I have just learned of the plan to make a new HHGTTG movie and I am very exited!!!(Yes, I need a life)
Can anyone here give me the SD on this?
I heard maybe Rowan Atkinson or Hugh Grant as Arthur (Hugh would be my choice) and maybe Jim Carrey as Zaphod. (But who would play his other head??)
How about Anthony Hopkins as Slartibartfasst?
Eddie Izzard as Zaphod, dammit!
And Hugh Grant? He was only ever really good in About A Boy.
Izzard is a much better choice, thank you.
I think Hugh has a bland, dry toast feel to him, perfect for Arthur.
Well, you’ve got a point there. Hugh isn’t a great actor, but he’s good for the role (much like Keanu Reeves in The Matrix).
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!
Funny story.
In 1998, I heard a rumor on the net that Jim Carrey was to be in the HH movie (which was then in pre-production at Disney), playing the role of Ford. As Douglas Adams was still alive in those days, and had his personal email address up on his website, I decided to mail him about it to ask if it was true. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine he’d actually respond, but lo and behold, the very next day there’s a reply in my mailbox, which was as follows, in its entirety:
“This is absolute rubbish.”
I’ll never forget those words.
I concur.
I’ve had many discussions about the casting of the film, with my RL friends and online ones - there’s a LARGE number of people who hear about the possibility of Carrey getting that role that just squeal in anguish at the prospect.
Grant could likely do the Arthur Dent role, but I’d personally rather see Hugh Laurie or Rowan Atkinson (I hadn’t heard him mentioned in regards to this until the OP) in the role - much better.
My friends like Alan Rickman for the voice of Marvin - which I’ve come to agree with. No idea if that is an actual idea that the film-makers are considering.
Like the Anthony Hopkins suggestion too! If that doesn’t work out maybe he could be the ‘voice of the Guide’.
Alan Rickman? Wonder why I never thought of that. His voice is absolutely perfect.
Christopher Walken has to be fit in somewhere.
Oh dear Lord please don’t stink up this movie with Jim Carey or Hugh Grant.
I'd love to see it made. Just leave those two out of it.If Hugh Grant is in it, I can’t see it. That’d violate the No Hugh Grant/Whitney Houston Movies rule of self-government.
I’ve always thought the young (Python TV era) Michael Palin and Eric Idle would have been great as Arthur and Ford.
Izzard as Zaphod is a great idea.
Billy West as the voice of Marvin, I’m sure he could create something memorable.
Does anyone have conformation? I’ve read many rumors about one before.
A friend and I were discussing this over the summer, about how we would cast it. We agreed that Alan Rickman HAD to fit in somewhere, and the voice of Marvin would be perfect.
Anytime I tried to think of who would be good for Slartibartfast, I envisioned Sir Ian McKellan-as-Gandalf. Can’t shake that image.
Eddie Izzard would be awesome as Zaphod. Jim Carrey would totally ruin it.
And I like the idea of Hugh Grant, but I feel like Arthur should be played by someone who appears more distinguished/older…and I’m drawing a blank for any good suggestions.
How about Majel Barrett for the voice of the Guide?
Sorry, Gmork and Gadfly, according to IMDB Marvin is being played by the original actor: Stephen Moore. No other roles have been cast, according to the site.
What’s wrong with keeping Simon Jones as Arthur?
How about not? The guide with an American accent… God no… That would be worse than Carrey. Almost.
Stick with Peter Jones (if he’s still alive). When I imagine the guide it’s his voice I hear.
I’d like to see Cleese as Slartibartfast, myself. He’s tall enough and could probably do a “tim the enchanter” type Slarti.
the “how about not” was in reference to Majel Barrett, not Simon Jones. Sorry.
Although Simon would be getting on in years a bit…
Jack Davenport (Steve from Coupling, That Military Jerk Guy from Pirates of the Carribean) would be a good Arthur. The characters are all supposed to be in their thirties and all the original actors are in their fifties-- it would just make the story completely different if Arthur was a man in his fifties instead of his thirties.
I was just talking about this movie - which I thought had ceased to be a possibility - with my girlfriend and her father a day or two ago. It’s probably true that much of the book’s character is impossible to translate to a movie, but I’m not afraid to admit that I’m a sap, and I’m glad this is happening. Assuming it does.
Like big yellow kingswood, I’ve always pictured John Cleese as Slarti. I would never complain about Ian McKellen either. Alan Rickman is such a brilliant idea for Marvin that I’m annoyed I never thought of it. Great call, gmork!
I think Bruce Campbell would make a very good Zaphod because his characters tend to have a volatile mix of suaveity and stupidity much like ZB does. And he can act with two heads, as we saw (briefly) in Army of Darkness.
A friend of mine suggested Steve Martin as Zaphod for similar reasons, minus the two heads. I’m a fan, so I think that’d work too. The same friend suggested Sean Astin as Arthur, which I thought was excellent - I’d never ever been able to think of a really good movie Arthur.
Can’t stand Jim Carrey, so I hope he doesn’t get involved. He’s a ham, and his super-duper-over-the-top style strikes me as a really bad fit for Hitchhiker’s. I’m not a Hugh Grant fan, but he’s got some of the right qualities, that kind of well-meaning dorkiness. I’m glad Jay Roach isn’t supposed to direct any more. The idea of a Hitchhiker’s movie bearing any resemblance to Austin Powers is terrifying, if you ask me. The present director is an unknown, but (to look at it in a rosy manner), most of us had never heard of Peter Jackson two years ago.