Python stars to reunite

Cleese, Jones, Gilliam and Palin all confirmed for new venture...

10:50 27 January 2012

The surviving members of Monty Python are reforming for a new film, Terry Jones has announced.

Jones told industry magazine Variety that he will also direct the sci-fi movie, Absolutely Anything. 

The 69-year-old actor confirmed that John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin have also joined the project, and that he is still hoping to sign Eric Idle.

Comedian and actor Robin Williams has been cast as Dennis, an intelligent talking dog.

Jones said of the new venture:

"It's not a Monty Python picture, but it certainly has that sensibility."

The film will completely CGI, with the Monty Python crew voicing a group of aliens who grant a human being "immense power", leading to chaos.

Mike Medavoy will produce the film, which is based on a 20-year-old script developed by Jones and Gavin Scott.

Medavoy said:

"Terry and Gavin have crafted a classic farce - something I feel I know a little bit about after all the Pink Panther pictures we did with Blake Edwards at United Artists.

"In fact, the movie even has a pompous Frenchman reminiscent of Inspector Clouseau - but there the similarity ends. Like all projects originated by any of the Monty Python guys, Absolutely Anything delightfully defies a logline."

The film will mark the first time the comedy troupe have appeared together since the Aspen Comedy Festival in 1998.