New Cast Information For 'Hitchhiker's' Movie

Kathleen writes "I was listening to the old Hitchiker's radio plays, and feeling nostalgic, I decide to check out how the movie version was going along. Well, they've filled out some important parts, Zaphod and Marvin have been cast. Zaphod is played by Sam Rockwell who's most recently been in Matchstick Men and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Marvin is being played by Warwick Davis (Who was Willow Ufgood in Willow). Slartibartfast will be played by Bill Nighy. This news is a little distressing, since I was under the impression that Stephen Moore would still be handling the voice of Marvin."

More information

here/a [slashdot.org]

Just a reminder

Not that you /.ers can be trusted to actually read a page BEFORE commenting on it, but IMDB.com does add this note to projects that are still in the planning stages (like HhGTTG):
Note: Since this project is categorized as being in production, the data is subject to change or could be removed completely.

Re:Just a reminder

Not that you /.ers can be trusted to actually read a page BEFORE commenting on it, but IMDB.com does add this note to projects that are still in the planning stages (like HhGTTG): "Note: Since this project is categorized as being in production, the data is subject to change or could be removed completely."

Worth noting, though, is that if you subscribe to their IMDbPro [imdb.com] web site, they have news items (subscription required) [imdb.com] available from The Hollywood Reporter that confirm the casting of Martin Freeman (Dent), Mos Def (Prefect), Rockwell (Zaphod), and others. It may still not be written in stone, but when it comes from The Hollywood Reporter, it can be considered pretty reputable.

- Greg

What's Important

It really doesn't matter who plays whom. What's more worrying is that Adams' script is being rewritten. HHGTTG is probably the finest comedy written thus far in human history and the idea that somebody could do better than DNA is tantamount to heresy.

The main reason the film has never been made is that Adams was never happy with what Hollywod was offering. Do we really thing he'd be happy with some droid scriptwriter massacring his work?

If The Powers That Be didn't like DNA's script, they don't deserve to benefit from it.

Re:What's Important

Hollywood depends on idiots like you. You consistently go and see films that you don' t want to see. Have you ever thought about voting with your wallet?

Missing Data!

Who is playing the Vogons? I vote for Jim Carrey, but that might be too graphic for most people. I mean, I can't handle him reading normal lines. What will Vogon poetry sound like in the mouth of the child of satan himself?

Re:Missing Data!

...child of satan himself?

Wouldn't that be Adam Sandler [imdb.com]

Re:Missing Data!

Jim Carrey would be an excellent vogon.

For the entire time I was watching that Grinch film I was wishing my colon would jump up and strangle my brain. I even nibbled on my own leg to see what the feasibility of gnawing it off would be.

---

Re:Missing Data!

Be fair. Jim was good in The Cable Guy.

Re:Missing Data!

Jim was good in The Cable Guy.
Yes, but he was in Ace Ventura, Ace Ventura 2 AND Batman Forever. If we can't agree that he is a filithy, hideous creature, we have nothing in common. The man is meant to be a Vogon.

To be fair, I liked him in The Truman Show.

Re:Missing Data!

Man on the Moon is also brilliant.

Re:Missing Data!

Missing Data? Do you think they'd cast Brent Spiner for the role? He's been known to recite awful poetry on ST:TNG, after all.

Personally, though, I *quite* like "Oh Freddled Gruntbuggly." It's right up there with Jabberwocky as some of the best nonsense verse I've read.

Narrator

I can only hope they have a compotent narrator, a good percentage of the jokes in the book/radio show are from the narration of book passages and exposition.

Re:Narrator

James Earl Jones would be good, though a more British accent would probably fit better. Maybe Sean Connery? Picure James Bond saying, "Oddly enough, the only thought that went through the bowl of petunia's mind was, 'Oh no, not again.'"

Re:Narrator

Well, I figure it shouldn't be that hard to find a good narrator. Basically every video that my teachers try and make me watch in history courses is narrated by some guy with a british accent. Although Bond talking about digital watches would have a certain level of entertainment value.

Re:Narrator

I think Tom Baker would be excellent. He was one of the Doctor Whos and narrated 'Little Britain' (sketch comedy show made last year in Britain (oddly enough). His voice is quite deep and gravely but with lots of range when he uses it and it is totally English. It's a very nice voice to listen to explaining things.

Re:Narrator

Doesn't Sean Connery pretty much have his own accent, independent of any country?

Example phrase: "Well, isn't that interesting?"

English (cockney): "Wew, in't da' intrestin', luv?"
Scottish: "Wael, ehsn't dat interestin', ya bloody bastard?"
Sean Connery: "Wahl, izhn't thaht intereshting, Alexsh? I believe I had sexsh with your mother lahsht night..."

Of course, IANADC* so I admit the above may be a bit crude in translation, but I think it makes my point (all apologies to the English, Scottish, and Alex Trebek's mother).

*DC = "Dialect Coach"

Re:Narrator

I can only hope they have a compotent narrator, a good percentage of the jokes in the book/radio show are from the narration of book passages and exposition.

