Terry Gilliam’s ‘The Man Who Killed Don Quixote’ Is Officially in Production, So Don’t Jinx It

Terry Gilliam’s Don Quixote movie, the production history of which could itself best be described as the very definition of the word “quixotic,” has officially begun production this week. The film has been in the works since its ill-fated first attempt in 2000, and Gilliam has been hard at work trying to make it happen ever since.

A few folks involved in production confirmed to IndieWire that The Man Who Killed Don Quixote has officially begun filming. This movie has become one of those cautionary Hollywood legends, its initial filming attempt 17 years ago met with illness, flash floods, and all other manner of setbacks that led to it losing its stars and being indefinitely tabled. But now, thanks to a shiny new co-production deal announced back in April of last year, the movie seems to be on track again. The first photos from the set come in the form of two Instagrams of the front page of the script and the shooting schedule:

Terry Gilliam signed a deal with Amazon Studios back in 2015 — which is the same deal that allowed Jim Jarmusch to make his most recent film Paterson. Also like Paterson, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote will star Adam Driver as an advertising exec who meets and becomes embroiled in the fantasies of the legendary Spanish knight, who will be played by Jonathan Pryce (the role originally was supposed to go to John Hurt, who died in January). Olga Kurylenko and Stellan Skarsgard have also been cast.

For now, things are looking up for Gilliam. Let’s keep our fingers as crossed as possible and hope no natural disasters or illnesses or giant windmills get in his way.