Star Stand-ins Help Complete Ledger's Last Film

Three actors will step into the breach to complete the shooting of Heath Ledger's last film, director Terry Gilliam has confirmed.

Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law will replace Ledger, who died from an accidental prescription drug overdose on January 22 with the filming of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus still to be finished.

Gilliam said in a statement: "I am grateful to Johnny, Colin and Jude for coming on board and to everyone else who has made it possible for us to finish the film.

"I am delighted that Heath's brilliant performance can be shared with the world."

When Oliver Reed died during the making of Ridley Scott's movie Gladiator, that film was completed using CGI to fill in Reed's unfinished scenes.

However, the team behind The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus have ruled out such an approach: "Since the format of the story allows for the preservation of his entire performance, at no point will Heath's work be modified or altered through the use of digital technology.

"Each of the parts played by Johnny, Colin and Jude is representative of the many aspects of the character that Heath was playing."

Ledger's last completed role, as the Joker in the next Batman film, The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, is due to be released in the summer.