With Simon Pegg already aboard to play the lead, Terry Jones is rounding up the rest of the cast he needs for his new comedy Absolutely Anything. With cameras set to roll later next month, he’s rounded up Kate Beckinsale, Eddie Izzard, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Joanna Lumley.
Pegg is Neil Clarke, a disillusioned teacher who discovers he has magical powers. Well, not magic per se, more “magic” in the Thor sense, because the abilities come from some alien interlopers who like to have fun with lower species. The extra-terrestrials in question will be voiced by director Terry Jones alongside old pals John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin, with Robin Williams stepping into the voice booth to provide vocals for the main man’s dog, Dennis. Neil will ultimately face a choice that comes down to between man’s best friend and the woman (Catherine, played by Beckinsale) our man loves.
With Jones and Gavin Scott on script duty, this one will shoot in London through March and April, with the Pythons also preparing for their live reunion shows in July at the O2 Arena.
Beckinsale, last seen in the **Total Recall **remake, will next be seen in psychological thriller Eliza Graves and is shooting Michael Winterbottom's latest, The Face Of An Angel.