# Why no serious attempt at a Hitchhikers Guide movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 11, 2003, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059 "2003-04-11T16:10:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/1 "2003-04-11T16:10:20Z")
I know there is one, but it is a low budget piece of junk. I’m thinking with the technology available today and some good screen writers, (in order to smooth out some of the lack of continuity within the books), a good movie could be produced. I argue that there is a market for it, with all the die hard fans around, and people who enjoyed the books over the years without being SiFi types. After all, they managed to produce Fear and loathing in Las Vegas, while it was flop, I think it was at least a better production of that book then the current version of the Guide. Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/2 "2003-04-11T16:16:14Z")
Douglas Adams was working on a screenplay for a feature film version when he died. He had been working on it for several years, with more than one director attached. The latest was Jay Roach of the Austin Powers films. I’m sure that Adams’ death put everything on hold, or more probably killed the project. ---
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/3 "2003-04-11T16:22:18Z")
Bummer! Is there any hope? ---
**Author:** ![Loneraven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c0e974/32.png) [@Loneraven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loneraven)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/4 "2003-04-11T16:56:50Z")
Is there really already a film version? You couldn’t be thinking of the BBC TV series, could you? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/5 "2003-04-11T17:14:52Z")
I don’t think it would work as a serious film. I always thought the book was more of a comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/6 "2003-04-11T17:22:56Z")
\*\* Loneraven \*\* wrote: > [@](#): > > Is there really already a film version? You couldn’t be thinking of the BBC TV series, could you? Yes I am talking about that. They put all the episodes together on one tape and released it as a film, I rented it at Block Buster in the U.S. some years ago. The anamated parts which represented the Guide’s representations were pretty cool, the rest though was of such low budget it was hard to watch. (IMO). ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/7 "2003-04-11T17:26:43Z")
I guess the ball is now in the hands of whoever inherited Adams’ rights to the books, probably his widow. It would be up to her to make decisions on his behalf regarding the movie, or any other projects based on the books. ---
**Author:** ![joshmaker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a587f6/32.png) [@joshmaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joshmaker)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/8 "2003-04-11T17:30:02Z")
There were rumors of a HHGTTG movie a while back, with the director of Austin Powers attached. I have not heard anything new in a long time however, and now that Adams has passed away, I am not sure I want a film to be made without him. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/9 "2003-04-11T17:33:49Z")
I remeber seeing it as I kid. I thought it was pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/10 "2003-04-11T17:49:18Z")
There are some movies, which, once made, never need to be made again. After the 1970s version of _The Three Musketeers_, for example, there really is very little reason to do another remake. The BBC TV-move of HGTTG is another such. How could you possibly see anyone other than Simon Jones as Arthur Dent? After all, the book was written with him in mind, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/11 "2003-04-11T18:47:55Z")
I think Rob Reiner (“This is Spinal Tap”) would be a great choice to direct a HGTTG movie, especially if he teamed up again with Christopher Guest to write the screenplay. ---
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/12 "2003-04-11T20:42:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BrotherCadfael \* > \*\* > The BBC TV-move of HGTTG is another such. How could you possibly see anyone other than Simon Jones as Arthur Dent? After all, the book was written with him in mind, IIRC. \*\* True that! Even if a feature film with better special effects and bigger-name actors could be made, it would simply be non-canonical. 1. The voice of Peter Jones is the voice of the book. When I read the five volume series, I hear Peter’s voice in my head. 2. Any change to the animated Guide scenes would be a departure from perfection. 😛 3. What **BrotherCadfael** said about Simon Jones. 4. The universe is an absurd place where things don’t work all that well. Things are really not _supposed_ to look that good. 5. Besides, why do we want a feature-length film? Even with three hours, I can’t imagine doing much more than a re-hash/re-make of the three hour miniseries. I’d leave it up to more talented visionaries than I to prove me wrong. But IMHO they’ve got their work cut out for them… it would be very expensive… and it might very well flop. ---
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/13 "2003-04-12T13:53:12Z")
Answers to follow, I’m going out today but I have many comments, stand by! ---
