Terry Pratchett OKs Night Watch TV Series

[carlb]

Story here (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108476-Pratchett-Gives-Thumbs-Up-to-Discworld-Cop-Show).

I have to say, I was not terribly enamored of "The Colour of Magic" nor "Hogfather," although I don't think they were truly awful. Still, I look forward to checking this out via whatever means I will need to employ from the US.

Shall we start casting now?

[Silophant]

Yes!
I wasn't particularily thrilled with either film either, but I've always thought that the City Watch books would have been the most filmable, and wondered why they didn't just start with them. I'll also be watching, however I can.

[silenus]

Wow. That's.....not good news at all. They will surely fuck it up in a myriad of ways.

[Sr Siete]

How about Jamie Bamber as Carrot?
As for Angua... is Billie Piper still doing that series about the prostitute?
And why not James Nesbitt as Vimes?

[Regallag_The_Axe]

I feel kind of sorry for whoever ends up playing Nobby.

[yastobaal]

As for Angua... is Billie Piper still doing that series about the prostitute?

I think that the last series has been filmed. But in my mind Angua should be a tall women and Billie comes in at 5'5" (according to IMDB).

[Alessan]

A bit out of left field, but it might work: Anthony Stewart Head as Vimes.

[silenus]

How about Jamie Bamber as Carrot?
As for Angua... is Billie Piper still doing that series about the prostitute?
And why not James Nesbitt as Vimes?

Good choices all. But unless they have some great CGI, Detritus is going to be MIA.

Brad Dourif could probably essay a good Nobby. Mark Addy as Colon?

[GuanoLad]

I could see Lee Evans as Nobby.

But they will probably cast with relative unknowns, like they have for the films.

Incidentally, the cast they chose for the most recent, Going Postal, was excellent. Angua (http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/123/9/6/Angua_Von_Uberwald_2_by_Starmansurfer.jpg) was in that one.

[Taomist]

You know that commercial <for what, I'm still not sure...Windows, maybe> where the couple is stuck at the airport and the husband looks up and brainstorms "To the cloud!"?

Every time I see that I think he would be a good Carrot. :p



And yep, it's Windows 7; the commercial's on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lel3swo4RMc

Anyone else see it, or is it just me? The possibilities, I mean.
For the record, I haven't been influenced by much beyond my own imagination as far as what the characters all look like. To me, the glimpses I had of Angua in the movie previously mentioned didn't really do it for me.
But for some reason, this guy screams 'CARROT!'
Though he probably looks different than what Pratchett might have meant.

[GuanoLad]

Carrot is supposed to be like a redheaded Captain Awesome (from Chuck). Broad shouldered, narrow hips, i.e. shaped like a carrot.

[Simplicio]

Pratchett's books are good because the writing is funny, not because the plots are particularly hilarious or compelling. So I don't think a film version is ever going to capture whats memorable about the books.

[Bosstone]

Wow.

I loved SkyOne's Hogfather, and Colour of Magic was pretty good, too. I thought the guy they got to play Nobby (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCX9K0Jk6ME&t=4m55s) in Hogfather was as perfect as you could possibly get; hell, with the possible exception of Susan I thought the casting in Hogfather was absolutely dead on, and the atmosphere was perfect.

Now, that was SkyOne, so I don't know what Prime Focus would do with it. But it can be done well IMO.

[Chronos]

That picture GuanoLad linked doesn't look at all like my mental image of Angua. For one thing, I expected her hair to be much more bodied, rather than just hanging straight and limp like that. And maybe it's just the lighting in that scene, but she's awfully pale.

[GuanoLad]

That picture GuanoLad linked doesn't look at all like my mental image of Angua.They went with a Norse actress (Überwald) (with augmented wolfen eyes), even though Überwald is based on eastern Europe.

Still, everyone has different ideas of what the characters look like. I tend towards the Paul Kidby approach most of the time.

By the way, how about Danny Webb (http://www.galaxy-autographs.com/images/danny_webb.jpg) for Vimes?

[TPWombat]

John Candy would have been a superb Sergeant Colon.

[Darth Nader]

Going Postal was very well done. My mental picture of Vetinari has changed forever, and for the better.

[GuanoLad]

He might be a bit too young and a bit too goofy looking, but maybe Rupert Grint could play Carrot.

[Bosstone]

Jason Statham in a wig?

No?

[carlb]

I think the best suggestions I've seen from other web sites are:

Brendan Fraser as Carrot. It'll never happen, but he's got that goofy, boyish earnest thing going on, besides being very tall and imposing without being brutish.

