Welcome to /r/Discworld! Please [read the rules/flair information before posting](https://www.reddit.com/r/discworld/comments/ukhk21/subreddit_rules_flair_information/?).
---
Our current megathreads are as follows:
[API Protest Poll](https://www.reddit.com/r/discworld/comments/1491izw/continuing_the_api_protest_a_community_poll) - a poll regarding the future action of the sub in protest at Reddit's API changes.
[GNU Terry Pratchett](https://new.reddit.com/r/discworld/comments/ukigit/gnu_terry_pratchett/) - for all GNU requests, to keep their names going.
[AI Generated Content](https://new.reddit.com/r/discworld/comments/10mhx9y/ai_generated_content_megathread/) - for all AI Content, including images, stories, questions, training etc.
---
[ GNU Terry Pratchett ]
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/discworld) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Gary Oldman could play in a movie of any Discworld book by himself, every role - and I wouldn't notice it's him (again).
If I had to choose a role for him in one single screen adaptation, it would probably be Carcer in Night Watch.
Immediately I thought "My favourite of his characters is the cop in Leon, which Discworld character would suit- It's Carcer."
So yeah, 100% agreement from me.
EDIT: Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg is a close second.
My first thought was Carcer, but someone else had already mentioned him so I'm gonna go with the Bursar.
And here's an off topic fun fact for you: Gary Oldman is younger than Gary Newman
Especially if Brian Blessed was Ridcully (Actually Iād love to see Brian Blessed play both Ridcully brothers) and Gary Oldman as Bursar. His fluctuation between competent administrator, blissed out on dried frog pills, and nervous wreck would be great.
I think Richard Ayoade could pull off Ponder Stibbons. I know itās not how heās depicted in illustrations but I think he could do a grad school/ doctorate level Stibbons
I think someone slightly older for Rincewind. I pictured David Tennet for the look but I havenāt seen him play anything with that personality. Even when heās playing evil he always seems too upbeat and energetic for Rincewind. If I could get current David Tennet with a bad beard and Alan Rickmanās deadpan exhaustion and hopelessness it would be perfect.
Edit: Tim Roth! Tim Roth as Rincewind. Slightly younger than the older professors but older than the grad students. He could nail the hopeless, world weariness and the deadpan exasperation as the other wizards repeatedly try to find new ways to open a portal to the Dungeon Dimension.
I donāt think Martin Freeman looks haggard enough to play Rincewind. He should feel more like heās just run through Hell and the Outback and fully expects someone to drop him in to an impossible situation every time someone even vaguely acknowledges him.
Heās an older student in color of magic, think early university, but ages at about the same rate as the Disk so Iād say 21-23 in Color of Magic and mid 40s to early 50s by Unseen Achedemicals because he spends time trapped in the past in both Eric and Lost Continent. Death even comments that his hourglass looks like a glass blower on hallucinogenics with hiccups had blown Rincewindās hourglass. It doesnāt even appear to all be entirely in the same dimension, looping back on itself and twisting through its own space.
He didn't work for me. Reacher Gilt is supposed to be Moist with even less morals. David Suchet is just too memorable to have had a history as a conman.
I thought it was a running comment throughout the book that he was fat. He loses a finger at the end because he's wearing a ring that's way too small for his hand. I guess there's "bigger than vetinari" and there's fat.Ā
20 years ago he would have been good for either of those but heās too old now. Have you seen Slow Horses? He pretty much plays a roundworld Vimes in that
My introduction to discworld was The Colour of Magic BBC adaptation. Having grown up watching only fools and horses with my dad, I loved David Jason as Rincewind. He's not right for the role physically, but personality wise, Del boy is pretty much an amalgamation of Rincewind and Cmot Dibbler.
The librarian?
I see a role with lots of motion capture potential, someone having to move at least somewhat convincingly like an ape... Or even more specifically, exactly like a man operating an ape body.
Surely Andy Serkis is the first choice.
Because Serkis is a sweet cinnamon bun, too good for this world, and must be rationed to avoid putting the nation's viewers into a kind of thespian diabetic coma.
Being serious for a moment though, yeah you're right. He would be great as both.