**Author:** ![TheRealJohnPeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TheRealJohnPeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheRealJohnPeat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/14 "2003-04-13T01:20:05Z")
Sadly, Peter Jones died in 2000 and therefore a new voice of the guide would be required… Without being ‘jingoist’ I have to say that a US-produced/Hollywood version of HHGTTG would be hard to swallow - the entire thing is so English/British in it’s view of things, cynicism and general style of humour that it’s scary to think how it would translate in the ‘wrong hands’… Don’t get me wrong - Austin Powers made me laugh - but HHGTTG is about subtlety - it’s about jokes which are now a bit passe and I can’t help thinking that film=massmarket appeal=murdering the poor thing… The definitive Guide has always been - and will always be - the original radio series - accept no substitutes… TTFN JP ---
**Author:** ![TheRealJohnPeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TheRealJohnPeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheRealJohnPeat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/15 "2003-04-13T01:21:29Z")
p.s. Anyone who considers the TV series ‘low budget’ hans’t seen much BBC TV output from the same ‘era’ - I can assure you that compared to classics like Blakes 7 and Doctor Who, HHGTTG had money LAVISHED on it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/16 "2003-04-13T01:27:56Z")
**TheRealJohnPeat** – aye, the radio show… THAT was grand. I should have stolen the recordings from WJHU 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-serious-attempt-at-a-hitchhikers-guide-movie/168059/17 "2003-04-14T02:10:52Z")
Here we Gooooooooo! \*\* h.sapiens \*\* wrote… > [@](#): > > I guess the ball is now in the hands of whoever inherited Adams’ rights to the books, probably his widow. I was think that this might be the case, I hope she gives it some serious consideration. \*\* joshmaker \*\* wrote… > [@](#): > > I am not sure I want a film to be made without him. I am not sure eather, however, there is a large enough body of his work around, and enough fans/friends that I think probably his fingerprints would be all over what is produced. At least I hope the ones doing the work would be constantly referring to his screenplays (new and old) and constantly asking themselves “What would Douglass do?” \*\* BrotherCadfael \*\* wrote… > [@](#): > > The BBC TV-move of HGTTG is another such. How could you possibly see anyone other than Simon Jones as Arthur Dent? After all, the book was written with him in mind, IIRC. True enough I guess, but I still think I would like to see Trillian as a brunette, and Zaphod with a more lifelike second head. As far as who plays what goes, I have some ideas, but my knowledge of British film stars is unfortunately limited, I could see Michael Phalen (sp?) from Monty Python playing Dent, though he is getting a bit on in his years. \*\* Engywook \*\* wrote… > [@](#): > > I’d leave it up to more talented visionaries than I to prove me wrong. But IMHO they’ve got their work cut out for them… it would be very expensive… and it might very well flop. I don’t know if it would flop, not if it were done right. And remember, there is a ready market on both sides of the pond. As for the length, yep, it would be a long film, I was thinking make HTTG 1, 2 and maybe 3, close enough together so as to be able to use the same actors - think _back to the future._, not the films but the way they were made close enough togeather so as to use all the same actors for continuity. \*\* TheRealJohnPeat \*\* wrote… > [@](#): > > The definitive Guide has always been - and will always be - the original radio series - accept no substitutes… As I understand it, Adams wanted the BBC TV version to be the radio series on film, but the radio series was such a jumble compared to the books that some serious rewrites needed to be done. I’m not thinking “substitute” so much as I’m thinking a film (or set of films) that are as close to the original vision as possable. \*\* TheRealJohnPeat \*\* wrote… > [@](#): > > Without being ‘jingoist’ I have to say that a US-produced/Hollywood version of HHGTTG would be hard to swallow - the entire thing is so English/British in it’s view of things, cynicism and general style of humour that it’s scary to think how it would translate in the ‘wrong hands’… I would hope that it would be a purely British production, man, imagine the how the American film industry would water it down. ::shudders::. You can’t make a British comedy _for_ the American audience, If you don’t like/understand British humor, you wouldn’t like the film I have in mind. And thats ok, (IMO) because enough Americans are flexible enough to appreciate a work such as this, think of how well the books sold in the states. \*\* TheRealJohnPeat \*\* wrote… > [@](#): > > p.s. Anyone who considers the TV series ‘low budget’ hans’t seen much BBC TV output from the same ‘era’ - I can assure you that compared to classics like Blakes 7 and Doctor Who, HHGTTG had money LAVISHED on it I have herd this before. Also when I think about how cheesy shows like the original Star Trek series look by today’s standards there is just no way to compare. I just think it would be cool to see a more up to date Marvin, and a Zaphod with fully functional extra arms and head with exterior shots of the heart of gold or a Vogon constructor ship with modern SiFi film standards.