<Tr> <Th> Budget </Th> <Td> $4 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $20 million </Td> </Tr> <P> Monty Python's Life of Brian, also known as Life of Brian, is a 1979 British religious satire comedy film starring and written by the comedy group Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin). It was also directed by Jones . The film tells the story of Brian Cohen (played by Chapman), a young Jewish man who is born on the same day as, and next door to, Jesus Christ, and is subsequently mistaken for the Messiah . </P> <P> Following the withdrawal of funding by EMI Films just days before production was scheduled to begin, long - time Monty Python fan and former member of the Beatles, George Harrison, arranged financing for Life of Brian through the formation of his company HandMade Films . </P>

Who plays brian in the life of brian