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Director May Save Ledger's Last Film

Actor had pneumonia, took sleeping pills on set, co-star confirms

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 28, 2008 6:43 PM CST

(Newser) – Heath Ledger's last unfinished film may live on thanks to the magic of CGI, People reports. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was partly about sorcery, so Ledger's character could morph into someone else using computer wizardry, co-star Christopher Plummer said. He added that director Terry Gilliam is "throwing himself into the job of trying to salvage" the $30 million picture.

Plummer confirmed that Ledger caught pneumonia on Imaginarium's damp London set and failed to "deal with it immediately with antibiotics." He said Ledger was also popping pills to cope with insomnia. Meanwhile, reps for Johnny Depp are snubbing rumors that the actor has been asked to take Ledger's role.

Terry Gilliam attends Bangkok's International Film Festival in this undated file photo.
Terry Gilliam attends Bangkok's International Film Festival in this undated file photo.   (Getty Images)
Actor Christopher Plummer poses at the Lyceum Theatre Thursday, May 17, 2007  in New York.  Plummer spoke to People Magazine about the future of Heath Ledger's last film. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Actor Christopher Plummer poses at the Lyceum Theatre Thursday, May 17, 2007 in New York. Plummer spoke to People Magazine about the future of Heath Ledger's last film. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)   (Associated Press)
A memorial to actor Heath Ledger, who passed away recently, is presented at the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, in Los Angeles.  (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
A memorial to actor Heath Ledger, who passed away recently, is presented at the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)   (Associated Press)
Reps for Johnny Depp aren't commenting on rumors that he will step into Heath Ledger's final role.
Reps for Johnny Depp aren't commenting on rumors that he will step into Heath Ledger's final role.   (Associated Press)
Actor Heath Ledger attends a special Cinema Society and Hogan hosted screening of I'm Not There at the Chelsea West Cinemas, in this Nov. 13, 2007, file photo in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
Actor Heath Ledger attends a special Cinema Society and Hogan hosted screening of "I'm Not There" at the Chelsea West Cinemas, in this Nov. 13, 2007, file photo in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)   (Associated Press)
Heath Ledger reacts at a photo session to present the movie  I'm not there  competing in the  the 64th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Heath Ledger reacts at a photo session to present the movie " I'm not there " competing in the the 64th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)   (Associated Press)
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