# Hogfather as movie? Huh? Did we know this?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [July 28, 2006, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470 "2006-07-28T22:35:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)
#### Post date: [July 28, 2006, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/1 "2006-07-28T22:35:35Z")
I was browsing IMDb and [came across this](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765458/). It seems like it’s really being made. [Joss Ackland](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000722/) is cast as Ridcully, which might work, although I’ve always pictured [Brian Blessed](http://www.stuart.cann.freeuk.com/images/brian_blessed.jpg).
Can it work?\*
\*[Ian Richardson](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007183/) is cast as DEATH
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### Author:  [@Tortuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tortuga)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2006, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/2 "2006-07-29T07:06:55Z")
OMG!OMG!OMG!
It’s possibly my favorite Discworld…but then there are so many in-jokes…but then what makes me love it? Oh, the interchange of archetypes, oh, oh, oh…I really don’t know.
I think it might have too much WTF factor for a two hour movie–but I was surprised at how true to the book the animated movie of[Wyrd Sisters](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156938374X/002-0764679-1329629?v=glance&n=130) was, so what do I know about film-making?
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2006, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/3 "2006-07-29T08:07:26Z")
I’ve been aware of this for about three months, when I heard that David Jason was playing Albert.
On the one hand, I’m excited to see it. On the other hand, I fear they’ll cock it up somehow fundamentally.
I maintain that the best way to introduce Discworld to live action is to do an entirely new story independent of the existing books, but mostly canonical to what has gone before.
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2006, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/4 "2006-07-29T15:36:05Z")
Problem is, though, it’s coming out in the UK. From what I can tell from Wikipedia, Sky One doesn’t generally broadcast to countries not possessed by the English.
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### Author:  [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/5 "2006-07-30T23:53:13Z")
I would love to see this! _Hogfather_ was the first Discworld book I ever read, and then I was hooked.
I think it would be fantabulous if someone would make movies out of the City Watch books, starting, of course, with _Guards Guards_. You’ve got your hick kid making good in the Big City, you’ve got Sam Vimes, you’ve got Romance, Chases, Intrigue, Secret Societies, and a Big Honking Dragon. What more does one need?
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/6 "2006-07-31T02:13:00Z")
I just hope they’re aiming for a late-December release! 🙂
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### Author:  [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/7 "2006-07-31T02:17:41Z")
Okay, forgive an infidel, but I’ve never heard of Hogfather. I looked at the link, and judging by the names of the characters it sounds humorous. Is that accurate?
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### Author:  [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2006, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/8 "2006-07-31T10:19:12Z")
> [@Baker](#):
>
> Okay, forgive an infidel . . . it sounds humorous. Is that accurate?
Yup. It is (supposed to be) funny. The Hogfather is the Discworld version of Santa Claus IIRC he gets killed off (it’s been a while since I read it but I think that’s what happens) and DEATH takes over the job, driving the sleigh\* handing out presents etc.
It seems to me an odd book to use (at least start from), I would have though _Guards Guards_ (like **Marlitharn** posted) would be a more self contained story.
\*BTW the Hogfather’s sleigh is not pulled by raindeer.
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### Author:  [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/9 "2006-07-31T17:13:48Z")
> [@Small Clanger](#):
>
> BTW the Hogfather’s sleigh is not pulled by raindeer.
Up, Rooter! Up, Gouger! Up, Tusker! Up, Snouter! 😃
I really, really, really hope they do a good job of this; I hope to be in the UK at the time of release, so I will definitely see it.
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### Author:  [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/10 "2006-07-31T19:34:55Z")
> [@Dervorin](#):
>
> Up, Rooter! Up, Gouger! Up, Tusker! Up, Snouter! 😃
>
> I really, really, really hope they do a good job of this; I hope to be in the UK at the time of release, so I will definitely see it.
Lemme guess. The sleigh is pulled by pigs! I shoulda figured that.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/11 "2006-07-31T20:08:26Z")
> [@Captain Carrot](#):
>
> Problem is, though, it’s coming out in the UK. From what I can tell from Wikipedia, Sky One doesn’t generally broadcast to countries not possessed by the English.
GAH! Sometimes I really hate the English, they get all the good stuff first.
But I can’t believe I never heard of this. Who cares which book it is (I would prefer a Guards book) as long as it’s a Discworld book. I am surprised to hear it is HogFather, though.
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### Author:  [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/12 "2006-08-01T20:30:11Z")
I wonder if the adaptation will retain the immortal line, “I saw your piggy do a wee!” 😃
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### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/13 "2006-08-01T21:36:28Z")
> [@Baker](#):
>
> Lemme guess. The sleigh is pulled by pigs! I shoulda figured that.
Well, yes and no. The Hogfather’s real modern sleigh is pulled by
cute pink pigs
DEATH’s version ( and the older Hogfather’s ) is pulled by
giant, ferocious, slavering, red eyed wild boars.
Here’s the Wiki entry on Hogfather; it’s full of spoilers, so read at your own risk. [Link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogfather)
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### Author:  [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/14 "2006-08-01T22:26:26Z")
Oh, yea, I remember hearing about this. It’s apparently a “Made For TV” movie that’s going to appear on Britain’s [Sky One](http://www.skypressoffice.co.uk/SkyOne/News/showarticle.asp?id=1943&month=2&year=).
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### Author:  [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2006, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/15 "2006-08-01T23:04:44Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#):
>
> I fear they’ll cock it up somehow fundamentally.
They already have. They’ve cast David Jason as Albert. ☹
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### Author:  [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/16 "2006-08-03T14:56:58Z")
> [@Charlie Tan](#):
>
> Joss Ackland is cast as Ridcully, which might work, although I’ve always pictured [Brian Blessed](http://www.stuart.cann.freeuk.com/images/brian_blessed.jpg).
I can see both of those guys being appropriate, though personally I’d always imagined Ridcully as looking somewhat like [Leo McKern](http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/M/htmlM/mckernleo/mckernleo.htm).
Of course, it’d be a bit awkward making the movie with him in it, given he’s been dead for three years. So that Ackland bloke is probably the better choice. 😃
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### Author:  [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/17 "2006-12-11T16:07:22Z")
It’s on on Sunday on the Beeb! Not 100% sure at this stage if it is going to be shown all at once, or split into sevral nights.
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### Author:  [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/18 "2006-12-11T16:11:52Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika]
GAH! Sometimes I really hate the English, they get all the good stuff first.
[/QUOTE]
The TiVO’s already set up… _smug look_
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### Author:  [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/19 "2006-12-11T16:20:40Z")
[QUOTE=One And Only Wanderers]
Not 100% sure at this stage if it is going to be shown all at once, or split into several nights.
[/QUOTE]
SkyOne’s press release says it’s in two parts although the TiVO episode guide has about four showings listed.
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### Author:  [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hogfather-as-movie-huh-did-we-know-this/366470/20 "2006-12-11T16:51:44Z")
Sky showed the _making of Hogfather_ last night, which I recorded it but didn’t watch. Why on earth spoil such a large undertaking by showing us what it looks like in advance?
There is also a scrip/picture book out.
Terry himself (I’m not doing that PTerry thing anymore it irritates me) plays a toy shop owner
Of course _we_ all know the plot already. I’ll take it down to my parents for [del]Hogsw[/del] Christmas, they enjoyed Johnny and the Bomb. And Hogfather is an order of magnitude better than that.
It’s not on the Beeb, they seem to showing mostly snooker at the moment.
**rjung** The piggy - wee line is in. YES, WHAT A NAUGTHY PIGGY.
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