Michael Hogan as Vimes. My only gripe would be that I think he's a little too old, but if Saul Tigh was any indication, the man can do complex, layered, surly-with-a-good-heart like nobody's business.

I also really liked Jeremy Irons as Vetinari. The voice alone is excellent; it's just so silky smooth and seductive, yet he can make it sharp and dangerous in an instant when he needs to.

Angua's tough. Seems to me she needs to be long and lean and fit, with an undercurrent of danger, yet still feminine. Lena Heady, maybe?

Nick Frost as Colon?

[Bosstone]

John Candy would have been a superb Sergeant Colon.I dunno, Candy had great personal charisma and stature. Colon's probably the easiest role to fill; any comfortably doughy actor who could be tapped to play a stereotypical Irish cop would do the trick. Or go the other way and capitalize on Colon's freewheeling with facts when talking to Nobby and hire John Ratzenberger. :D

Though to be honest, if the series is portraying the events of Night Watch specifically, Colon's pretty young for most of it.

For Vimes/Keel, I think in the end they'll need a British actor who looks more like Peter Falk than anything, but I've always liked Nathan Fillion for him. Especially lately, he's begun to show signs of aging comfortably.

On preview:

I think Brendan Fraser is about the best you could possibly do for Carrot, too.

Michael Hogan is far too old. Vimes is in his 30s as of Night Watch, early 40s at latest.

Jeremy Irons is utterly perfect for Vetinari.

Nick Frost would work well for a young Colon, absolutely. Of course, then you'd have to squeeze Simon Pegg in somewhere, which I wouldn't mind at all. Coates, possibly?

[Darth Nader]

If only there was a way to get Steve Buscemi onboard as Nobby Nobbs...

[Bosstone]

Oh, and James Marsters as Carcer.

Hmm, on rereading the article it doesn't look like it's Night Watch specifically, just a general show about the City Watch. Bah.

[Peter Morris]

Though to be honest, if the series is portraying the events of Night Watch specifically ....

It isn't. It's not an adaptation of one of the books. It's a weekly series with all new stories.


My guess, though, is that it'll spend years in development hell, and never get made.

[GuanoLad]

Please stop suggesting Americans for the roles. It's doing my head in.

[Darth Nader]

Quick, who's the U.K. equivalent of Steve Buscemi? Nobbs has trouble proving he's human, and you want him to be British?

[Peter Morris]

Vimes is described as being tall, slim and glum. I'm thinking Nicholas Lyndhurst.

[GuanoLad]

The reason Nobby can't prove he's human is because he's as short as a dwarf, not just because he's a bit weird and creepy.

Vimes is described as being tall, slim and glum. I'm thinking Nicholas Lyndhurst.How about Jack Dee?

[Peter Morris]

How about Jack Dee?

Too short, and too sarcastic. Maybe he'd be right for The Patrician.

[GuanoLad]

Huh? Vimes is a deeply cynical character, as is Jack Dee (not sarcastic), and there is no description anywhere of Vimes's height.

The Patrician, on the other hand, is nothing like Jack Dee, neither sarcastic nor depressive, and was perfectly played by Charles Dance in Going Postal, despite being ginger.

[Darth Nader]

The Patrician, on the other hand, is nothing like Jack Dee, neither sarcastic nor depressive, and was perfectly played by Charles Dance in Going Postal, despite being ginger.I'd always pictured someone more like Anthony Ainley (http://www.google.com/images?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=Anthony+Ainley&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&sa=X&ei=2H-FTe7rKYHBtgfUray6BA&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=615), may he rest in peace.
I can live with a redhead Patrician.

[Chronos]

It isn't. It's not an adaptation of one of the books. It's a weekly series with all new stories.
How much input, if any, will Pratchett have on those stories? Is he going to personally write any of them, or hand-pick his own stable of writers he thinks are up to it, or act as a creative consultant, or anything? Or will it just be hacks writing "with characters created by Terry Pratchett"?

[kelly5078]

How much input, if any, will Pratchett have on those stories? Is he going to personally write any of them, or hand-pick his own stable of writers he thinks are up to it, or act as a creative consultant, or anything? Or will it just be hacks writing "with characters created by Terry Pratchett"? I haven't seen "Colour of Magic," so can't comment on that, but Pratchett had a lot of input in Hogfather, and even appeared in it. A great deal of the dialog is straight from the book. And the Halmis treated the material with respect. Unfortunately, with all this, the movie fell wide of the mark. Point being, if they can get a director, writer, and actors who can capture the spirit and humor of Pratchett's writing, I don't care if they mess up on the particulars. I always have the books when I need the real thing.

