h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

John Cleese 20 years ago would have been good. Today, I think he's too old.

He could play Zaphod's grandson...?

While I've heard nothing about a big (or little) budget American production, there is what could pssoibly be called a movie out already. It is actually a BBC miniseries (from the early 80s I believe) that goes through signficant portions of Hitchhiker's Guide and Restaurant. It is extremely accurate as far as dialogue and characters are concerned, but three drunken college students could have made better special effects (Zaphod's second head was obviously a stuffed and painted sack). So anyway, while I certainly hope to see a true Hitchhiker's movie someday, in the meantime we have to settle for this. I'd tell you where to find a copy of it, but I don't honestly know--I found a 2-tape set at a flea market 3 years ago and have not seen another copy since.

Sadly, those of us in the UK remember it rather well. Sandra Dickinson as "Trillian" still makes me shudder to think of it. It's still available - http://www.amazon.co.uk have it on two tapes, at £9.95 each or £14.95 for the set of 2. I assume Amazon.com will have it too...

Alternately, you could support this site by paying twice as much here... http://shop.douglasadams.com/cgi-bin/dna/05-00?VpZQNofn;;5

What is all this text about Trillian having blonde hair?
It distinctly says in HHGTTG that she has brown hair and looks vaguely arabic.
I recall reading at some point that Douglas Adams had his own biases towards characters.
While he said that 'Simon Jones' (I think this is right. The guy from the TV series and the Radioplay) was Arthur Dent, and in fact the role was written with Simon in mind, because of the inescapable aging problem Arthur would have to be played by someone younger.
He proposed Stephen Fry as Arthur.
And Jeff Goldblum as Ford
Also (if I'm not mistaken) Sean Connery as Slartibartfast.

Stephen Fry... was that the guy who played Bertie in the Jeeves and Wooster "movies"?

Nope - he was the one who played "Jeeves"; "Bertie" was Hugh Lawrie.

How about Cleese for the voice of the book? Some other
choices for this role: Ben Stein or Lorenzo Music. They
both sort of have monotone voices, though, so maybe one
of them should play Marvin.

Or maybe I'm being a little too arcane with my choices....

HEY!!!! Steven Moore's still around, you know - NO-ONE ELSE FOR MARVIN!!!

HMV have it

Maybe - but he could still pull it off IMO. Amazing what they can do with camera tricks and all that these days...

Whoever said Trillian was American should re-read "Mostly Harmless"..she is British. I just read that part of the story yesterday.

I've heard it rumored that Hugh Lawrie will be playing Auther Dent. DNA has said he has to have a British actor play Auther.

sean connery as slartibartfast?! that would be awesome.

Have we actually (actually) heard any further info about the movie? As far as I know, it's been ages since anything solid came out of Disney, DNA, or anywhere to be honest.....

Have they given up altogether? Or are they just having the same sort of discussion as us?

Stephen Moore IS Marvin, IMHO.
M@x

*grins and shrugs* i don't know... the first time i heard of it was in this thread...

[LOL] And the last, perchance?

Sean Connery as slartibartfast would be awesome! I can just picture him saying "I told you it wasn't important" after telling Arthur his name.

*grin* err... this thread...

last I heard was Disney had decided not to do it, and DNA et al were taking the project elsewhere.