ERIC IDLE - PYTHON STAR THREATENS SHREK LEGAL ACTION

PYTHON STAR THREATENS SHREK LEGAL ACTION

ERIC IDLE has accused SHREK THE THIRD moviemakers of theft after they lifted a joke from his 1975 hit MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL. The 64-year-old, who voices the character of Merlin in the animated ogre sequel, is furious he wasn't told that a scene in which Prince Charming is shown riding a hobby horse while a minion bangs two coconut halves together for sound effect, was to be used. The clip is copied directly from the Python film. He's now considering legal action against studio Dreamworks, who made the movie. Idle tells Canada's Mad Dog + Billie radio show, "I was shocked. "It's been stolen patently by Shrek I'm happy to say. So we'll be able to sue their ass. "If you steal people's jokes, I don't think that's homage, I think that's theft." Shrek the Third also stars Idle's former Python castmate John Cleese.