The Movie that Almost Was, and Might Still Be...

Douglas Adams, so long and thanks for all the laughs.

On May 11th, 2001, the world may have lost the chance for one of the greatest books ever written to be turned into a film. That is the day that Douglas Adams, the author of the five part, Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy, died unexpectedly of a heart attack.

This series of Science Fiction best sellers has already been translated into almost every media format imaginable. Originally a BBC radio series, then turned into their most famous incarnation; the books, then filmed as a television series, then performed live on stage in London, and even made into a computer game and spawned hundreds of fan web sites. The only media it has yet to conquer is the cinema.

For anyone unfamiliar with series, The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy tells the story a man who's best friend turns out to be an alien, and together they escape from the planet Earth just before it is destroyed, then set off on a series of inter-galactic adventures which finally lead to the ultimate answer to the ultimate question of Life, the Universe and Everything. Sadly, the answer turns out to be the number 42.

Originally slated to be filmed in the mid-eighties by, fresh off the success of Ghostbusters, Harold Ramis, it failed to happen due to artistic differences between Adams and the director, the deal fell through.

The script continued to be kicked around Hollywood for the next fifteen years with the occasional rumor cropping up here and there, but never anything concrete. Finally, in the late 1990's, twenty years after Hitch-Hiker's first appearance, it seemed as if the movie would finally be made. Disney had picked up the rights and Jay Roach, the director of the Austin Powers movies had signed on to helm the film. Most importantly, since this work more than most is tied so closely to it's creator, Roach and Adams got along well and seemed to agree on the film's direction.

Pre-production began in the year 2000. Sadly, when Disney read the script and saw the budget, which had grown close to $100 million, they put the film in turn-around and, despite Jay Roach's claims that the film would still be made, little has been heard since.

What effect will Adams's death have on the production? It will either bury it completely, or, if we are lucky, Douglas's death might be the trigger that finally puts the movie in motion. It would certainly be a fitting tribute to this amazing author who brought so much joy to others.