# Terry Pratchett OKs Night Watch TV Series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [March 19, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280 "2011-03-19T20:40:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/41 "2011-03-20T09:31:31Z")
> [@Darth\_Nader](#): > > If only there was a way to get Steve Buscemi onboard as Nobby Nobbs… Nah, Buscemi’s specialty is depressed weirdoes. Nobby is a cheerful twerp. Totally different. What they need is to find someone with the face of Ron Perlman, but without the massive physique. Then again, Perlman himself was awesome as barely human Salvatore in _Name of the Rose_. It’s just, I’m not sold on the voice. Ron’s a low gravely growl, when in my mind Nobby squeaks and yelps. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/42 "2011-03-20T10:29:48Z")
> [@Captain\_C](#): > > Though I’d still prefer they just make a miniseries based on Night Watch. You can’t really do that without establishing the world and its characters first. So maybe expect that storyline sometime later in the series, should it get that far. > [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Unless I’m wrong, in the books Carrot is stated as having that name because his broad shoulders make him carrot-shaped, not because his hair is orange. Correct. That’s what I said. Though he certainly is a redhead too, according to the Discworld Companion and a couple of mentions throughout the novels. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/43 "2011-03-20T11:15:50Z")
> [@yastobaal](#): > > There is also the issue of when they are going to set the series. Guards! Guards!? With only 4 characters? Men-at-arms when they are still getting no respect from the world at large? Or later when they can use a larger supporting cast but Vimes is the Duke? Maybe they should start with an adaptation of GG as the pilot, then show the watch gradually expanding through the next few episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/44 "2011-03-20T11:19:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > How much input, if any, will Pratchett have on those stories? Is he going to personally write any of them, or hand-pick his own stable of writers he thinks are up to it, or act as a creative consultant, or anything? Or will it just be hacks writing “with characters created by Terry Pratchett”? According to the [linked article](http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108476-Pratchett-Gives-Thumbs-Up-to-Discworld-Cop-Show) in the OP, _" This will be the first time that Pratchett has allowed anyone to create new Discworld stories for television, although the author will be overseeing the series … [They have] assembled a strong writing team, including former Monty Python member, Terry Jones "_ ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/45 "2011-03-20T13:07:41Z")
Well, _Night Watch_ would be the origin story in a lot of ways. While most of us were familiar with the characters from their cameos in the unrelated books, that’s one of the few books that’d give you an overview of the entire force without taking them for a given. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/46 "2011-03-20T19:31:37Z")
> [@Darth\_Nader](#): > > If only there was a way to get Steve Buscemi onboard as Nobby Nobbs… Buscemi might be a little too old. I always thought of Kevin J. O’Connor when thinking of Nobby, because of O’ Connor’s role in “The Mummy”. For me that’s Nobbs. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/47 "2011-03-21T12:24:09Z")
> [@Gukumatz](#): > > Well, _Night Watch_ would be the origin story in a lot of ways. While most of us were familiar with the characters from their cameos in the unrelated books, that’s one of the few books that’d give you an overview of the entire force without taking them for a given. The problem with that would be that there is (at my estimation) a gap of at least ten years between the past of _Night Watch_ and the events of _Guards! Guards!_ In those years we have the promotions of all the characters to their roles at the start of _Guards! Guards!_, as well as Nobby and Colon joining the military, the rise of Vetinari and the creation of the more modern guilds, and the eventual dwindling of the Night Watch to its state when Carrot joins. If you started with _Night Watch_, you’d need a whole series to cover all of that to get to _Guards! Guards!_ ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/48 "2011-03-21T12:31:04Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Unless I’m wrong, in the books Carrot is stated as having that name because his broad shoulders make him carrot-shaped, not because his hair is orange. > [@GuanoLad](#): > > Correct. That’s what I said. Though he certainly is a redhead too, according to the Discworld Companion and a couple of mentions throughout the novels. The broad shoulders _and_ heigth: he’s an over-6’-when-standing-tall dwarf (well, genetically human, but that’s a technicality - cultural dwarf). ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/49 "2011-03-21T14:27:19Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > I think the best suggestions I’ve seen from other web sites are: > > Brendan Fraser as Carrot. It’ll never happen, but he’s got that goofy, boyish earnest thing going on, besides being very tall and imposing without being brutish. I’ve always picture Carrot as Brendan Fraser-like. Especially after Greorge of the Jungle. > [@](#): > > Nick Frost as Colon? I could see that. According to the article, Pterry would have control over the series. That’s good. I liked how Hogfather turned out. I’m still waiting for Going Postal to hit Netflix. Another good thing is that Terry Jones has been contracted as one of the writers. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/50 "2011-03-21T14:32:13Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > The broad shoulders _and_ heigth: he’s an over-6’-when-standing-tall dwarf (well, genetically human, but that’s a technicality - cultural dwarf). He’s tall for his size. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/51 "2011-03-21T15:26:38Z")
