John Cleese has revealed that plans to reunite the stars of Monty Python in a new film have apparently stalled.

Python star Terry Jones was set to direct a movie called Absolutely Anything, and his old comedy pals were on board to voice aliens.

But John, 73, told the Los Angeles Times that the group haven't heard any more about the project, suggesting it is on a hiatus.

He said: "The truth is, I don't think any one of us knows what's going on. Terry rang us about 18 months ago and said, 'If we make this movie and I direct it, will you do a voice for it?' As far as I know, everyone said yes, and that's the last we heard about it."

Asked if there had been any talk of a Python reunion, John admitted it was "too difficult geographically".

He explained: "Dear old Mickey Palin - as I call Michael Palin - is forever travelling. He is always away doing his travel programmes. (Terry) Gilliam is either racing around the world trying to raise money or at film festivals or shooting something. He loves directing films - it seems almost to be a perverse pleasure. Jonesie is always doing the most extraordinary mixture of things. I think a few years ago he was directing an opera in Lisbon about carpet cleaners. And Eric (Idle) is very much based in LA.

"We only get together occasionally. It's fun when we do. We always say we laugh more when we are together than we really do any other time."