Members of the classic comedy group Monty Python have lent their voices to a new 3D animated film based on the memoirs of the late Graham Chapman. A Liar’s Autobiography, published in 1980, was a deliberately fanciful account of his life and a taped reading by Chapman will be used, along with animation and added dialogue from the other Pythons. John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam will be voicing various roles. Eric Idle is currently the only member not to become involved, however the filmmakers are said to be “working on” getting him on board.
Produced and directed by Terry Jones’ son Bill Jones, along with Ben Timlett and Jeff Simpson, the film has 15 animation companies working on chapters that will range from three to 12 minutes in length, each in a different style to represent the different stages of Chapman’s life.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus ran for 46 episodes from 1969-1974 and the team then brought us a number of films (And Now For Something Completely Different, Monty Python & the Holy Grail, Life of Brian, The Meaning of Life) before going their separate ways. Graham Chapman died in 1989 at the age of 48. This new film is expected to be around 85 mins long and should be finished in time for release next spring in UK cinemas.
Originally published June 28, 2011. Updated April 10, 2018.
