Terry Gilliam has been trying to make The Man Who Killed Don Quixote for so long, the film’s delay can almost rent a car. It’s been two-and-a-half decades (and 20 years since he first started shooting) of frustration, setbacks, false starts, and much legal trouble. Last April, miraculously, the seemingly impossible happened: we got a trailer, an honest to goodness trailer featuring famous actors and everything!
Then the problems immediately returned and control over the film’s still contested rights ended up in court, and we were once again left asking if we will ever actually get to see it. Now, finally, the answer is “yes.” But because apparently nothing will ever be easy with this film it’s only getting a one night screening. For now.
On April 10, Fathom Events and Screen Media Films will show the movie at over 700 theaters around the U.S. and Canada. The announcement was accompanied by a new trailer for the film, which stars Adam Driver (BlacKkKlansman) and Jonathan Pryce (Game of Thrones), and it’s our best look yet at the movie’s surreal, almost meta plot.
“The Man Who Killed Don Quixote is the story of Toby, a cynical advertising director, who finds himself trapped in the outrageous delusions of an old Spanish shoe-maker who believes himself to be Don Quixote. In the course of their comic and increasingly surreal adventures, Toby is forced to confront the tragic repercussions of a film he made in his idealistic youth – a film that changed the hopes and dreams of a small Spanish village forever. Can Toby make amends and regain his humanity? Can Don Quixote survive his madness and imminent death? Or will love conquer all?”
All too fitting for a movie with this description to have the kind of horrendous production history it has.
Now this trailer could have been total garbage and we’d still be psyched to see it after 25 years of anticipation, but we’re just happy it looks good (Adam Driver’s costumes alone assures that). Of course, we better make sure we’re around on April 10 or it might disappear forever. While it certainly could (and likely will) eventually get a wide release, with this movie you really never know. We don’t want to wait until the film’s old enough to get a senior discount.
If you want to get your tickets you can purchase them through Fathom Events.
Featured Image: Alacran Pictures