When I read the five books of the Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy trilogy, about once a year, I have very definite ideas of what the characters look like. None of them, to me, look like famous actors, though. I would have a very difficult time casting the movie (which I strongly hope never gets maid, unless Douglas Adams can oversee the project via a medium or something). I can possibly see a young Michael Palin as Arthur Dent- beyond that, I have no idea. How would the Teeming Millions cast a dream Hitchhiker movie?
Michael Palin would have been an excellent Arthur Dent, he has the perfect air of bewildered understanding and cynical innocence. When I saw the thread title though, I couldn’t think of anyone I’d like to see in those roles. It’s not just because I have strong (if unspecific) images of the characters - that hasn’t always been a problem in the past - but there just doesn’t seem to be anyone around who would quite fit. Although I’m sure someone here will come up with great examples and I’ll wonder why I didn’t think of them.
The casting in the TV series was dreadful, so the movie could hardly be any worse touch wood, or more specifically touch the little wooden insert on my towel, applied especially avoid all those occasions when you say ‘touch wood’ and then realise in panic that everything’s made of plastic
I have to admit, though, the casting of Arthur Dent was straight on perfect in the tv series, even if none of the others (with the possible exception of Ford Prefect) were. They used the same actor who did his voice on the radio program (Simon Jones?). He was exactly as I pictured him when reading the book.
Y’know that guy from Who’s Line is it Anyway and Drew Carey? The tall one? I always pictured him as Ford Prefect… And Colin could be Arthur Dent, maybe…
I can see John Laroquette as Ford Prefect.
Even a theoretical casting of the Guide movie is difficult to say the least. Last I heard Jay Roach of Austin Powers fame was attached to direct it, but they were having trouble financing it. Needless to say, the money types are squeemish about throwing lots of money at a project like this that they simply do not understand (“Limeys in space? Earth blown up in the first fifteen minutes? What kinda commie crap is this?”), built-in audience or not. And how much of the story are you going to cram into two hours? You can’t go all the way to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. I guess you’d have to stop with the escape from Mangrathea, which took considerably more time than two hours in the TV series. The good thing would be that the movie would have to end more like the first book, with our companions sailing away in the Heart of Gold instead of the big explosion transporting them forward in time to the Restaurant. That would also mean that we get to see the Total Perspective Vortex in the sequel, assuming that the first picture makes enough to warrant one. But hey, I’m supposed to be casting here, not writing the script.
This would be my totally unrealistic dream cast. First the easy ones:
Zaphod Beeblebrox: Bruce Campbell. Who else could pull this one off with the proper mixture of hipness and buffoonery?
Trillian: Cameron Diaz or Elizabeth Hurley. The problem with Trillian is that she must be both a beautiful blonde AND a plausible rocket scientist. I say Cameron Diaz because she showed a great range in Being John Malkovich, and she’s blonde. I think she could play smart. I say Elizabeth Hurley because she did such a good job playing straight to Mike Myers in the first Austin Powers movie. And she’s British, which makes her sound smart to American ears and is appropriate to the material. But I don’t know what she would look like as a blonde. How about Uma Thurman, maybe?
Ford Prefect: Eddie Izzard. Funny, great untapped acting potential, and he has the ability to go for long periods of time without blinking. Anybody NOT buy him as an alien?
Arthur Dent: Damned if I know. I can’t see anybody but Simon Jones in this role. Maybe an unknown? Could Ewen McGregor pull it off? Maybe David Cross?
Slartibadfast: Ian McLellen (sp?) Anybody see him on SNL? It’s a bit part that he could knock out of the park.
Marvin the Paranoid Android: Steven Wright. End of conversation.
I always pictured Michael Palin as Arthur Dent and John Cleese as Ford Prefect. I suppose they are both a little old for the movie, though.
I think the guy who does the voice of Squidword on Spongebob Squarepants would be great as Marvin.
I disagree with Cameron Diaz as Trillian. She was supposed to be playing smart in Something About Mary, remember? I just don’t think she can pull it off. How about Nicole Kidman? Or possibly Kate Winslet?
I always pictured Michael Palin as Arthur Dent and John Cleese as Ford Prefect. I suppose they are both a little old for the movie, though.
I think the guy who does the voice of Squidword on Spongebob Squarepants would be great as Marvin.
I disagree with Cameron Diaz as Trillian. She was supposed to be playing smart in Something About Mary, remember? I just don’t think she can pull it off. How about Nicole Kidman? Or possibly Kate Winslet?
