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

May I just point out how many effects houses there are here, and all the best Aussie and US houses lust after our guys

Good specialFX dont guarantee a good film
The real point should be to capture the spirit of the original scripts but at the same time updating it using the lightest of touches, dont forget that this site wouldnt exist if the original scripts were rubbish.
Who needs another specialFX bonanza.
The last thing the script needs is the Hollywood sledgehammer smashing it into a thousand pieces.
The BBC have the talent and the money to remake the definitive H2g2.
They could use the books as a reference for a major new series.
They should cancel their latest costume drama and spend the money on H2G2.

Hi Ariadni. I hadn't heard that Carey was the leading contender, but I suppose it's not surprising. Though I agree with you - he's entirely wrong for Arthur. His ability to perform physical comedy seems much more apt for Zaphod than for Arthur, though I can't actually picture him as Zaphod, either.

Arthur is described as being rather stork-like and a bit ungainly. Self-conscious and awkward in social settings. I can see, for example, a young Donald Sutherland playing that (though not Kiefer - much more of an assured screen image). Brad Pitt has had a role or two which required that reserve, but he's more handsome than I would expect of Arthur. Have you any suggestions as to candidates?

Meatloaf as Hotblack? Brilliant! He hadn't crossed my mind, but he would fit the role ("very fat and unwell," musician, recognisable) well.

How about the bloke who wasn't Hugh Grant in Bridget Jones' Diary??

He strikes me as being, or at least able to play, awkward enough for AD...

This is getting fun

AD: Michael Palin (hope I spelled that right)
FP: John Goodman (needs to lose a few)
ZB: John Cleese
The Book: John Cleese
Trillian: Janeanne Garafalo

THPPTH

See, I think Ford needs to have an American voice. That would explain his suicidal tendencies

Michael must be Arthur, because he IS Arthur

The Towel must be high quality

Yeah.

Because The Black Adder is f**king brilliant

Don't throw stones

We all live in a spagetti house

or something

thptthh@!!!

Well I won't dignify that with a reply.... Oh, I Have.....

Ahem - MP as Arthur - too old, too short - remember AD is 6 ft plus (which also rules out Sly Stallone - Thank God!)

John Goodman as Ford - we're talking Roseanne's better half? He needs to lose a few TONNES!!!

JC as Zaphod - hmmmmm - also a tad old - I'd love to see him do a Silly Walk with the extra Head though!

JC as the Book - I thought MP was slated for that? But JC would be good too...

Found these on a film rumours website:

Arthur Dent - Simon Jones
Ford Prefect - Jeff Goldblum
Zaphod Beeblebrox - Michael Keaton
Trillian - Amanda Donahoe
Marvin - Stephen Moore
Slartibartfast - Sean Connery

I think Simon Jones could be a bit old now but the rest I think are good.

Rama

Sean as Slarti - good idea.

Jeff would make a better Zaphod than Ford (IMHO) And MK could play Ford....

Hang on while I look up Amanda D....

Found this:
Douglas Adams' Dream Cast

Arthur Dent - Simon Jones
Ford Prefect - Jeff Goldblum
Zaphod Beeblebrox - Michael Keaton
Trillian - Amanda Donahoe
Marvin - Stephen Moore
Slartibartfast - Sean Connery

On Surrey Uni's Web site... (after a quick Yahoo under Don't Panic)

Yeah I could see her as Trill (she might make a better Lentilla though)...

Wasn't Stephen Moore Marvin in the original? Definitely a good choice.

Hmmm, I dunno. An Englishman should play Arthur, and I for one think it should be Hugh Lawrie or *gulp* Hugh Grant (as long as he didn't play the tosser card too much). On the other hand, Robin Williams or Jim Carrey would (I reckon) make a far better candidate for Zaphod, because they've got that eccentric thing down to a fine art (hell! They've made careers out of it). The only danger would be that Zaphod would become Mork. I'm not keen on that.

Zaphod becoming Mork, and drinking with his fingers - Oh PLease GAWD NO!!!

No Robin Williams has to be kept well away from this film, he is well known for his Ad Libs and they just wouldn't fit into the story...

i like hugh laurie for arthur!
^. .^
= ' =

HL for Arthur would be, acceptable - but I still reckon the non Hugh Grant from BJ's Diary would be better.

colin firh? i dunno...
i spose at least he's british
^. .^
= ' =

Jim Carrey is the last one to be on the set of this movie, no to mention playing Arthur Dent.
He plays nothing but stupid movies which attempt to be funny, but fail even at this!!!
He must not play a role on such a movie.

I still hold the notion that Craig Fergeson should play Aurther. Or, if not aurther, he could play someone I'm sure. Anyone else know who this guy is??
J

I like the idea of Michael Keaton as Zaphod - tone down Beetlejuice (a LOT), and there's yer man!

But John Cleese would be much better as Slartibartfast than Connery- the character's a bit like the one he plays in that James Bond film.

Hugh Laurie would be better than Colin Firth as Arthur, though. To be honest, I'm aaalmost beginning to like the idea of Hugh Grant.

Oh, and there *must* be a place for Bill Murray in this thing somewhere - any film with him in always has at least some good bits (whenever he's on screen). Too old for Ford?

Jack Dee would be *perfect* for Marvin, but if the guy that did it originally is still going, that might be a good plan, too.

Has *anyone* actually signed up for *anything* yet? Does anyone know anything about any directors that might be lined up?

No & No, but I did spot this at the DouglasAdams site (after following a link from AltaVista's translation Engine - which still uses a Fish as its symbol):

... that PAN are rifling through his PC to find publishable material - while this sounds a tad morbid, it gives us something to look forward too.

Details are a bit sparse about what may be published, but the suggestion is that The ScreenPlay for HHGTTG will make up the bulk of the book, with the unfinished Salmon of Doubt, and any other snippets bulking it out.

There is no suggestion that any of the works will be completed by another writer.

put the above on the Film/Movie Thread...

Now what would be a good use of the Internet would be to clone his HD - and make it available from here! (or Elsewhere on the I-net)...