Nothing in the radio show is from the book, as the radio show came first. Obviously this required verbal exposition in the radio show to actually tell the story.

If they want to do this well, they will go back to the original radio and TV scripts for the majority of their inspiration, as the book was actually the third generation of the story. (IMHO)

Re:Narrator

Nothing in the radio show is from the book, as the radio show came first. Obviously this required verbal exposition in the radio show to actually tell the story.

Not passage from "the book", passages from "The Book" (as in "The Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, starring Peter Jones as The Book")

Marvin

Marvin is being played by Warwick Davis (Who was Willow Ufgood in Willow). ... This news is a little distressing, since I was under the impression that Stephen Moore would still be handling the voice of Marvin.

This may not be as bad as it initially sounds; James Earl Jones didn't 'play' Darth Vader, either. However, he did a nice job as Vader's voice.

Re:Marvin

But wasn't Marvin actually tall?
video still [sadgeezer.com]

Re:Marvin

Which [sadgeezer.com] of these [douglasadams.se] looks more like the kind of product that would actually be marketed as "Your plastic pal who's fun to be with?"

I, for one...

I, for one, welcome the return of our old Vogon overlords.

Re:I, for one...

Oh, the foolishness of the young.

Some of us wish we could forget our days as resistance fighters during the Second Vogon Colonial Wars. The harsh oppression visited upon us day in and day out was eclipsed only by the horror of the mandatory poetry recitals. Never Again!

Vive la Resistance!

Re:I, for one...

"I, for one, welcome the return of our old Vogon overlords. "

I would complain about the idiotic overuse of this joke, but ever since I got my digital watch I've been quite serene.

Re:I, for one...

I (hic), for one, welcome the return of That Ol' Janx Spirit (hic).

Fucking Willow?!

The man was Wicket Warrick in Return of the Jedi, for god's sake, and you should identify him as such!

I'm sorry, Kathleen, but I have to confiscate your Geek license. Please hand in your badge and toy phaser, on your way out.

Re:Fucking Willow?!

Which is important, we'll want to recognize him inside the robot costume in HHGTG...

I wonder

How far will they have to pare [rinkworks.com] down the book to make a three hour (or so) movie?

Known for Willow? I don't think so.

Sorry, but when I think of Warwick Davis...

There once was a robot from Sirius
His lust for my gold was quite serious
He let out a cry
As I punctured his eye
Now he's depressed and delirious!

That was...

Almost as bad as Vogon poetry.

Re:Would you like to hear some more of my poetry?

Oozing with pustulent fervence the slippery slick G'gharfulk nippled its twarks through the fetid swamp.

In, out, in, out, and in and out and in and out the G'gharfulk splorched disgustingly through the tight orifice of the N'hargla-fep. They quivered and squicked in an imperfect rythm as the G'hib flies laid their maggot-eggs upon them.

O where has the G'hib laid its eggs? From deep within the pie-crust of my heart I wish to gloop and splorch with the lowly G'gharfulk!

Why has this deep loneliness been denied me? I drink but my navel vomits forth, and I am not filled!

By devouring the N'hargla-fep I become the G'gharfulk and thus take part in its oozing dance!

Feed the G'gharfulk within your soul and let your mighty tendrils lick deep of the slime-covering on the N'hargla-fep's back!

Its salty ooziness covers your eyes and makes useless the panting and wheezing of your lungs! It spurts! Watch as the Tsuuba worm coils deep within your colon, and feel it push its way through your liver and out your navel! I cannot hold water! Come, come, this constipation consumes me!

So I dissolve, and the G'gharfulk eats deep of my brains and the stink of my teeth.

Good night. Or is it morning? Who am I to care. Where's my jock strap?'

Re:Would you like to hear some more of my poetry?

That limerick's really quite crap
Though I'm sure you're a reasonable chap,
Only one line,
nearly finished on time,
So next time don't open your trap.

My Hero!

I had no idea!
I'm Thrilled!
This means that one of my favorite stories will feature one of my favorite Televsion personalities!
Bill Nighy the Science Guy will be in HHGTG!

Wow. What's that? Nye? Not Nighy?

...Never mind.

Well, I'll probably watch it.

Sam Rockwell seems like a particularly good choice for Mr. Beeblebrox. I just wonder who will get the tap to be Mr. Prefect.

Alan Rickman ... and Darl

I always thought Alan Rickman would be a good Zaphod.

And why not cast Darl as a Vogon?

Movies always suck

Movies never live up to the books, I predict critics will give this a SIX * NINE out of a hundred rating.

Marvin is played by...

Warwick Davis?

This explains soooo much! He wasn't a paranoid android, he was just self-conscious about his height! Really, there needs to be a support group for midget robots.

Wait, no, that's not politically correct! What is the PC term for those like Marvin?

"Little Androids?"
"Dwarfbots?"
"Vertically Challenged Metallic Artificial Persons?"

