A Discworld movie, can it be done?

[Nick Bounty]

So, today i was watching this British series called 'The Colour of Magic' on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arZtuTNzPvE&feature=PlayList&p=4816575238ED29CD&index=1)), which is based on The Colour of Magic and the Light Fantastic, and I kinda liked it.

I know it's very hard to adapt the books into movies, due to the complexity and everything, but I really can imagine this be done well, resulting in a nice fantasy, atmosphere heavy movie, maybe a bit like 'Stardust' or something. The humour is just so fantastic. I would love me some Discworld movies.

Do you think it could work?

 

[RagnorakTres]

It...might. As long as Mr. Pratchett is seriously involved in the production of said movie. So much of the humor in those books is dependent on the third-person nigh-unlimited p.o.v. that I don't know if the third-person very limited p.o.v. of a movie could be made to work. The humor needs to be transposed into a movie format. Who better to do that than the humorist?

Out of curiosity, who do they have playing Rincewind?

 

[RewardMe]

Isn't Terry Pratchett in the early stages of dementia? It was a news report abit ago in UK but i've not heard anything since. It's a shame really as i can't see him writing anymore books.

 

[Faulty Turmoil]

It...might. As long as Mr. Pratchett is seriously involved in the production of said movie. So much of the humor in those books is dependent on the third-person nigh-unlimited p.o.v. that I don't know if the third-person very limited p.o.v. of a movie could be made to work. The humor needs to be transposed into a movie format. Who better to do that than the humorist?

Out of curiosity, who do they have playing Rincewind?

David Jason.
I recognize him from a British police series. He also plays Death's Assistant in The Hogfather, another Discworld movie.

He's also in Only fools and horses.
OT: I'm a huge Discworld fan I have most of the books and have read all of the ones I have. If they did make a movie I would like it to be based on one of the books with Commander (Or Captain depending on which book) Vimes as the main character because he is my favorite out of all of them.

 

[WrongSprite]

Isn't there already one? The Hogfather?

 

[lacktheknack]

Did you think the adaptation to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" worked? (I did, but many didn't.) If so, then yes, you'd probably like a Discworld movie.

 

[Lord George]

They already made the Hogfather, which I thought was done very well especially in regards to Mr. Teatime who came across as disturbing and sociopathic. But yeah I'd like to see a movie done with a huge budget and a top director, though only if it kept the charm of the books.

 

[Trivun]

So, today i was watching this British series called 'The Colour of Magic' on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arZtuTNzPvE&feature=PlayList&p=4816575238ED29CD&index=1)), which is based on The Colour of Magic and the Light Fantastic, and I kinda liked it.

I know it's very hard to adapt the books into movies, due to the complexity and everything, but I really can imagine this be done well, resulting in a nice fantasy, atmosphere heavy movie, maybe a bit like 'Stardust' or something. The humour is just so fantastic. I would love me some Discworld movies.

Do you think it could work?

Series? It counts as a film in my book. As does Hogfather before it. So yes, I'd say the Discworld books can successfully be made into films. The production company behind Hogfather, and The Colour Of Magic, has already done so, alongside Sky One. I reckon, though, that the films would only be truly successful given the right cast. Everything else is perfectly fine. For example, the same company are going to be showing an adaptation of Going Postal at Easter on Sky One. They decided to replace Jeremy Irons, who played Lord Vetinari to perfection in The Colour Of Magic, with Charles Dance. Now, don't get me wrong, Dance is a very good actor. However, I don't think he's the right person to play Vetinari. Jeremy Irons played the role to perfection, though. So they should keep the same actor, right?

Oh, and for the record, I really want to see a film of Thief Of Time. With Michelle Dockery returning as Susan, and:

Lu Tze played by Christopher Ecclestone
Lady LeJean played by Evanna Lynch
Jeremy Clockson/Lobsang Ludd played by me Colin Morgan

 

[Nevyrmoore]

Did you think the adaptation to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" worked?

Little bit different in the case of Hitch Hiker's though, as Douglas Adams has been on record as saying that every single version of the series (radio, TV, books, records) contradicts each other in some way, shape or form, and they each have a different story line. Hell, he even said that So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish "effectively contradicted everything to date, up to and including itself."

 

[Doug]

After seeing the adaptations to TV of Hogfather and The Colour of Magic, is possible it could work - whoever directed it would have to know there stuff pretty damn well, though. Its something that can easily be done wrong.

 

[Trivun]

Isn't Terry Pratchett in the early stages of dementia? It was a news report abit ago in UK but i've not heard anything since. It's a shame really as i can't see him writing anymore books.

Not dementia, he revealed a while back that he'd been diagnosed years ago with Alzheimers. However, it isn't affecting him much as he's stated that although he's finding it tougher to write, he's still carrying on and he actually managed to get several books out whilst suffering Alzheimers. He's still working now on further books, including (so I believe) 'I Shall Wear Midnight' (another Tiffany Aching novel), and 'Raising Taxes' (another Moist von Lipwig novel). Thud! and Unseen Academicals were both completed while he was suffering from the condition, so it doesn't seem to be stopping him so far, which is definitely a good thing for him and for us fans

 

[Trivun]

Does anyone else agree that they did Death perf

They already made the Hogfather, which I thought was done very well especially in regards to Mr. Teatime who came across as disturbing and sociopathic. But yeah I'd like to see a movie done with a huge budget and a top director, though only if it kept the charm of the books.

Death was well done too. Pretty much 100% spot on.

Death was pretty good in Hogfather, but was even better in The Colour Of Magic. By replacing the previous guy with Christopher Lee they made a great character perfect. Lee was literally born for the role. As a big Christopher Lee fan anyway I reckon he's been great in so many things, but Death has to be my favourite role by him to date

 

[Megacherv]

Yeah...just to point out if it hasn't been said, I know that the Hogfather and The Colour of Magic have both been adapted, and they were both great (thanks to David Jason partially)

 

[DarkSaber]

Personally I think David Jason was probably the weakest part of both movies. He made Albert a bit too child-friendly, and (blame my point 'n' click history for this if you like) I can't imagine Rincewind as anyone but Eric Idle.

Oh, and in case anyone didn't already know, the next movies going to be Going Postal.

 

[lacktheknack]

Did you think the adaptation to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" worked?

Little bit different in the case of Hitch Hiker's though, as Douglas Adams has been on record as saying that every single version of the series (radio, TV, books, records) contradicts each other in some way, shape or form, and they each have a different story line. Hell, he even said that So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish "effectively contradicted everything to date, up to and including itself."

And then, damnit, he tried to FIX it in "Mostly Harmless", the weakest of the series.

 

[SnipErlite]

So long as Pratchett is involved

The books RULE so I'll probably be disappointed by the film.

Ah well.

 

[high_castle]

Hogfather was good. Honestly, I liked it better than most of the actual books. The series is very hit or miss for me. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's just too out there.