[galen ubal]

Hugh Laurie as Vimes. The best possible, I think.

[Alessan]

Hugh Laurie as Vimes. The best possible, I think.

Hugh Laurie would also make an excellent Vetinari.

But that leads me to the next obvious conclusion: Stephen Fry as Monstrum Ridcully.

[Bosstone]

But that leads me to the next obvious conclusion: Stephen Fry as Monstrum Ridcully.Good call, but I think BRIAN BLESSED would work better.

That said, Joss Ackland in Hogfather was quite good.

[Malacandra]

The reason Nobby can't prove he's human is because he's as short as a dwarf, not just because he's a bit weird and creepy.


No, it's because he's such a genetic throwback he looks like a badly shaved, poorly educated ape with appalling manners and an assortment of disfiguring ailments, and makes anywhere he's stood or sat look like it needs a good scrub down as soon as he's gone. :D

[yastobaal]

There is also the issue of when they are going to set the series. Guards! Guards!? With only 4 characters? Men-at-arms when they are still getting no respect from the world at large? Or later when they can use a larger supporting cast but Vimes is the Duke?

[Captain_C]

Seems the Men-At-Arms time period would likely give the writers the most amount of material to work with. No respect to the police, a solid cast of characters, a city not-yet cleaned up, and they can play up the love interest of Vimes and Cybil.

Though I'd still prefer they just make a miniseries based on Night Watch.

[Sr Siete]

Carrot is supposed to be like a redheaded Captain Awesome (from Chuck). Broad shouldered, narrow hips, i.e. shaped like a carrot.

Unless I'm wrong, in the books Carrot is stated as having that name because his broad shoulders make him carrot-shaped, not because his hair is orange.

[Kobal2]

If only there was a way to get Steve Buscemi onboard as Nobby Nobbs...

Nah, Buscemi's specialty is depressed weirdoes. Nobby is a cheerful twerp. Totally different.

What they need is to find someone with the face of Ron Perlman, but without the massive physique. Then again, Perlman himself was awesome as barely human Salvatore in Name of the Rose. It's just, I'm not sold on the voice. Ron's a low gravely growl, when in my mind Nobby squeaks and yelps.

[GuanoLad]

Though I'd still prefer they just make a miniseries based on Night Watch.You can't really do that without establishing the world and its characters first. So maybe expect that storyline sometime later in the series, should it get that far.

Unless I'm wrong, in the books Carrot is stated as having that name because his broad shoulders make him carrot-shaped, not because his hair is orange.Correct. That's what I said. Though he certainly is a redhead too, according to the Discworld Companion and a couple of mentions throughout the novels.

[Peter Morris]

There is also the issue of when they are going to set the series. Guards! Guards!? With only 4 characters? Men-at-arms when they are still getting no respect from the world at large? Or later when they can use a larger supporting cast but Vimes is the Duke?

Maybe they should start with an adaptation of GG as the pilot, then show the watch gradually expanding through the next few episodes.

[Peter Morris]

How much input, if any, will Pratchett have on those stories? Is he going to personally write any of them, or hand-pick his own stable of writers he thinks are up to it, or act as a creative consultant, or anything? Or will it just be hacks writing "with characters created by Terry Pratchett"?

According to the linked article (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108476-Pratchett-Gives-Thumbs-Up-to-Discworld-Cop-Show) in the OP,

" This will be the first time that Pratchett has allowed anyone to create new Discworld stories for television, although the author will be overseeing the series ... [They have] assembled a strong writing team, including former Monty Python member, Terry Jones "

[Gukumatz]

Well, Night Watch would be the origin story in a lot of ways. While most of us were familiar with the characters from their cameos in the unrelated books, that's one of the few books that'd give you an overview of the entire force without taking them for a given.

[Capitaine Zombie]

If only there was a way to get Steve Buscemi onboard as Nobby Nobbs...

Buscemi might be a little too old. I always thought of Kevin J. O'Connor when thinking of Nobby, because of O' Connor's role in "The Mummy". For me that's Nobbs.

[Double Foolscap]

Well, Night Watch would be the origin story in a lot of ways. While most of us were familiar with the characters from their cameos in the unrelated books, that's one of the few books that'd give you an overview of the entire force without taking them for a given.

The problem with that would be that there is (at my estimation) a gap of at least ten years between the past of Night Watch and the events of Guards! Guards! In those years we have the promotions of all the characters to their roles at the start of Guards! Guards!, as well as Nobby and Colon joining the military, the rise of Vetinari and the creation of the more modern guilds, and the eventual dwindling of the Night Watch to its state when Carrot joins.

