Auteur Terry Gilliam isn’t by anybody’s standards what would be considered a prolific director, so when he chooses to present a new project at San Diego Comic-Con 2013, it’s something to take note of. The official description of his next project, the science fiction film The Zero Theorem, describes the plot as being about an eccentric and reclusive computer genius, plagued with existential angst, who works on a mysterious project aimed at discovering the purpose of existence ­or the lack thereof­ once and for all – “The Zero Theorem.” However, it is only once he experiences the power of love and desire that he is able to understand his very reason for being.

At the panel, the audience was shown the film’s first trailer (which had leaked online back in June), as well as the first 10 minutes of the movie. Also, just after the panel, Voltage Pictures released two images for The Zero Theorem, giving us a first public look at the movie. You can see these images here below.

The panelists were producers Zev Foreman and Dean Zanuck, and Terry’s daughter Amy Gilliam, who worked on the film. The panel was moderated by Gina McIntyre of the LA Times’ Hero Complex. Terry Gilliam himself could not make the event, but he did send a video message explaining that the film’s producers have hijacked him to finish the movie, and he hoped the NSA could get this message out to all of us at Hall H. A trailer followed which carried all of Gilliam’s trademark panache, looking very much like a cross between Brazil and 12 Monkeys.

Skull-Face Island Movie Podcast presented by Geeks Of Doom
Episode 04: Champagne With My Campaign

Hello! It’s Adam Frazier aka FamousMonster and it’s time for another transmission from Skull-Face Island. David Allen, Tim Grant and myself haven’t slept in days – we’re too busy watching the 25th Anniversary of Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. I mean seriously, how can you afford to sleep knowing there’s Grade-A programming like this being broadcast over the airwaves? Hey, speaking of sharks…

Filmmaker Terry Gilliam has made more than a few movies in his career that became cherished favorites with millions of fans around the world, but the man has never had it easy getting seeing his cinematic visions realized. Gilliam has clashed with major studios repeatedly (his battle with Universal Pictures over the final cut of his 1985 dystopian satire Brazil is legendary) and seen several of his projects crumble into dust.

Most notoriously was the legendary collapse of The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, an independently-financed feature that reunited Gilliam with his Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas star Johnny Depp. The production was plagued by problems with financing, location difficulties, and the sudden hospitalization of actor Jean Rochefort, who had been cast as Cervantes’ classic literary dreamer Don Quixote. The troubled production and its ultimate dissolution was the focus of the 2002 documentary Lost in La Mancha.

Continue below to find out where The Man Who Killed Don Quixote stands now, and to see a new logo.

Before you get too excited, no, Monty Python is not officially reuniting for some more Flying Circus action. It does appear, however, that the remaining members of the legendary comedy troupe will once again be combining their talents for an upcoming movie titled Absolutely Anything, which is set to be directed by Pythoner Terry Jones.

The movie will be a sci-fi comedy that combines live action and CGI. It tells the story of a group of aliens who choose a human to give the incredible power to do, well…quite literally absolutely anything just to see how badly they mess things up with their new abilities. At the moment, other Python members John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, and Michael Palin have all agreed to take part, and producers are currently talking to Eric Idle about joining. And who will the gang play? You guessed it, they’ll be voicing the aliens who give the human this power.

Christmas is upon us and we here at Geeks at Doom are celebrating the occasion as only we know how: by digging up holiday-themed oddities for your employment.

Today we have an extra special treat for you. Back in 1968 Terry Gilliam was working as an animator for the British children’s series Do Not Adjust Your Set, which starred several of his fellow future members of Monty Python, when he produced this 3-minute-long ode to the classic imagery and rituals we commonly associate, and that some of us deep down really want to rip to shreds and defile the remains. You can watch “Christmas Card” here below.