Heath Ledger's family hasn't seen "Dr. Parnassus" yet. Terry Gilliam explains why.

In a strange way, acclaimed writer/director Terry Gilliam thinks Heath Ledger's sad death may have made "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus" a better movie. 

Before you get all riled up, read on....

"It's the movie we set out to make except it's different," Gilliam told me recently at the LA junket. "Some people think it might even be better because this way with Johnny, Colin and Jude, there's more surprises for the audience. There is constantly something new popping in."

And Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law do look and act surprisingly like Heath when they make their appearances.

"That's why  I wanted friends of Heath in this thing, people who knew him. Colin,  at one point, said he felt like he was channeling Heath.... Heath was a powerful spirit and he stayed on much longer than most people understand."

But he admits that Heath's family hasn't yet seen the film. Any reasons? 

"We've always thought it would be difficult for them...They decided they'd rather wait and do it in their own time," Gilliam says.

They were certainly involved during the 2009 awards season with "Dark Knight" promotions and premieres.

"I think they were under a lot of pressure with "Dark Knight," reveals Gilliam. I  just want to stay back and let them decide in their own time what they want to do."

More Heath Dish:

Watch Heath's No Fixed Abode video "Cause an Effect."

Matilda Ledger will keep Heath Ledger's Golden Globe

Heath Ledger: Dead at 28!

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