# Don't Panic!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 23, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727 "2004-02-23T19:54:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Skott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skott)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727/41 "2004-05-01T20:16:25Z")
I was reading through [Don’t Panic](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0671664263/002-9281476-6815252?v=glance) today and came across this…
> [@Douglas Adams](#):
>
> Curiously enough, I never had a very clear idea of what Marvin looked like, and I still don’t have one. I don’t think the TV one quite got it. I described him differently for the film script - he’s not silver any more, he’s the colour of a black Saab Turbo. He isn’t so square, either, he needs a kind of stooping quality: on the one hand, he’s been designed to be dynamic and streamlined and beautiful. But he holds himself the wrong way, so the design has gone completely to naught because he looks pathetic… As far as his design is concerned he looks very sleek. A hi-tech robot.
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### Author:  [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727/42 "2004-05-01T23:18:35Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> That costume has no facial features, for one thing, so I imagine it was either something being done for fitting or there will be additional effects or props or some such added later. I’m still curious about the voice myself. My favorite suggestion for that part remains Alan Rickman.
I’ve seen a full photo of the Marvin costume - I can’t recall where to link, sorry. Marvin has the one facial feature he is described as having in the books: triangular eyes that glow red. And yes, he _does_ look lugubrious. You won’t be disappointed in that regard. As to the voice, I was given to understand that Marvin would be voiced by the same actor who voiced him in both radio and TV adaptations - Stephen Moore.
However, the most important question is who is going to voice the Book now Peter Jones is gone. I think the role demands someone with that old-style radio announcer tone to their voice, and IMO Stephen Fry is too plummy for the part. David Attenborough would be brilliant, but he’d never do it.
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### Author:  [@Erroneous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erroneous)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2004, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727/43 "2004-05-12T11:47:44Z")
Looks like the [Official Site](http://hitchhikers.movies.go.com/main.html) is up. Almost nothing there at the moment though.
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### Author:  [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2004, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727/44 "2004-05-12T12:48:12Z")
I’d like to congratulate **Evil Death** on achieving post #42 in this thread.
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### Author:  [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727/45 "2004-05-12T14:05:40Z")
> [@WotNot](#):
>
> I’d like to congratulate **Evil Death** on achieving post #42 in this thread.
People are always telling me that I’ve got a smart answer for everything…
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### Author:  [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727/46 "2004-05-12T14:17:59Z")
> [@backradinc](#):
>
> sorry for the hijack the thread
> but i love Douglas Adams books what other authors might i like?
Get yourself some Christopher Moore - you’ll never regret it.
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### Author:  [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727/47 "2004-05-28T16:52:08Z")
If you’re starved for info, the official site just added a [a long “interview”](http://hitchhikers.movies.go.com/hitchblog/interview.htm) with the screenwriter.
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### Author:  [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727/48 "2004-05-28T18:00:07Z")
> [@SmackFu](#):
>
> If you’re starved for info, the official site just added a [a long “interview”](http://hitchhikers.movies.go.com/hitchblog/interview.htm) with the screenwriter.
> [@](#):
>
> WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT STAYS AND WHAT GOES, YOU FORMULAIC CHICKEN WRITING BAS%_(&_!
Oh, I like this guy.
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### Author:  [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727/49 "2004-05-28T18:12:51Z")
Kirpatrick on his search for a new director:
> [@](#):
>
> And the general sentiment from all of them was “No thank you, I don’t want to be known as the guy who screwed this one up.” And part of me understood and another part of me was saying, “Oh God does that mean I’m going to be known as the guy who screwed this up?”
ROTF!
I must admit I’d be terrified, especially since so many of the HHG audience are people like me!
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### Author:  [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727/50 "2004-05-28T18:25:53Z")
> [@](#):
>
> …But I think people, especially die-hard HHGG fans, will be happy to see that it is very much the same story as the radio play, the book, and the TV series with all the well-known and beloved scenes, characters and concepts. Arthur, Ford, Trillian, Zaphod, Marvin, Eddie, Vogons, Slartibartfast, Deep Thought, Lunkwill & Fook, the mice, whales, petunias, dolphins, 42, even Gag Halfrunt; all present and accounted for.
That’s the kind of news I was looking for. 🙂
Woohoo! Gag Halfrunt! “Zaphod’s just zis guy, you know?”
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### Author:  [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727/51 "2004-05-28T18:31:34Z")
Ok, just finished the interview. I’ve honestly been convinced that they’d never have a chance at getting it right ever since this thread first surfaced and I saw Mos Def cast as Ford. (I still feel strange about that one)
But the vibe put out by this interview has me really put at ease. I really hope it is as good as Kirpatrick believes it will be.
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### Author:  [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-panic/230727/52 "2004-05-28T18:47:00Z")
Ditto what **Moe** said. After reading the interview, I’m rather eager to see the trailer…
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