Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - What could have been

[Kevy Baby]

While sitting at my computer vegetating, I was reading through Hugh Laurie's biography (http://imdb.com/name/nm0491402/bio) on IMDb (http://imdb.com/) and saw this:

Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), originally wanted [Hugh Laurie] to play Arthur Dent for the film adaptation. A deal was almost in place to have Hugh play Dent, along with Jim Carrey as Zaphod and Jay Roach directing, before Adams's untimely death.

Oh, what a movie that might have been!

[Matterhorn Fan]

Jim Carrey? Count me out of the theater for this hypothetical film.

[Stan4dSteph]

Hugh Laurie doesn't strike me as being pathetic enough to play Dent.

[wendybeth]

Actually, based on some of his Black Adder work, I'd say he would have been pretty perfect. I didn't like the Arthur they wound up with at all- the only casting they got right was Rickman as Marvin.

[cstephens]

I liked the guy they cast as Arthur, but I would have hated Jim Carrey in the film.

[Alex]

I was fine with all the casting in the movie except Sam Rockwell whom I generally despise. But then I'm not a fan of the book (Adams only wrote one funny book in his life and it was non-fiction) so I'm not emotionally attached to any particular traits, characterisitics, or foibles that may have been added or removed in the adaptation.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Hmm. I don't have the Jim Carrey aversion gene that many do, but I can see how having him in the movie would turn off the Hitchhikers' fanbase.

There was something major that was missing from the movie and I don't know if casting was it.

[Gemini Cricket]

The movie was missing something. I'm not sure what it was. It was just kind of bland. I loved the actor from 'The Office' who played Dent. He's hysterical. I also loved Bill Nighy.

I don't know if Jim Carrey would have made it any better. He didn't help 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'.

[tracilicious]

I didn't read the books, but I really liked the movie. Arthur was one of the best parts, IMO.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Would have been interesting to see Adams' hand in the making, regardless of casting. As it turned out it *was* just kind of dull.

Arthur was well cast. Trillian was hot. Marvin was *very* well cast. I hated the Zaphod head-trick though. Foul. I know it's difficult. I don't care. I wanted to see two heads, side by side, and three arms. He was also poorly cast. Didn't like him at all.

The ship looked pretty good from what I remember. I think it needed more of that wonderful British humor. I think it took itself too seriously.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I watched the movie for a second time while flying back from Paris. I really did enjoy it, even though it came nowhere near matching the brilliance of the book. But, short of the full LotR treatment, nothing could. At least it was not embarassingly bad, an admirable effort for what it was.

Personally, I think Jay Roach would have butchered it.

[CoasterMatt]

I never read the books, I only knew the Infocom text adventure; I had a lot of fun with the new movie. My wife had no previous idea of the Hitchhiker's universe, and REALLY enjoyed the movie (She REALLY loves dolphins).