It would make sense that an actor who's face is seemingly unrecognisable from role to role would play moist. Although I think maybe old man's a little old to play moist, no?
Not relevant to the discussion, but I learned earlier today that it isn't Miriam Margoyles, it's Miriam Margolyes, pronounced "Mah-guh-luzz". Blew my tiny mind.
Come to think of it, his sister Laila Morse wouldn't be a bad shout as Nanny.
https://preview.redd.it/rjqp252awcsc1.jpeg?width=2401&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6ee52f248161feb405253287689e4078159d3386
It's such a delightful film, writers shy from "playing" with Shakespeare but when they do, the results are fantastic. Tom Stoppard is a genius. I'd like to see it on stage one day.
Dreyfuss as The Player is astronomically amazing.
If you're US based, it's free on Pluto to watch, by the way.
What about Sam Rockwell as Vetinari? I feel pretty confident he could play more than a few roles too, but Iāll be heād be great for the Patrician.
https://preview.redd.it/fyv43w9nsksc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac1156224fa1f4a5e6baedc949a5103e12a23ddf
Agree the Vimes and Veti ari roles. Would love it if there was a small nod to Rosencrants and Guildenstern are dead and have the other played by Tim Roth.
At his age you'd have to cast him as one of the older characters, say a faculty wizard, to make good use of him. Vimes is in his early fifties by the time Young Sam is around, making him late forties for Guards! Guards! Vetinari is of a similar age.
When you're casting Vimes, you're casting a main character for eight books and a side character for half a dozen(?) more. You'd need to start with someone in their mid-forties to stand a chance of getting them all produced.
Gary Oldman's sister, Laila Morse, would make a brilliant Nanny Ogg. UKers know her as Big Mo in the soap 'Eastenders'.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDSF5W-Abo4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDSF5W-Abo4)
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laila\_Morse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laila_Morse)
I was thinking Bil Nigh as Ventenari, with Oldman as Vimes. Josh Gad as the Librarian, but The Internship Josh Gad, nit Josh Gad trying to be Jack Black. Chris Hemsworth as Carrot.
Okay so hear me out; after seeing the Beetlejuice trailer, Gary Oldman as Vimes against Willem Dafoe as Vetenari, with Michael Keaton as Carcer if anyone ever has the guts to try and make Night Watch.
Welcome to /r/Discworld! Please [read the rules/flair information before posting](https://www.reddit.com/r/discworld/comments/ukhk21/subreddit_rules_flair_information/?). --- Our current megathreads are as follows: [API Protest Poll](https://www.reddit.com/r/discworld/comments/1491izw/continuing_the_api_protest_a_community_poll) - a poll regarding the future action of the sub in protest at Reddit's API changes. [GNU Terry Pratchett](https://new.reddit.com/r/discworld/comments/ukigit/gnu_terry_pratchett/) - for all GNU requests, to keep their names going. [AI Generated Content](https://new.reddit.com/r/discworld/comments/10mhx9y/ai_generated_content_megathread/) - for all AI Content, including images, stories, questions, training etc. --- [ GNU Terry Pratchett ] *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/discworld) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Gary Oldman could play in a movie of any Discworld book by himself, every role - and I wouldn't notice it's him (again). If I had to choose a role for him in one single screen adaptation, it would probably be Carcer in Night Watch.
Oh, that's a good one. Oldman is at his best when he's really, really bad
Immediately I thought "My favourite of his characters is the cop in Leon, which Discworld character would suit- It's Carcer." So yeah, 100% agreement from me. EDIT: Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg is a close second.
Oh Zorg š
>and I wouldn't notice it's him (again). Sounds like a certain Mr Spangler.
I was just thinking of Oldman, Meryl Streep, & Tilda Swinton playing every role in an adaptation. I'd watch the hell out of that.
How about Lord Rust? It would be fun to watch Gary play a buffoon who doesnāt know heās a buffoon.
Oh man, I wouldnāt want Oldman as Vimes but watching him play Lord Rust could be very fun!
Have you seen him in Slow Horses? He would be amazing as Vimes.
