appearance changes as he travels between imaginary worlds.” Besides, I don’t have any contact information to give you. No one in Hollywood takes my calls.

    Best of luck,

    Scott

  11. Cesar Salazar on August 23rd, 2008 2:28 pm

    Hola Amigo! Thanks for your response, I imagine that it was so late to make this call, but im glad to hear that these great actors going to take care about it. There´s no chance to compete with any of them haha.. just by curious when you have a chance. ¿Could you please take a look the link that I posted and honestly tell me your personal opinion just in further case. No one never knows!

    Muchas Gracias Amigo!

  12. Scott Marks on August 23rd, 2008 4:16 pm

    What link, Cesar? Send it (along with your photos) to emulsioncompulsion.com and I’ll gladly get back to you.

    Scott

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