Re:It's going to blow

Someone else on slashdot, during the last hitchiker thread, addressed the issue of changes quite well: the series has appeared in a variety of mediums, and each time it was different than it was in the other mediums. It's going to be no different with the movies. So try to just enjoy the ride instead of saying, prematurely, "This person isn't right for this party for reasons x, y and z."

Re:It's going to blow

Having seem some of the films Mos Def was in (The Italian Job, for one), i'm not too worried about it. Talented actor, and somehow he works as ford in my head. what about that guy from Red Dwarf though?

Re:It's going to blow

Just cause the guy is black doesn't mean it's going to be Men in Black nor that there will be Hip Hop. JC what a bunch of stereo-typical crap.

Uh, somehow I don't think it's because he's black, but because he's a hip-hop musician.

I'm not familiar with his work, but usually when Hollywood hires a musician for a part, it's to cash in on the image they've already built up for themselves (e.g. David Bowie in Labyrinth, Sting in Dune, Henry Rollins in every film he's ever been in).

Re:It's going to blow

Hmmmm... you folks are definitely out to lunch who think I'm racist. I mean, my cousin is considered black for god's sake (her father was black/native american). My point is that Hip-Hop and the HHGTTG don't mix any more than Masterpiece Theater and an Italian Gangster film do. I wouldn't mind if they picked say... Laurence Fishburne to play Ford, I think he'd do a good job with it. I mean... you're not going to pick Britney Spears to play Anne Frank, Marie Curie or even a Doctor Who companion and actually think it would work? As far as the other person who suggested that guy from RedDwarf (I'm assuming you mean the Lister character) I think he'd be an excellent choice.

Sorry, you can be an idiot and paint me with the racism brush, but it's not going to stick. The only problem I've got with the casting is that they didn't pick a more British type of hipster. Thank god they didn't cast that idiot Kidd Rock as Zaphod. Now that would have been a total tragedy.

Hip-hop (was Re:It's going to blow)

Before you criticize, it might be worthwhile to know what you're talking about. I can't believe you just equated Mos Def with Nelly. That's a lot like equating the Beatles with N'sync.

In case you cared, Mos Def, unlike many self-styled "MCs," is a real artist, a poet who started off in spoken word venues like the Brooklyn Moon. Unlike the commercialized hip-hop spewed by Clear Channel radio stations targeted at white suburbanites to reinforce their stereotypes of people of color, Mos Def actually has a positive message for the urban counterculture, rooted in the Civil Rights Movement, and the struggle of people of color everywhere to attain equality.

I have a feeling that Mos Def and Douglas Adams would have had a lot to talk about. After all tHHGttG saga talks a lot about the disgusting excesses of capitalism and the rampant insanity of corporate culture (see Magrathea and the collapse of the Galactic Stock Market, the Sirius Cybernetic Corporation, Hotblack Desiato being dead for "tax purposes," the awesome satire in the sequence involving the Golgafrinchans, and the fact that the enemy in the final book is an evil corporation), the way the powers-that-be and the media manipulate the masses (remember, anyone you actually meet is the product of a deranged imagination, the fact that most everything is "somebody else's problem" makes it possible to create a good stealth device, and there's the irony when the tourism industry's campaign in Ursa Minor Beta backfires when they state that "when you are tired of Ursa Minor Beta, you are tired of life," and then there's the message in front of tHHttG which advises "Don't Panic!") and then there's the whole idea of revisionist history and the desecration of ancient sites all in the name of progress and profit (as in the story of the Cathedral of Chalesm, the poet who was bought out by the pen company and who had to plagiarize his own work in order to get them written, and more obviously the destruction of Earth in order to make way for a hyperspace bypass), the pointless destruction wrought by war (see the Silastic Armor fiends of Striterax, and the Krikkiters after them, and then those guys who fought wars just because they saw strange things in the sky, and ended up killing mostly the peaceful forest people in the middle), the evil of racism (again, the Krikkiters) and the fact that the people who want to have power shouldn't be allowed to have power (wonderfully lampooned by the description of the guy who actually runs the universe)

I think Mos Def would make a great Ford Prefect.

Martin Freeman

Great choice for Arthur Dent [imdb.com]. He's from The Office [imdb.com]. Anyone else seen that - it seems like a /. show. It's like Office Space with more bite.

Re:Eeek! Which will it be?

Actually, I don't think Zaphod with an American accent is all that far off. I always took Zaphod's character to be a parody of the stereotypical American anyway.

Re:Eeek! Which will it be?

I have to ask, have you heard the radio series? (or seen the TV production) Zaphod's never had a British accent per se. The performance of him has always sounded sort of like a Brit attempting to put on a California accent.

That being said, Rockwell can do a lot of different voices, and I have little doubt he could do British if that was the direction they went with the character. Although I hope not.

Sam Rockwell...

...is probably better know to the Slashdot crowd as the "extra/red-shirt/6th crew member" in "Galaxy Quest". He also played the main villian in the first "Charlie's Angels" movie, and is actually slowly moving up the Hollywood chain of success. I think this is a good choice, though certainly others could work as well. (for example, I think Robin Williams could do that part well).