Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

[diothoir]

Hip-hop star gets Hitchhiker role

Hip-hop star Mos Def is to star in the film version of Douglas Adams' novel The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.
He will appear as Ford Prefect, the alien who takes earthling Arthur Dent - played by The Office's Martin Freeman - on a strange galactic trip.

Director Garth Jennings begins shooting in April, from a script that writer Karey Kirkpatrick took over after the sudden death of author Adams in 2001.

Mos Def's move to acting includes roles in The Italian Job and Monster's Ball.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3441017.stm

So, just wondering who, if anyone, is interested in this film right now?

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Well, that's a strange one. Martin Freeman is a good choice for Arthur, but a rapper as Ford Prefect...doesn't really seem right.

I've never seen the guy in anything, so someone else will have to let me know if he's any good.

[diothoir]

We reported two weeks ago that the film version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy had begun casting. Martin Freeman (The Office) will play hero Arthur Dent, with Bill Nighy as alien architect Slartibartfast. Well, there’s more news today. Mos Def will play Ford Prefect, the alien researcher for esteemed intergalactic publication The Hitchhiker’s Guide, who has grown used to life on Earth.

A curious choice and one we can't help but be a little worried about - while he may be an alien, Ford Prefect is most definitely English, by George! Empire Online always saw him as more of a Richard E. Grant type than a Brooklyn-born Hip hop artist. Still, Def is one of the better rappers-turned-actors - he did reasonably well in The Italian Job remake - so don't despair just yet.

More encouragingly, indie queen Zooey Deschanel has signed on to star as Trillian, girlfriend of the two-headed, three armed President of the Galaxy, Zaphrod Beeblebrox. Deschanel isn’t exactly a household name, but she starred in Elf and Almost Famous and is steadily making her way out of the indie niche towards mainstream stardom.

The film now is set to start shooting in London this April.

http://www.empireonline.co.uk/news/news.asp?story=5318

I agree with you on that.

Although, I like that it has some lesser stars in it and Martin Freeman does seem to be a good fit for Arthur.

[diothoir]

http://images.ibsys.com/2002/0109/1181583.jpg

I'd probably be lying if I said that that was how I imagined Ford Prefect in my mind.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Trillian is American, so that's ok, but I imagined someone English as Ford Prefect, plus in the book he's described as a funny looking guy with ginger hair.

Nighy is a good pick for Slartibartfast, though if they'd just had Ian McKellen reprise his Gandalf role in a comedy fashion that would have worked too.

[Kane Knight]

http://images.ibsys.com/2002/0109/1181583.jpg

I'd probably be lying if I said that that was how I imagined Ford Prefect in my mind.

PROBALY?

[diothoir]

STFU KANE KNIGHT :MAD:

[diothoir]

I've only read the series recently but Ian McKellan strikes me as someone who could play Zaphod's grandfather.

But I think that might be in the "Restaurant at the end of the Universe".

[Kane Knight]

I've only read the series recently but Ian McKellan strikes me as someone who could play Zaphod's grandfather.

But I think that might be in the "Restaurant at the end of the Universe".

It is.

IT's near the beginning of the book.

[diothoir]

I read both books consequtively about 6 months ago. They've kinda melded into each other for me. :-\

ANYWAY, as soon as i can afford the series, they are going to be read until death. :mad:

The point is about Mos Def (whoever he is) playing Ford Prefect. :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Kane Knight]

I read both books consequtively about 6 months ago. They've kinda melded into each other for me. :-\

ANYWAY, as soon as i can afford the series, they are going to be read until death. :mad:

The point is about Mos Def (whoever he is) playing Ford Prefect. :mad: :mad: :mad:

Which strikes me as stupid.

Buuuuuuuut, I've never seen him act...

[diothoir]

Me neither.

But it could be a swerve, he may be godly as Ford, BUT WHO KNOWS.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

He does look kind of strange, though, so that fits.

They got the Martin Freeman bit right, so it'll do...for now.

[Kane Knight]

I'll still see the movie.

Hell, Keannu Reeves could be Ford, and I'd still see the movie.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

If only to firebomb the cinema theatre.

[Kane Knight]

Shhhhh...You're ruining my master plan...:shifty:

[The Icon of Elisim]

I don't care who plays who as long as the movie is good.

Any info on if this'll be a worldwide release?

[DaveWadding]

Mos Def is the man.

[Kane Knight]

Yeah, like you know anything about being a man.

[Funky Fly]

Mos Def is the man.

What he said. I haven't seen his broadway work, but the few screen roles he's had weren't bad.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Mos Def is the greatest rapper in the history of time

he's really not too bad of an actor either

[The Mask]

Zooey Deschanel WOOOO

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Someone has told me Sam Rockwell has been cast as Zaphod Beeblebrox. Dunno how true it is, but if it is, that is a fu</>cking brilliant choice. Sam Rockwell is the man. He's perfect for playing arrogant, crazy bastards.

[Kane Knight]

Who's sam rockwell?

[El Capitano Gatisto]

He's the guy who played the leads in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Welcome to Collinwood. He has also been in Heist and the Green Mile, and Charlie's Angels I think.

He really is excellent. When I heard his name mentioned as playing Zaphod, it struck me as a perfect piece of casting, just like Maritn Freeman as Arthur.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

John Malkovich has been cast as a character not in the books, but written for the movie by Douglas Adams before he died.

Hot cast for this film.

[diothoir]

SEMI - UPDATE

Cast
Warwick Davis .... Marvin the Paranoid Android
Mos Def .... Ford Prefect
Zooey Deschanel .... Tricia McMillan ("Trillian")
Martin Freeman .... Arthur Dent
John Malkovich .... Humma Kavula
Bill Nighy .... Slartibartfast
Sam Rockwell .... Zaphod Beeblebrox

Director is Garth Jennings, whose only previous directing credit is Blur's "Coffee and TV" video.

Estimated release date is Jun 3, 2005, in the US.

Official movie site is http://hitchhikers.movies.go.com/main.html

----

Taken from IMDB and The Z review.

Anyone else heard any new news on this?

[Lara Emily]

Someone has told me Sam Rockwell has been cast as Zaphod Beeblebrox. Dunno how true it is, but if it is, that is a fu</>cking brilliant choice. Sam Rockwell is the man. He's perfect for playing arrogant, crazy bastards.
:y:

Rockwell is one of my favorite actors. He's gonna be great as Zaphod. He was awesome in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind