NOOOOOOO!

This spells doom for the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy movie. Ford Prefect, according to The Hollywood Reporter, will be played by....gah! rapper Mos Def.

I mean, if they really wanted to make the H2G2 cast diverse, they could have used either Danny John Jules or Chris Barrie, both of Red Dwarf fame. Both are black, and both are BRITISH. And most importantly, both are genuinely funny.

You see...the character might be from Somewhere Out In Space, but he's very, very British. He's had to live for several years stranded on Earth, where he's been trying to make a living as an actor on the British stage while waiting for the next passing starship to go by. He's gone somewhat native. In short: HE SHOULD HAVE A FREAKIN' BRITISH ACCENT. He should not sound like a New York rapper trying to affect a British accent. He should sound like he's from Britain.

My dream casting for Ford Prefect has always been Eric Idle. He would absolutely nail Ford Prefect's personality. I also have always envisioned Bill Murray as Zaphod Beeblebrox. Since both are getting on in years, their participation wouldn't work unless they did H2G2 right...as an ANIMATED movie. Then again, traditional animation seems to be an endangered species anywhere but in Japan.

Some of the other casting decisions weren't bad. Martin Freeman of The Office is a damn good choice for Arthur Dent. Zooey Deschanel would work as Trillian. But this miscasting of Ford Prefect is going to make this movie badly, badly suck.

And speaking of Jules and Barrie and Red Dwarf, it looks like this won't suck. Original cast, original creators writing. And none of Hollywood's smeggin' meddling tentacles involved.