Hi, I'm new to this board. I found it through a casual surf after I found out about the new colour of magic tv mini series to be released on Easter. Seems like many people are worried about the lead actor for rincewind, but I have to announce I've found a much troublesome anecdote that seems to influence the plot. What I'm talking about is the abscence of an actor for Hrun of Chimeria in the cast, while the name of Cohen is mentioned pretty high up. Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic :: Sky One Now, I know Cohen plays a big role in the Light Fantastic but characters related to Hrun such as Liessa are mentioned in the cast as well. I'll put it bluntly, I think they're merging both of the barbarians into Cohen. I fail to see why. I fail to understand a lot of adaptation decisions but this one is taking out a lead character that features as part of the trio in Colour of magic. (and his talking sword is quite important as well) Still hope I'm mistaken but all too sure I'm not I'd love to hear your thoughts about it. O.
News to me, but I haven't been following the production news at all. I wouldn't be completely surprised if they merged the characters into one. Hrun is a straight parody of Conan of Cimereria or however its spelled. Cohen is just the same sort of parody, fast-forwarded five decades. As I think about it now, it occurs to me that it would be a fairly natural folding together of parts. You don't lose much by it. It changes some of the implications slightly, and there would need to be minor adjustments to the tone or pacing of some scenes, but it would work. The biggest source of contention I see is simply the age factor. If you put Cohen in his place in the temple of whats-his-tentacle, you'd just have a slightly more verbose encounter - Cohen's old enough to enjoy conversation (more than Hrun). The wyrmburg scenes are slightly more difficult, you don't get the sexual chemistry going as easily, but its not impossible. Anyway, if that was the biggest change they made to the story when adapting it for TV, i'd be very impressed.
I reread COM last year to remind myself of the story, having not read it for 16 years, and I'd totally forgot Hrun even existed. I guess my mind sort of mixed him in with Cohan seeing as, like Garner says, they're both sort of parodying the same thing really.
*nod* When you put them in the same movie/series, one of the two (Hrun and Cohen) just becomes redundant, really. Loyalty to the book is one thing, but being shackled to it with some of Pratchett's older works means repeating rather lame jokes one time too often. Folding the two together may result in an overall improvement of the plot.
I didn't even know they were doing COM, but looking at that link, I'm more worried about having David Jason as Rincewind. I always imagined him as younger...and, well, able to run... As in mid-thirties, forty, tops.
I think we all agreed that David Jason (however great an actor, of course) is not really a natural Rincewind. Actually, how they managed not to cast our Damian in that part will always surprise me.
Yeah i think the casting of Rinswind was poor to, particularily when there are other UK actors that would be fit the role better (Mackenzie Crook comes to mind).
David Jason as Rincewind , after playing Albert in Hogfather!!! The casting director should be forced to take a walk in the Shades, and then thrown in the river after! I have always imagined Rincewind as a rather weedy looking guy - all gangly un-coordinated limbs, in his mid thirties. Is my memory faulty? Does Rincewind and Albert not meet - ohhhh to wound up to remember which book. Feeling less confident about this production. Okay David Jason is a good actor no arguments there, but unless he goes under the knife, or there is a damn good make-up artist, things are not looking too good. They'd better have very good doctors on call for him, unless they have a stunt runner. I'd still watch it though.
Rewr, I'm pretty sure that Rincewind and Albert have not met. You may be thinking of Mort. I've always imagined them as looking quite similar. Mort and Rincewind looking similar, not Mort and Albert.
Ah Mort that is the book indeed - thank you! Albert returns to the university, and snaffles Rincewind to help him. Albert loses his staff, after doing the ankhente (or something) rite. I agree that Mort & Rincewind looking similar - tall, weedy, etc, just differences in age. Here's a thought... if they decide to produce Mort they could have David Jason playing all three. I'm think with all the technology etc they could pull it off:wink: Katcal are you referring to the local inhabitants of the Discworld? 'Cause there is no argument there!
I thought they did too...wasn't it when Rincewind found Twoflower trying to teach Death, War and...eh, the other horsemen??? how to play...monopoly? Seriously cannot remember if they met then or not. Must re-read TLF. And COM. And all the other ones.
I'm referring to the local inhabitants of Boardania who were lucky enough bastards to get to be extras on the COM movie set... Damn them both.
I think Rhys Ifans would make a better Rincewind, judging from his performance on "Notting Hill". IN any case, I am very much looking forward to seeing the end result, whoever they cast.