Oh yeah! Nicole Kidman would be ideal! But there’s no way she’d ever agree to do it, and she’d cost too much even if she did. But your point about Diaz is well taken.
What about the Voice of the Book? I think that’s a crucial element in making the whole thing work. The guy who was the original voice of the book (name escapes me) would be ideal, but isn’t he dead? Maybe Sir Ian for this one, too. John Cleese or Micheal Palin could probably record an entire movie’s worth of voice over in an afternoon, and either one of them would work. But I know the line you’d have to use to audition the actor for the voice:
“Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western spiral arm…”
James Earl Jones for the voice of the book…
Bruce Campbell was born to play Zaphod…Vibrotronica’s right.
SEAN CONNERY as Slartibartfast! Think of it!
Chris Barrie could play a very good Arthur Dent.
Not sure about the rest of the cast…I can’t think of appropriate British actors at the moment, and the (human) cast should be British.
Bruce Campbell, Perfect for Zaphod
I agree with all your choices, except, Sean Connery as Slartibartfast, and as much as I hate this guy, Hugh Grant would be perfect as Arthur Dent.
Ryan Stiles. And he would be prefe…uh, I mean perfect. Well, except he has no accent. Or, I guess, he has and accent. (depending on which side of the pond you’re on!)
I’d never heard of Michael Palin. He seems to have the look, although he may be a little old for the part.
And vibrotronica, Steven Wright for Marvin? Genius. I totally agree. That, or a CG Marvin using Steven’s voice.
<nitpick>
Trillian is a brunette.
</nitpick>
Some good suggestions! rsvp, agreed about Hugh Grant. He can be annoying, but he would be so good as Arthur, and at least he’s the right age. Chris Barrie could possibly do it, if he could discard that ‘obnoxious anal prat’ thing he seems to take to every role.
I’ve often heard people talk about Bruce Campbell, but never actually seen him in action - don’t think I’ve even seen the Evil Dead (I imdb’d him). He does look the part, though (well, minus a head) and from what I have heard he would be good - plus he could possibly get Sam Raimi involved on the directing side.
Ian McKellen would be an excellent Slartibartfast. Or … damn, the name slips my mind … the guy who played Dumbledore in Harry Potter. Actually, there are a number of excellent older English actors who’d do this part well. As long as the movie gets made before they pop their clogs (if it ever did get made).
Liz Hurley as Trillian - obviously not if Hugh Grant was Arthur, but otherwise, yeah. She really has that beauty and elusiveness that Trillian has, and she does intelligent very well. Or perhaps Jeri Ryan (7 of 9 in Voyager). Trillian’s one character I could possibly see as American. Ford and Arthur have to be English, and Zaphod is so American.
I’d like to see a female voice of the book. There’s no reason it has to be male, and this would balance out the lack of female roles. As long as it’s not Pamela Stephenson…
I hope a movie does get made. The technology has finally caught up with the story: Zaphod’s double heads and the various starships, etc, would be fun for the special effects and CGI depts, and H2G2 would be perfect DVD fodder. And the book is such a cult classic now that surely some biggish stars would be eager to take on cameos or smaller roles, like they have done in other such projects. How about George Clooney hidden under tons of make-up as the Vogon Guard? Jerry Seinfeld as the voice of the doors? That would be fun to see.
Say it ain’t so!
Get thee to a video store and rent anything you can find with the words “Monty Python” on it. Watch them. All of them. Learn who Michael Palin is, along with John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, etc, etc, etc…
Then you may thank me and name your first-born child after me at your leisure.
Eddie Izzard would be a great Ford Prefect. Also, had he the accent, would Hank Azaria.
I don’t think Marvin should be CGI. I think he should be a guy in a suit, and the clunkier the better. Steven Wright should be the voice.
Clooney as the Vogon guard! If only!
Is this movie EVER going to get made? I pretty much gave up all hope on ever seeing it when DNA passed away.
Given his thick mane of white hair, his stature, and his ability as a comic actor, John Larroquette would be great as Slartibartfast. Frank Welker, the prototypical man of a thousand voices, could be cast as every single Vogon.
If they’re able to do a sequel: Shadoe Stevens as the Restaurant’s host.
Mfpht mphtf <—(the sound of my foot in my mouth)
Ok, I feel stupid. The only Python names I readily recognize (or recognise) are Cleese and Idle. When I Googled Palin, it was a recent photo & I admit I didn’t recognize (:sigh: - recognize) him from Monty Python.
Bad MachV! :smacks hand:
Now back to your regularly scheduled thread…