Colin Farrell: Replacing Heath Ledger A ‘Painful Honor’

Colin Farrell says it’s an honor to help replace Heath Ledger in the actor’s final film, “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.”

After Ledger died tragically before shooting on the film was complete, it was announced Farrell, Johnny Depp and Jude Law would all step in to the role to help finish the project.

In an interview with Australia’s The Daily Telegraph, Farrell said it wasn’t an easy decision, but one he wanted to make to honor Ledger.

“It makes me feel uncomfortable to think about it too much and to get into it really here, but it’s an incredibly painful honor to have, you know, and an honor I wish wasn’t bestowed but an honor none-the-less,” Farrell told The Daily Telegraph.

While Ledger had began filming the role of Tony in the movie, his three fellow actors will each step in to finish the uncompleted scenes.

In the film, Christopher Plummer plays the impresario Doctor Parnassus, and Ledger had taken the role of a mysterious outsider who joins the Doctor’s troupe on a quest through parallel worlds to save the doctor’s daughter (Lily Cole) from the clutches of the devil (Tom Waits).

Throughout the film, Ledger’s character is transported into three separate dimensions. Although it has not been confirmed, it is likely Depp, Farrell and Law would each step into the role in a different dimension.

“It’s about getting Heath’s work out there, get his work out there, he’s too good for any of his work not to be seen,” Farrell continued. “I’m really looking forward to doing it and just doing the best job I can do.”