"Don't PANIC"

Call me crazy but I think Martin Freeman is an excellent choice for Arthur. Sure, there are probably a few others that would do just as well, but he works fine. Also, I've only ever seen the TV mini series, so don't jump on me if the book says differently, but it always appeared to me that Trillian had an almost American accent, or at least it was undistinguishable. Just because someone is found in England does not mean they are from there. Like I said though, the book might say differently. According to Sandra Dickinson's IMDB profile, she herself was American, so casting an American does not seem far off.

I always thought Jack Davenport had a good 'Simon Jones'-esque thing going on - if indeed the film was going to stay faithful fo Adams' original characterisation. Seems I wasn't alone if you read the 'trivia'. And they say he isn't ugly enough... what does it matter? Celebrity has achieved some great things, I know - but I'd far rather be happy than famous any day" "And are you?" "No - that's where it all falls down of course"

Sorry - where was I? Oh yeah - well if Jack Davenport was Arthur I'd have campaigned for Richard Coyle (the mad Welsh guy also from Coupling) to be Ford - ok, going down the David Dixon path but only cos I thought David Dixon was damn good as Ford - particularly the smile that was just a little bit too wide to be normal. Ok - two actors who shared a sitcom background might have made it a bit matey - but it worked on Shaun of the Dead, didn't it? Failing that, the bloke who plays Edward and Papa Lazaru in League of Gentlemen might have been a possibility for Arthur...

As for the rest of the cast for the film (pretty immaterial now, anyway) I'm satisfied with Freeman - i think he'll bring a surprising warmth to Arthur as well as the slightly dejected confusion we're used to. Sam Rockwell is quite hectic compared to the laconic Mark Wing-Davey but I think he'll pull it off. Trillian - as a character - doesn't have much to do (at least not in the first couple of books) and I think what Zooey will bring to the role is intelligence and bewilderment in equal amounts. Rickman? Inspired. Nighy? Also inspired. Mos Def? Don't know his work to be fair. Not much evidence in the trailers to prove if he has brought Ford's qualities to the film. But I don't think you could find anyone around this minute who could fill the gargantuan shoes of Peter Jones better than Steven Fry as The Book.

All in all, I'm damn near soiling myself with excitement. I just hope I don't come out of the cinema feeling like Arthur after he reads the entry for the Earth in the Guide...

Sam Rockwell is Zaphod, and that was clearly demonstrated in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.

Mos Def wasn't really all that great, except he got that awkwardness down quite well. The best Ford Prefect would've been Richard E Grant, for the following reasons:

1: He's Withnail(british cinema geeks should make the connection here easily)
2: He doesn't quite look very much like a human.