With the film now finally finished, and having had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last month, it seemed that the last obstacle Terry Gilliam needed to face with The Man Who Killed Don Quixote was surmounted.
The film, after all, has had a two decade journey to get this far, including the abandoned earlier attempt that led to the terrific Lost In La Mancha documentary.
However, around the time of the Cannes premiere, it emerged that a fresh legal battle was threatening to engulf the movie. And the apparent resolution of the case seems to have done just that.
For Gilliam has lost the rights to the now-completed film, with the Paris Court of Appeal ruling that former producer Paulo Branco actually owns them instead. It’s now in Branco’s court as to whether the film gets a release at all. But he’s expect to pursue damages from those involved with the movie, Gilliam included. And that’s likely to take priority.
More as we hear it. Maybe one day we’ll actually see the movie in a UK cinemas…