Python Star Threatens Shrek Legal Action.... Eric Idle has accused Shrek The Third moviemakers of theft after they lifted a joke from his 1975 hit Monty Python And The Holy Grail.The 64-year-old, who voices the character of Merlin in the animated ogre sequel, is furious he wasn't told that a scene in which Prince Charming is shown riding a hobby horse while a minion bangs two coconut halves together for sound effect, was to be used. The sketch is very similar to one in the Python film.He's now considering legal action against studio Dreamworks, who made the movie.Idle tells Canada's Mad Dog & Billie radio show, "I was shocked."It's been stolen patently by Shrek I'm happy to say. So we'll be able to sue their ass."If you steal people's jokes, I don't think that's homage, I think that's theft."

Shrek the Third also stars Idle's former Python castmate John Cleese The third Shrek movie meanwhile has shattered the opening weekend record for an animated film after raking in over $122 million (£61 million) at the U.S. box office.Shrek the Third has exceeded expert expectations by scoring the third-biggest opening of all time - easily taking over the U.S. number one spot from another second sequel, Spider-Man 3.

Analysts expected the film to gross between $80 million (£40 million) and $110 million (£55 million), but the film streaked past the record set by Shrek 2 to make animation history.

Spider-Man 3, which set box office records earlier this month (May07), slipped to number two with a healthy third-weekend take of $28.5 million (£14.25 million).Spider-Man 3 retains its title for biggest box office opening at $151.1 million (£75.55 million), while Pirates of the Caribbean sequel Dead Man's Chest comes in second with $135.6 million (£67.8 million).

The third Pirates film is set to challenge the record books when it opens in U.S. cinemas this Friday (25May07).

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