In an Associated Press report, Ledger’s uncle, Neil Bell, said the family was shocked: “He was in good spirits and having a wonderful time on this Terry Gilliam movie [The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus].” 

Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law ended up stepping in for Ledger, playing “transformations” of his character as he travels through a dream world, in order to help complete the film. At the time, Gilliam said, “Each of the parts played by Johnny, Colin, and Jude is representative of the many aspects of the character that Heath was playing.”