Terry Jones: Monty Python wouldn’t do a film about Muslims
The resurgence of religion could prevent a modern-day Life of Brian
Monty Python star Terry Jones says even the comedy icons would “think twice” about doing a religious satire like Life of Brian these days – and that a similar film about Muslims would “probably not” be made.
“At the time [of life of Brian, religion] seemed to be on the back burner and it felt like kicking a dead donkey,” said Jones in an interview in the new issue of Radio Times. “It’s come back with a vengeance and we’d think twice about making it now.”
That means satirising Islam would likely be off limits for the Pythons these days.“I suppose people would be frightened,” says Jones, citing the example of Salman Rushdie.
Terry Jones was talking to RT ahead of Holy Flying Circus, BBC4's comedy drama recalling the controversy that followed the release of Monty Python’s Life of Brian in 1979.
Showing on Wednesday, it centres on the now famous television debate in which Pythons John Cleese (Darren Boyd) and Michael Palin (Charles Edwards) clashed with the Bishop of Southwark Mervyn Stockwood and broadcaster Malcolm Muggeridge.
Read the full interview with Terry Jones in the latest issue of Radio Times, and find out about the scenes they cut from Life of Brian and the “terrible experience” of making Monty Python and the Holy Grail…
