Hitchhikers Guide To Be Made Into A Movie

tonywestonuk writes "The Beeb are reporting that The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series will be made into a Hollywood Movie. Apparently they are getting some other script writer to finish off Douglas Adams' final installment (I pessimistically wonder how awful this will make it.). It seems a shame that Hollywood had to wait until his death before they took him seriously...."

I heard him talk about it once.

[Irvu]

It seems that he's sold and re-sold the script several times. Each time the project appears and gets cancelled for one reason or another, usually a total lack of comprehension.

He told a story about the time he sold it to one producer (if memory serves it was James Cameron of Aliens and Titanic fame). Anyway he worked on the script for a while in preparation for his first meeting with the producer.

When thay meeting came around the first thing that he discovered was that the producer (cameron) the man who had bought the screenplay, had never read the book. When he was talling it, Adams allowed as how the book was very long and the great man might not be able to spare the time.

However, he had read the executive treatment of the book (doubtless by the cliffs notes people), and he was very excited about the prospects for the film. But, before they could get going he wanted to discuss a few questions about the script.

He began by asserting that he loved the fact that the earth blew up in the beginning that big, powerful, awesome, domething that would grab them into their seats. However, he had a real problem with the fact that they didn't get it back. He felt that they should devote a little more time in the script to a quest to regain the lost earth (he didn't specify how). But, he said that they could deal with it.

The real issue was that whole question of life, the meaning of life was an important quest, a noble quest. It was big, and it would keep people emotionally in the movie. He also felt that it was good that they found it eventually... but... 42? Isn't that really...anticlimactic? Why isn't it an important message, meaningful, or something?

Apparently there were some other sticking points too about how little of a role Arthur Dent played. The producer really felt that he should be leading the charge more rather than hiding. In short he really felt that Arthur Dent should be more Arnold Schwartzenegger.

According to Douglas Adams it fell apart after that.

In case anyone doesn't know

[sydb]

H2G2's first incarnation was as a radio series. I'm pretty sure it's also the best way to enjoy Adams' work.

The asides into the eponymous electronic 'Guide' seem a more natural fit to the dramatic medium of radio than to the books Adams released later (though I have read and enjoyed them all). Like a book, you get to use your imagination, unlike a book, you get an atmospheric soundtrack (and nice Vogon voices).

The BBC sell the tapes of the original series. Also available as illegal MP3s at a P2P network near you...

Cast?

[idiotnot]

It'd be interesting to see who they'll cast in it.

Dent: gotta be someone who can play "a complete kneebiter." British. I'm out of ideas on this one.
Trillian: Elizabeth Hurley?
Zaphod: No need to actually hire someone, just do some computer modifications to John Travolta's character from Battlefield Earth.
Slartibartfast: Anthony Hopkins or William Shatner.

Any other ideas?

Re:Who will play Arthur Dent?

[seedman]

Gotta be a Brit, I'm afraid. Just wouldn't be the same otherwise.

I'd suggest Robert Llewellyn [imdb.com] ("Kryten" on Red Dwarf, also the early, and IMO the best, host of Junkyard Wars (aka Scrapheap))

Someone also suggested Chris Barrie [imdb.com] ("Rimmer" on Red Dwarf, "Hilary" in Tomb Raider) who'd probably also be a good candidate.

I also see a part for Rowan Atkinson [imdb.com] as the captain of the Golgafrinchum "B" ark.

Stephen Fry [imdb.com] would make a great maitre d' for The Restaurant at the End Of The Universe.

He did mention the planned film in Stockholm..

[tommten]

when he was here promoting the game Starship Titanic (got an autographed copy in my bookshelf, hoping to get it running under wine/winex some day :)
he mentioned the making of a film, but he wanted things done right.
He felt that the technology for visual effects had then begin to be more satisfying..
I remember that he mentioned that he bought back the rights to the film (don't remember from which company). He also mentioned a certian rubberface being proposed to play Zaphod.
hope to see he finished movie.. been very curious since 1998 :)

Re:Yeah.... as if it wouldn't have happened...

[Anonymous Coward]

Why does not Matt Groening, the creator and executive producer of the Simpsons and Futurama make a cartoon version of the book.

I think that he is the only one that could make a move that catches the charm of the book.