# Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy Movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 27, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217 "2003-12-27T03:16:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Skott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Skott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skott)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/41 "2003-12-27T23:45:42Z")
I think the girl they got to play Trillian in [The Illustrated Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0517599244/002-9676355-2388061?v=glance) looks the part. Her name is “Tali”. Beyond that the only thing I know is that she looks good with Zaphod’s third hand on her bum. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/42 "2003-12-28T00:01:05Z")
> [@](#): > > How about Bob Hoskins as Dentarthurdent? Too old perhaps? I think Hoskins would be MUCH better as L. Prosser :D. Arthur Dent has to be a British actor that can play ‘sheepish’. I’m not sure who, but I really don’t see Hugh Grant in that role. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/43 "2003-12-28T00:05:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shirley Ujest \* > \*\*What about, non-Brit Owen Wilson, except he’d been tooo droll. And then we’d need Jackie Chan in there some where. \*\* Those guys are perfect for Majikthise and Vroomfondel, though. ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/44 "2003-12-28T00:38:06Z")
Just posting to add, right now this thread has 42 replies. Of course I’m making it 43… 😃 Twiddle ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/45 "2003-12-28T01:20:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shirley Ujest \* > \*\*What about, non-Brit Owen Wilson, except he’d been tooo droll. And then we’d need Jackie Chan in there some where. \*\* Ya know, I actually think this is a pretty good suggestion. (Owen, not Jackie.) I’d hate to see them make Arthur (or any of the characters) American, but I also think that there is something about the book (and the radio show, in fact) that just wouldn’t work as a movie. A straight, faithful, Peter Jackson-style translation to film would be disasterous, in my opinion. I can’t quite explain why, but watching the TV episodes might give you some idea. The key is for the movie to find its own vibe. That Wilson-brothers drollness would be different from but compatible with Adams’ style, and could be just the thing to give it the perfect cinematic groove. I wonder if Owen does accents? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/46 "2003-12-28T01:48:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gmork \* > \*\* > My friends like Alan Rickman for the voice of Marvin - which I’ve come to agree with. \*\* Mr Rickman would be perfect for the [Vogon Captain](http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/hitchhikers/vogonpoetry/lettergen.shtml) can’t you imagine the following? See, see the ageing sky Marvel at its big peuce depths. Tell me, Cecil do you Wonder why the cat or dog ignores you? Why its foobly stare makes you feel alive. I can tell you, it is Worried by your frinjle froom facial growth That looks like A mouldy leftovers. What’s more, it knows Your frontage potting shed Smells of very small apples. Everything under the big grey sky Asks why, why do you even bother? You only charm dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Swede\_Hollow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Swede\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swede_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/47 "2003-12-28T02:23:54Z")
How about Peter Sallis as the voice of The Book? He did the voice of Wallace in the _Wallace and Gromit_ short films. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/48 "2003-12-28T02:39:18Z")
No, too querulous. The book should **sound** confident…especially when it’s misleading the reader. Whoever plays Arthur has to be able to deliver this line with a perfect deadpan: “Ah. Abuse.” ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/49 "2003-12-28T02:58:31Z")
I like the idea of **Jack Davenport** (if that’s the guy who played the Commodore in PotC) playing Arthur. No Jim Carrey. Anywhere near this film. Ian McKellan would make a fine Slartibartfast. Or maybe a cameo as that prophet who shows up too late at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/50 "2003-12-28T03:01:19Z")
Speaking of PotC, why don’t we make Zaphod, Johnny Depp. I’m sure Depp can capture that crazyness :D. ---
**Author:** ![RobuSensei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/51 "2003-12-28T03:04:31Z")
Okay. I’ve read the books. I’ve got the TV series on one (low-quality) videotape. I’ve even got the original radio show (minus the “this robot can hum like Pink Floyd” bit, alas) on audiotape. And this is all that I have to say. All of you who are suggesting American actors for this are nuts. Even if said actors can pull off British humor. 😃 R. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/52 "2003-12-28T03:20:57Z")
> [@](#): > > All of you who are suggesting American actors for this are nuts. Well why do aliens have to speak with a British accent? 😛 I can see Arthur, Trillian, and Ford speaking that way (Ford because he has to blend in), but Zaphod and Slartibartfast don’t. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/53 "2003-12-28T07:18:31Z")
I can definitely get behind Jack Davenport (and yes, he WAS Commodore Norrington in POTC) as Arthur and Bruce Campbell as Zaphod. Johnny Depp could be Ford Prefect. Then again, Johnny Depp could play pretty much anybody, including Trillian. He could put on a one-man production if he wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![Teelo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@Teelo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teelo)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/54 "2003-12-28T08:51:48Z")
Maybe Dustin Hoffman could be Arthur? ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/55 "2003-12-28T16:44:44Z")
Johnny Depp as Zaphod is…acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/56 "2003-12-28T18:09:06Z")
Can’t agree with Hugh Grant as Arthur. The only remarkable thing about Arthur Dent is that he is remarkably “un-remarkable”. While, being a guy, I don’t have any partcular opinion on Hugh Grant’s appearance, the fact that he seems to inspire a great deal of swooning among female moviegoers would automatically disqualify him from the role. Sorry, girls. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/57 "2003-12-28T18:44:42Z")
> [@](#): > > **ISiddiqui** : Well why do aliens have to speak with a British accent? If you make _The Hitchhiker’s Guide_ less English, it becomes less _The Hitchhiker’s Guide_. If they cast an American as Ford Prefect, they’ might as well change the character’s name to Ford Tudor, too. (Damned contemporary American models and their equally English-sounding names spoiling my point!) ---
**Author:** ![zoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71c47a/32.png) [@zoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoo)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/58 "2003-12-28T18:48:19Z")
After thinking about this all day, it seems to me that Eddie Izzard might make a better Ford than Zaphod. Ford is somwhat more sophisticated than Zaphod and I think Izzard would do well. Zaphod needs a “Smooth but stupid” actor of which many might fill the role. I still like the Idea of Hugh Grant as Arthur. I would hate to see Jim Carrey as anything but I don’t think it would stop me from seeing the film. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/59 "2003-12-28T19:57:06Z")
If any of The Restaurant is included, Rowan Atkinson has to play the Maitre d’ and have Ozzy as the rock star. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217/60 "2003-12-28T20:17:02Z")
How about Dawn French as Eddie, the unbearbly cheerful computer? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-movie/221217.md?page=4)