Life Of Brian cashes in on Gibson row

Monty Python's Life Of Brian is to be resurrected to cash in on the furore created by Mel Gibson's The Passion Of The Christ.

The huge controversy surrounding the new film, which has been accused of being anti-Semitic propaganda, has inspired distributors to re-release the Python film for cinemas.

It will also mark the 25th anniversary of the satire, which is no stranger to controversy itself. Backers EMI withdrew from the project fearing a Christian backlash, and it was banned from screens in Scotland by the censor.

Life Of Brian will open at the end of next month in New York and Los Angeles, before being rolled out around the rest of the States. It's not known if a UK release will follow.

Henry Jaglom, president of distributors Rainbow Film Company, told news agency Reuters: "We decided this is an important time to re-release this film, to provide some counter-programming to 'The Passion,

"I intend it, hopefully, to serve as an antidote to all the hysteria about Mel's movie. We want to give people a choice."

Jaglom added that the remaining Pythons "all agreed this was a good time" to re-release the film.

The Passion has grossed nearly $300 million in North America in the month since its released.

To buy the DVD for £7.99 from Amazon.

Published: 24 Mar 2004