Jump back in time to 2016: Gilliam and producer Paulo Branco reached an agreement regarding The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. In that contract, Branco was to provide the necessary funding for production - with Gilliam retaining final cut on the film - in exchange for the rights.
However, Branco balked on financing Don Quixote, causing Gilliam to seek funding elsewhere. Production actually went off without a hitch - with Gilliam reportedly being very happy with the finished product - and it seemed like Branco was out of the scene forever.
Unfortunately for Gilliam, Branco's come out of hiding, with a claim that Don Quixote is not to be released without his express permission, since he technically owns the rights based on that 2016 contract. Gilliam believes that the document was null and void due to Branco, you know, never coming up with the money. Yet the litigation still needs to be heard in court before the picture can even grace the festival circuit.
Now, the case is going before a judge - with Gilliam suing Branco for full rights to The Man Who Killed Don Quixote - but the judgment won’t be handed down until June 15th. This means that the possible premiere at Cannes is totally f**ked. At the earliest, Gilliam wouldn't be able to plan a release until mid-Summer, and that's if the court even rules in his favor.