If you started with Night Watch, you'd need a whole series to cover all of that to get to Guards! Guards!

[Nava]

Unless I'm wrong, in the books Carrot is stated as having that name because his broad shoulders make him carrot-shaped, not because his hair is orange.

Correct. That's what I said. Though he certainly is a redhead too, according to the Discworld Companion and a couple of mentions throughout the novels.

The broad shoulders and heigth: he's an over-6'-when-standing-tall dwarf (well, genetically human, but that's a technicality - cultural dwarf).

[Maus Magill]

I think the best suggestions I've seen from other web sites are:

Brendan Fraser as Carrot. It'll never happen, but he's got that goofy, boyish earnest thing going on, besides being very tall and imposing without being brutish.I've always picture Carrot as Brendan Fraser-like. Especially after Greorge of the Jungle.
Nick Frost as Colon?
I could see that.

According to the article, Pterry would have control over the series. That's good. I liked how Hogfather turned out. I'm still waiting for Going Postal to hit Netflix. Another good thing is that Terry Jones has been contracted as one of the writers.

[Maus Magill]

The broad shoulders and heigth: he's an over-6'-when-standing-tall dwarf (well, genetically human, but that's a technicality - cultural dwarf).

He's tall for his size.

[MrDibble]

Why is there any question about who would play Nobby when Tony Robinson (http://sharetv.org/images/blackadder_uk/cast/large/baldrick.jpg?iact=hc&vpx=1041&vpy=446&dur=1454&hovh=102&hovw=121&tx=88&ty=56&ei=PG6HTYHXJ4XHswaCp92FAw&oei=PG6HTYHXJ4XHswaCp92FAw&page=1&tbnh=102&tbnw=121&start=0&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:25,s:0) is still alive?

[Darth Nader]

Too bad Michael Berryman* isn't a a couple of feet shorter.

*If you ever get the chance to meet him, do it. He's about the coolest guy on the face of the earth.

[Lust4Life]

Personally I'd prefer unknowns to play the parts.

I dislike the previous films being given an Victorian character rather then how I envisage the scenes judged by the books.

[Bosstone]

Personally I'd prefer unknowns to play the parts.Well, yes, but then we can't kibitz about unknown actors, can we?

[WotNot]

If you're interested (and I know you are) you can see a video of part of one of their production meetings (including Sir Terry) here. (http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/03/21/pratchett-exclusive/)

[Hogfather65]

New here but thought I would put my tupence worth in for charachters in the watch.

NOBBY: Big Mick?? I think thats his name - (Zercon the fool in “Heroes & Villains” Attila the Hun)

CHEERY LITTLEBOTTOM: Meredith Eaton (I know she is a yank but ..... even with the heavy makeup her beauty will shine through

And if he ever makes an appearance in the city - CASANUNDER: Peter Dinklage – one of the best from Game of Thrones

SALLY VON HUMPEDING: Christina Ricci – Wednesday Addams in Addams Family

[Double Foolscap]

Christina Ricci might even make a good Angua - she's got the haunted fight-or-flight look in her eyes.

[Gyrate]

Why is there any question about who would play Nobby when Tony Robinson (http://sharetv.org/images/blackadder_uk/cast/large/baldrick.jpg?iact=hc&vpx=1041&vpy=446&dur=1454&hovh=102&hovw=121&tx=88&ty=56&ei=PG6HTYHXJ4XHswaCp92FAw&oei=PG6HTYHXJ4XHswaCp92FAw&page=1&tbnh=102&tbnw=121&start=0&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:25,s:0) is still alive?Too old. Andy Serkis, on the other hand...

Mark Addy is a good choice for Colon, although these days all those roles seem to go to either Timothy Spall or Mark Benton. Jeremy Irons for Vetinari is a good choice too, or maybe Jason Isaacs (but not Alan Rickman who really needs to get some other work besides dolorous quasi-evil types).

Angua needs to be a bit more rough-and-tumble. Jessica Stevenson Hynes is probably too old for the role now (at 37, which is a sad thought) but has the right vibe.

Ross Kemp for Detritus. What?

Vimes...tough one. You need someone grizzled and tough but with a strong dose of both charisma and pathos. Hmm...I typed "grizzled British actors" into Google and, after various cites for the late Pete Postlethwaite, got a hit for Ray Stevenson (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829032/). Looking good...

[Hogfather65]

Vimes - Robert Lindsay???

[Damfino]

Too old. Andy Serkis, on the other hand...

