The producers of Heath Ledger’s final movie are promising his fans that they will not alter or change in any way his scenes in the film. Immediately following the January 22 death of the young actor production was halted on “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” until its creators could determine if the show could go on without its lead actor. Three contemporaries of Heath’s soon volunteered to finish the movie in his honor, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell. Because of the fantastical nature of the movie’s story the three new leading men can each take over Ledger’s role and give their interpretation of the performance. “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,” read a statement released by the production this week.

It means that Ledger’s final work can eventually be seen by audiences. “I am delighted that Heath’s brilliant performance can be shared with the world,” said the film’s director Terry Gilliam. “We are looking forward to finishing the movie and, through the film, with a modicum of humility, being able to touch people’s hearts and souls as Heath was able to do.”

Filming resumed this week on “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”.

Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell will add their star power to Heath Ledger’s last movie project, “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”. The three leading men have all agreed to sign on to director Terry Gilliam’s fantasy movie and help him complete it after the tragic passing of Ledger shut down the production last month. The idea can work for this movie because there is already an element of magic associated with the story. Ledger’s character is a performer in a magical theater company and can alter his appearance. Depp, Law and Farrell will take over the acting role in various segments of the picture but still try and retain the same style and mannerisms of Ledger’s performance.

“I will be honored to be part of that. It makes me feel uncomfortable to think about it too much and to get into it really here, but it’s an incredibly painful honor… and an honor I wish wasn’t bestowed (on me), but an honor none-the-less,” said Colin Farrell about being asked to take part in the movie. “It’s about getting Heath’s work out there… He’s too good for any of his work not to be seen, you know, and I’m really keen and looking forward to doing it and just doing the best job I can do.”

Two of television’s most watched entertainment news programs have caved in to mounting pressure generated by Hollywood public relation firms and celebrities dismayed over the sensationalist reporting of the death of Heath Ledger. After a promo aired on “The Insider” soliciting an upcoming story that would have aired footage from a two-year old video showing Ledger at a Hollywood party where one person was seen snorting cocaine, the Hollywood press relations firm ID PR sent a letter to the program requesting that it not air. The sister show of “Insider” is “Entertainment Tonight” and it is likely that both programs would have aired material from the grainy video which it is rumored the shows producers paid in excess of $100,000 for.

“This is not journalism, it is sensationalism. It is a shameful exploitation of the lowest kind,” said Heath Ledger’s representative Mara Buxbaum.

The ID PR line in the sand was swiftly followed by several other major press relations firms. As well several of Hollywood’s top talent also stood behind the agency including Sarah Jessica Parker, Natalie Portman and Josh Brolin. The message being delivered to “Entertainment Tonight” and “The Insider” was clear: if you run this video don’t expect any more interviews from our celebrities again. Facing a public relations nightmare both “ET” and “Insider” backed down and decided to not air the Ledger party footage.

Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger has been found dead in an Manhattan apartment. The 28-year-old Australian star of “Brokeback Mountain” was found turned face down in the bedroom of the suite with an assortment of sleeping pills around his body. Whether he committed suicide or had an accidental overdose is under investigation.

Ledger’s body was discovered at 3:26 PM local time by the apartment’s caretaker and a masseuse who had made a prearranged appointment with the star. Immediately after making the shocking discovery the pair called police and ambulance technicians. Soon after the news broke a crowd of curious onlookers had started to gather at the building’s entrance.

The man was nominated for his performance as a closeted gay cowboy in Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain”. He had most recently been seen playing rock icon Bob Dylan in “I’m Not There” and had just finished playing the role of the Joker in “The Dark Knight”. Born in 1979, Ledger fell in love with his “Brokeback” co-star Michelle Williams while making the film. The two have a two-year-old daughter, Matilda, but separated as a couple last year.

An autopsy is being planned to take place on Wednesday.

Work continues to take place on “The Dark Knight”, the follow-up to 2005’s “Batman Begins”. Director Christopher Nolan will be behind the camera once again, this time working from a screenplay written by himself and his brother Jonathan. Christian Bale is reprising his role as billionaire Bruce Wayne and costumed crime-fighter Batman, the vigilante protector of Gotham City. Also returning are Michael Caine as Wayne’s butler and confidant, Alfred; Gary Oldman as crusading cop James Gordon and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, the developer of Batman’s arsenal of weapons and vehicles.

Three new cast members are joining the movie. Heath Ledger, the hunky star of “A Knight’s Tale”, has already been cast to play Batman’s arch-nemesis, The Joker. Close to signing a contract is Aaron Eckhart (”Thank You for Smoking”) in the role of Two-Face, the scarred villain that bases all of his decisions on the flip of a coin. Finally, Maggie Gyllenhaal (”World Trade Center”) is rumored to also be close to joining the cast to take over the character of Rachel Dawes, the love interest for Bruce Wayne. Katie Holmes played the character in the earlier film.

Filming on “The Dark Knight” commences next month in Chicago and you will be able to see the movie in theaters in the summer of 2008.