Or at least most of them, in sci-fi comedy

Simon Pegg has joined the cast of Absolutely Anything, the film reuniting several of the Monty Python team.

He will pay disillusioned school teacher Neil Clarke who suddenly finds he has magical powers bestowed upon him by aliens – played by John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, who also directs.

Pegg said: ‘As someone whose love of comedy was hugely informed by Monty Python, the chance to work with Terry was a gift. Meeting your heroes is one thing - working with them is something else.’

Jones added: ‘Simon Pegg is the absolutely perfect Neil.’

The science fiction comedy, which Jones wrote with Gavin Scott, mixes live action with CGI effects and is also set to star Robin Williams, voicing a talking dog named Dennis

Eric Idle has declined to take part in the film, saying earlier this year that it was ‘not written by Python, just passing off as a Python movie… three or four doing a few minutes voiceover doesn't make it Python’. However he did since agree to work with his former colleagues for the stage reunion.

Pre-production starts on February 2, trade newspaper ScreenDaily reports, with filming commencing in London on March 23.

The film is being produced by Ben Timlett and Terry’s son Bill Jones at Bill & Ben Productions.

Published: 11 Dec 2013