The Sicilian (film) of his backer, Mafia Don Masino Croce. The Don, in turn, sets out to kill the upstart by convincing his cousin and closest adviser Gaspare to assassinate him. Due to the huge success of "The Godfather", Mario Puzo was given $1 million for the film rights to his novel "The Sicilian". David Begelman, head of Gladden Entertainment at the time, hired Michael Cimino to direct. When producer Bruce McNall met with Cimino at a dinner in Los Angeles, he complained loudly about the script and Begelman's interference with casting. Cimino wanted Christopher Lambert for the lead role and Begelman was
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote character whose name is based on Tony Grisoni's), a 21st-century marketing executive thrown back through time and who meets Don Quixote. Their version would also have borrowed elements from Mark Twain's 1889 novel "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", including its time travel elements; after having failed "Don Quixote"s original attempt, Gilliam had unsuccessfully tried to adapt "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" into a film. Gilliam officialized "Don Quixote" to be his next project at the UK premiere of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" in 1998, with pre-production starting the same year. Gilliam, tired with Hollywood