Christoph Waltz to Star in Terry Gilliam’s ‘Zero Theorem’

Terry Gilliam's next film will be an existential science fiction film, which sounds about right for the visionary director. What sounds even better than that is the announcement that Christoph Waltz will take the lead in Gilliam's upcoming 'Zero Theorem.'

The script comes courtesy of Pat Rushin, and though we were promised Gilliam's next film would be 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote,' 'Zero Theorem' actually sounds like a pretty cool consolation prize. According to Deadline, Christoph Waltz will play the role of Qohen Leth, a computer genius dealing with a rather hefty existential crisis, searching for the meaning of life (clearly he never read 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'). Waltz will be seen next in Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained,' which hits theaters on Christmas.

'Zero Theorem' has a very interesting and bizarre plot description:

Living in an Orwellian corporate world where “mancams” serve as the eyes of a shadowy figure known only as Management, Leth (Waltz) works on a solution to the strange theorem while living as a virtual cloistered monk in his home—the shattered interior of a fire-damaged chapel. His isolation and work are interrupted now and then by surprise visits from Bainsley, a flamboyantly lusty love interest who tempts him with “tantric biotelemetric interfacing” (virtual sex) and Bob. Latter is the rebellious whiz-kid teenage son of Management who, with a combination of insult-comedy and an evolving true friendship, spurs on Qohen’s efforts at solving the theorem. But these visits turn out to be intentional diversions orchestrated by Management to keep control of Qohen’s progress. Bob creates a virtual reality “inner-space” suit that will carry Qohen on an inward voyage, a close encounter with the hidden dimensions and truth of his own soul, wherein lie the answers both he and Management are seeking. The suit and supporting computer technology will perform an inventory of Qohen’s soul, either proving or disproving the Zero Theorem.

We're pretty sure we pre-ordered tickets based on "tantric biotelemetric inerfacing" alone, which sounds sort of like that thing in 'Demolition Man,' but since this is Terry Gilliam, it's probably way cooler and no one has to figure out seashells.

Wait. Are there seashells?