<P> Gilliam started working on the film in 1989, but was unable to secure funding until 1998 when it entered full pre-production with a budget of $32.1 million without American financing, with Jean Rochefort as Quixote, Johnny Depp as Toby Grisoni, a 21st - century marketing executive thrown back through time, and Vanessa Paradis as the female lead . Shooting began in 2000 in Navarre, but a significant number of difficulties such as sets and equipment destroyed by flooding, the departure of Rochefort due to illness, problems obtaining insurance for the production, and other financial difficulties led to a sudden suspension of the production and its subsequent cancellation . The original production was the subject of the documentary film Lost in La Mancha, which was intended to be a making - of but was released on its own in 2002 . </P> <P> Gilliam made repeated attempts to relaunch production between 2005 and 2016, which included Robert Duvall, Michael Palin, and John Hurt as Quixote, and Depp, Ewan McGregor, Jack O'Connell, and Adam Driver as Grisoni . However, all ended up being cancelled for various reasons, such as failing to secure funds, Depp's busy schedule and eventual loss of interest in the project, and Hurt being diagnosed with the cancer that would eventually result in his death . After yet another failed attempt, it was unexpectedly reported in March 2017 that filming had finally started, with Driver still attached as Grisoni, Jonathan Pryce as Quixote, and Olga Kurylenko as the female lead . On 4 June Gilliam announced that the shooting of the film was complete, 17 years after it originally started . </P> <P> The film premiered on 19 May 2018, simultaneously acting as the closing film at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and being released in French theaters . </P> <P> Toby, a cynical advertising director finds himself trapped in the outrageous delusions of an old Spanish shoe - maker who believes himself to be Don Quixote . In the course of their comic and increasingly surreal adventures, Toby is forced to confront the tragic repercussions of a film he made in his idealistic youth - a film that changed the hopes and dreams of a small Spanish village forever . Can Toby make amends and regain his humanity? Can Don Quixote survive his madness and imminent death? Or will love conquer all? </P>

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