I am puzzled by Gilliam's recent quote, and I wonder whether either 1) he misheard the question, or 2) Paste misheard the answer, because I also saw another very recent interview, recent enough to mention Robert Duvall cast as Don Quixote, where Gilliam said something like "now that Johnny is out of the picture." (sorry, I don't recall exactly where I saw it). I have to confess that I really hope Johnny doesn't do it- it might've been great 10 years ago, but I think that ship has sailed. Gilliam can be brilliant (I loved Brazil, 12 Monkeys, and several others of his films) but sometimes his stuff is a little much for me. Johnny did some of his best acting in Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, but it's a little tough for me to get through the film. I recently saw The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus at a film festival here in Maryland, and it was a very interesting and promising film with beautiful visuals, but it didn't totally succeed IMHO (I'm glad I saw it, though, and hope to perhaps catch it again when it's in theaters). Good point jimbo that Johnny is very loyal to many people he's worked closely with, so you never know. I would also love for Johnny to work with Robert Duvall, but this isn't a project I'd choose for them (hmm, who could Duvall play in Dark Shadows??
I agree, Robot_Quentin, that Lost In La Mancha is a great and somewhat surreal film. jimbo, if you find it to rent, see if you can get the 2 disc version- it has some extras including a 20 min. interview with Johnny from a couple of years later. He tells some funny stories, including about the hail storm, and the fact that he and his longtime partner, French actress/singer Vanessa Paradis, really had misgivings about acting together (and still never have, except for a couple of music videos).