Terry Gilliam’s Don Quixote adds Jack O’Connell

Don Quixote has been in development purgatory for a long time. Maverick director Terry Gilliam, responsible for classics such as Brazil and Twelve Monkeys, has been trying for years to get his adaptation of the timeless novel of the same name off the ground, and it finally looks like the pieces are coming together. Set in modern times, Jack O’Connell has been cast as Toby, a director of commercials, who bumps into a mysterious gypsy character while on shoot in Spain for one of his advertisements. This gypsy character represents Don Quixote himself, and Toby will embark on a trip that will see him replay many elements of the novel. This will be a contemporary update of the book, instead of what was originally planned to be a 17th-century adventure. This will mark Gilliam’s second film set in contemporary times, following 1991’s The Fisher King, and will be a massive broadening of scope for O’Connell, who’s so far been the star of recent British hits ’71 and Starred Up. Don Quixote is grinding into pre-production with Tony Grisoni on writing duties, having worked with Gilliam before on Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.