In 2010 it was announced that Terry Gilliam would be involved as a "creative advisor" for a bizarre, steampunk film that would utilize a mixture of computer animation and live-action puppetry. The film, currently known as 1884: Yesterday's Future, is to be directed by Gilliam collaborator, Tim Ollive. It "imagines a film made in 1848 with steam power, narrating a tale of laughable imperialist derring-do and espionage set in a futuristic 1884, when Europe is at war, steam-powered cars fly in the sky and man has landed on the moon." according to executive producer Florent Mounier. While Gilliam fans were certainly intrigued, the real kicker was that some of the surviving Monty Python crew would feature as part of the voice cast! While test footage was unveiled at 2010's Paris FX, little has been heard about the project since.
So little is known that if you click on the official 1884: Yesterday's Future site there's nothing there. Not even if you click on the enter button.
Recently, however, John Cleese spoke about the delay. “The truth is, I don’t think any one of us knows what’s going on. Terry rang us about 18 months ago and said, ‘If we make this movie and I direct it will you do a voice for it?’ As far as I know everyone said yes and that’s the last we heard.”
The quote is revealing, as it indicates a possible shift in the director's chair. Gilliam had initially been announced as a "godfather" to the project with Tim Ollive directing. Although the film's IMDB page still lists Ollive at the helm with Gilliam as "consulting producer." Unfotunately, this was all the info Cleese had about 1884and the prospect of a Monty Python animated reunion, although he did go on to talk about how the chaps do occasionally manage to get together!
In the meantime, we'll have to content ourselves with this interesting, although sadly Python-free, animated teasers for 1884: Yesterday's Future. Check these out! Hopefully this sees the light of day sooner rather than later!
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