Why is there any question about who would play Nobby when [Tony Robinson](http://sharetv.org/images/blackadder_uk/cast/large/baldrick.jpg?iact=hc&vpx=1041&vpy=446&dur=1454&hovh=102&hovw=121&tx=88&ty=56&ei=PG6HTYHXJ4XHswaCp92FAw&oei=PG6HTYHXJ4XHswaCp92FAw&page=1&tbnh=102&tbnw=121&start=0&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:25,s:0) is still alive? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/52 "2011-03-21T15:42:32Z")
Too bad Michael Berryman\* isn’t a a couple of feet shorter. \*If you ever get the chance to meet him, do it. He’s about the coolest guy on the face of the earth. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/53 "2011-03-21T18:11:33Z")
Personally I’d prefer unknowns to play the parts. I dislike the previous films being given an Victorian character rather then how I envisage the scenes judged by the books. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/54 "2011-03-21T19:25:46Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > Personally I’d prefer unknowns to play the parts. Well, yes, but then we can’t kibitz about unknown actors, can we? ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/55 "2011-03-21T21:03:05Z")
If you’re interested (and I know you are) you can see a video of part of one of their production meetings (including Sir Terry) [here.](http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/03/21/pratchett-exclusive/) ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/56 "2011-06-03T13:29:56Z")
New here but thought I would put my tupence worth in for charachters in the watch. NOBBY: Big Mick?? I think thats his name - (Zercon the fool in “Heroes & Villains” Attila the Hun) CHEERY LITTLEBOTTOM: Meredith Eaton (I know she is a yank but … even with the heavy makeup her beauty will shine through And if he ever makes an appearance in the city - CASANUNDER: Peter Dinklage – one of the best from Game of Thrones SALLY VON HUMPEDING: Christina Ricci – Wednesday Addams in Addams Family ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/57 "2011-06-03T14:04:44Z")
Christina Ricci might even make a good Angua - she’s got the haunted fight-or-flight look in her eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/58 "2011-06-03T14:30:48Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Why is there any question about who would play Nobby when [Tony Robinson](http://sharetv.org/images/blackadder_uk/cast/large/baldrick.jpg?iact=hc&vpx=1041&vpy=446&dur=1454&hovh=102&hovw=121&tx=88&ty=56&ei=PG6HTYHXJ4XHswaCp92FAw&oei=PG6HTYHXJ4XHswaCp92FAw&page=1&tbnh=102&tbnw=121&start=0&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:25,s:0) is still alive? Too old. Andy Serkis, on the other hand… Mark Addy is a good choice for Colon, although these days all those roles seem to go to either Timothy Spall or Mark Benton. Jeremy Irons for Vetinari is a good choice too, or maybe Jason Isaacs (but not Alan Rickman who really needs to get some other work besides dolorous quasi-evil types). Angua needs to be a bit more rough-and-tumble. Jessica [del]Stevenson[/del] Hynes is probably too old for the role now (at 37, which is a sad thought) but has the right vibe. Ross Kemp for Detritus. What? Vimes…tough one. You need someone grizzled and tough but with a strong dose of both charisma and pathos. Hmm…I typed “grizzled British actors” into Google and, after various cites for the late Pete Postlethwaite, got a hit for [Ray Stevenson](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829032/). Looking good… ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/59 "2011-06-03T15:05:10Z")
Vimes - Robert Lindsay??? ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/60 "2011-06-03T22:38:51Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Too old. Andy Serkis, on the other hand… > > Mark Addy is a good choice for Colon, although these days all those roles seem to go to either Timothy Spall or Mark Benton. Jeremy Irons for Vetinari is a good choice too, or maybe Jason Isaacs (but not Alan Rickman who really needs to get some other work besides dolorous quasi-evil types). > > Angua needs to be a bit more rough-and-tumble. Jessica [del]Stevenson[/del] Hynes is probably too old for the role now (at 37, which is a sad thought) but has the right vibe. > > Ross Kemp for Detritus. What? > > Vimes…tough one. You need someone grizzled and tough but with a strong dose of both charisma and pathos. Hmm…I typed “grizzled British actors” into Google and, after various cites for the late Pete Postlethwaite, got a hit for [Ray Stevenson](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829032/). Looking good… I believe Peter Postlethwaite was Pterry’s original choice for Vimes. The pictures in [Where’s My Cow](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where%27s_My_Cow%3F) certainly look like him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280.md?page=4)