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 on IMDb 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.