TERRY GILLIAM - TERRY GILLIAM PLEASED WITH HEATH LEDGER REPLACEMENTS

TERRY GILLIAM PLEASED WITH HEATH LEDGER REPLACEMENTS

Terry Gilliam has explained his decision to replace Heath Ledger with three other actors in his new film has been a success.

Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law have replaced the late actor Heath Ledger in un-shot scenes for his final film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

Filming was suspended when Oscar-nominee Ledger was found dead in his New York City apartment. He died of an accidental overdose of prescription medication on January 22nd.

The fantasy picture, due for a 2009 release, sees Ledger's character accessing three separate dimensions through a paranormal mirror in a bid to rescue the daughter of a travelling showman who sold his child to the devil in exchange for everlasting life.

And while scenes Ledger had completed will be included in the film, Law, Depp and Farrell will also appear in the trio of dimensions.

"I've seen it and it works and it's great," director Gilliam told BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat.

"It's the last chance to see Heath and he's brilliant."

He explained: "It [filming] stopped for a bit until the three heroes as they're now known - Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell - came to the rescue and finished off Heath's part.

"So you ended up with four actors playing one character."

Filming resumed in Vancouver with the blessing of Ledger's family, Gilliam explained in March.

Ledger can currently be seen as The Joker in record-breaking Batman sequel The Dark Knight, in a performance that has seen him tipped for a posthumous Oscar.