'Monty Python' Reunion Planned for New Movie
"Monty Python" stars are reuniting for "Absolutely Anything," a new movie that will begin filming this summer.
Fans may be disappointed to learn, though, that the Pythons will not be filling their usual roles. Instead, stars Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Terry Jones will be voicing a group of aliens. The movie, directed by Jones, is being deemed a "sci-farce" and will poke fun at recent, successful science-fiction comedies.
The plot focuses on a group of aliens who give an Earthling "the power to make anything happen, and of course, he doesn't know what do with it," Jones told the BBC. "It's not a Python film. It's a different thing," he added.
"Monty Python" enjoyed enormous success when it debuted in England. "Monty Python's Flying Circus" paved the way for sketch comedy shows such as "Saturday Night Live" and pushed the boundaries of traditional humor.
It followed up its success with several movies including "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and well-known "Monty Python's Life of Brian."
"Life of Brian" drew criticism for its storyline that featured a boy being born in a manger next to Jesus and consistently mistaken for the Messiah.
However, when it came to actually portraying Jesus Christ, the Pythons decided to be respectful and feature him without adding any criticism; any humor was left to other characters.
The last film featuring the original Pythons was 1983's "Meaning of Life," which was a darker comedy for the crew. It centered on the story of a man's life told through sketches.
Idle's "Spamalot" has enjoyed much success on stages across the world and was the winner of three Tony awards. It produced 1,574 performances and grossed over $175 million on Broadway alone.
Robin Williams will also join the cast, and the film will begin filming in England this summer.