Mark Addy is a good choice for Colon, although these days all those roles seem to go to either Timothy Spall or Mark Benton. Jeremy Irons for Vetinari is a good choice too, or maybe Jason Isaacs (but not Alan Rickman who really needs to get some other work besides dolorous quasi-evil types).

Angua needs to be a bit more rough-and-tumble. Jessica Stevenson Hynes is probably too old for the role now (at 37, which is a sad thought) but has the right vibe.

Ross Kemp for Detritus. What?

Vimes...tough one. You need someone grizzled and tough but with a strong dose of both charisma and pathos. Hmm...I typed "grizzled British actors" into Google and, after various cites for the late Pete Postlethwaite, got a hit for Ray Stevenson (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829032/). Looking good...

I believe Peter Postlethwaite was Pterry's original choice for Vimes. The pictures in Where's My Cow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where%27s_My_Cow%3F) certainly look like him.

[Wile E]

For Nobbs; How about the guy who played the Dreamlord in a recent Doctor Who. He's short and pulls off the happy and creepy look pretty well.

[Lissla Lissar]

I can't see Titus Pullo as Vimes. He's too big. I always picture Vimes as underfed and wiry.

[Taomist]

Well, we've definitely found Fifi. (http://pics.blameitonthevoices.com/062011/small_not%20lost.jpg)

[GuanoLad]

For Nobbs; How about the guy who played the Dreamlord in a recent Doctor Who. He's short and pulls off the happy and creepy look pretty well.That's Toby Jones. He's become something of a minor star lately with his version of Truman Capote being somewhat more accurate than Philip Seymour Hoffman's.

I wrote a blog post (http://guanolad.blogspot.com/2011/04/casting-ankh-morpork-city-watch.html) listing a few possibles that I could see as the characters, including:

Vimes: Jack Dee, Danny Webb, Ben Miller.
Carrot: Rupert Grint, Tom Hopper, and a commenter suggested Sam Roukin.
Nobby: Dominic Monaghan, Andy Serkis, Adam Buxton.

[Hogfather65]

Ray Stevenson.... Great in Rome and a good all round actor - but for Vimes - no chance - maybe Carrot but..... although he has the build for Carrot but not the face - Carrot needs an open and honestly naive.

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

Well, we've definitely found Fifi. (http://pics.blameitonthevoices.com/062011/small_not%20lost.jpg)

:confused:

You mean Big Fido, maybe?

[Taomist]

:confused:

You mean Big Fido, maybe?

Um...yah. :smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack:

He can eat my face off in Hell for that if he likes. :p

[Taomist]

I saw the Rupert Grint nom for Carrot and thought 'nah, too young, and why? just 'cause he's a redhead?' and then went to the movie database and looked at more pictures and such...
I do believe he could do a really good job! I'm surprised.

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

If there's a great actor with the wrong hair he/she can always wear a wig.

[BrainGlutton]

Carrot is supposed to be like a redheaded Captain Awesome (from Chuck). Broad shouldered, narrow hips, i.e. shaped like a carrot.

Brendan Fraser, maybe?

[BrainGlutton]

Vetinari -- Alan Rickman? John Hurt? Jeremy Irons? Has to be someone who can combine aristocratic aplomb with bottomless cynicism.

Since this is a time-travel story -- young Vetinari (the Assassins' School boy) poses an even greater challenge.

[Taomist]

Brendan Fraser, maybe?

This! This could definitely work!
Carrot's supposed to be actually fairly young, but I think Fraser's got enough of a babyface to carry it off anyway.
He'd be great!

[Kobal2]

Vetinari -- Alan Rickman? John Hurt? Jeremy Irons? Has to be someone who can combine aristocratic aplomb with bottomless cynicism.

But it also must be someone who can do the eyebrow trick better than The Rock.

[GuanoLad]

Brendan Fraser, maybe?Why the holy hell do people keep bringing Brendan Fraser into this? Point one, he's not British. Point two, he's nearly 50. Point three, he's not a redhead. And point four, you couldn't be more off the mark in terms of character (Bill Campbell is way closer, and he's wrong for it too).

Americans have this one track mind on Brendan effing Fraser playing Carrot, and I'm so totally over it.

[Wile E]

Why the holy hell do people keep bringing Brendan Fraser into this? Point one, he's not British. Point two, he's nearly 50. Point three, he's not a redhead. And point four, you couldn't be more off the mark in terms of character (Bill Campbell is way closer, and he's wrong for it too).

Americans have this one track mind on Brendan effing Fraser playing Carrot, and I'm so totally over it.


If it makes you feel better, I'm American and I think Brendan Fraser is completely wrong for all the same reasons you mentioned.