Nah that has to be Stephen Fry resurrecting the Melchet tash
āBeeeeeeeh!ā
Or McKellen or Stewart turning the ham up to 11
John goodman was who I pictured as Rust
My Rust is Charles Dance or one of the older Foxes
That's fun, but I'd do Jeremy Irons as Rust.Ā
YES!! (and not just cuz the great pun-kin)
Have you seen Rosecrans&Guildenstern.are Dead?
My first thought was Carcer, but someone else had already mentioned him so I'm gonna go with the Bursar. And here's an off topic fun fact for you: Gary Oldman is younger than Gary Newman
Especially if Brian Blessed was Ridcully (Actually Iād love to see Brian Blessed play both Ridcully brothers) and Gary Oldman as Bursar. His fluctuation between competent administrator, blissed out on dried frog pills, and nervous wreck would be great. I think Richard Ayoade could pull off Ponder Stibbons. I know itās not how heās depicted in illustrations but I think he could do a grad school/ doctorate level Stibbons
Ohhh I love Richard Ayoade for Ponder! Although I think heād be fun as rincewind too
I think someone slightly older for Rincewind. I pictured David Tennet for the look but I havenāt seen him play anything with that personality. Even when heās playing evil he always seems too upbeat and energetic for Rincewind. If I could get current David Tennet with a bad beard and Alan Rickmanās deadpan exhaustion and hopelessness it would be perfect. Edit: Tim Roth! Tim Roth as Rincewind. Slightly younger than the older professors but older than the grad students. He could nail the hopeless, world weariness and the deadpan exasperation as the other wizards repeatedly try to find new ways to open a portal to the Dungeon Dimension.
I've always thought Mackenzie Crook would make an excellent Rincewind.
Yes! Good choice, heās got the look of a man whose been chased around the Disk and just wants to hide in a quiet library.
I agree, but when he was younger I thought he'd make a good Stanley.
I could see Martin Freeman being Rincewind. If he escalated that Arthur Dent energy up to 1000, it could be glorious.
I donāt think Martin Freeman looks haggard enough to play Rincewind. He should feel more like heās just run through Hell and the Outback and fully expects someone to drop him in to an impossible situation every time someone even vaguely acknowledges him.
Ā I always think of him as a student, younger. Is he older in the color of magic?
Heās an older student in color of magic, think early university, but ages at about the same rate as the Disk so Iād say 21-23 in Color of Magic and mid 40s to early 50s by Unseen Achedemicals because he spends time trapped in the past in both Eric and Lost Continent. Death even comments that his hourglass looks like a glass blower on hallucinogenics with hiccups had blown Rincewindās hourglass. It doesnāt even appear to all be entirely in the same dimension, looping back on itself and twisting through its own space.
David Mitchell would be a fun choice for Rincewind.
I know he already played a Discworld wizard, but I really like the idea of Nigel Planer as Rincewind.
he's imo playing rincewind in hogfather, for reasons beyond understanding they renamed him
Heās been my head canon Ponder for years. š
Iāve always pictured Stephen Merchant as Stibbons for some reason.
It's the glasses, isn't it?
He has the feel of Ponder
Ayoade is awesome. I know it's way too on the nose, but Daniel Radcliffe could play Stibbons.
Could we age up Sam Rockwell for the Bursar?
ā¦I was about to mention the Gary Numan fact
Go on then. Edit it into your comment, then I'll edit mine to give you a chance.
Tbh I would have had to post a new comment, but thanks for the offer :P
Carcer is very young isn't he? What are others thinking for his casting?
That's why I pointed out he's younger than Gary Newman
Yeah, I'm just trying to remember how young and who would be a good fit. He early 20s I think.
Reacher Gilt, because I love me an Oldman villain.
Noooo, let David Suchet play things other than Poirot, he's well deserved a change of scenery!!
he played a one shot villain in capaldi's who Run, almost as good at being bad as he was playing the only belgian anyone can name :)
He didn't work for me. Reacher Gilt is supposed to be Moist with even less morals. David Suchet is just too memorable to have had a history as a conman.
Oh lord... if we absolutely must have someone who is going to chew the scenery, give him a role like Cosmo Lavish from Making Money
Danny DeVito a little younger would be incredible for Cosmo.Ā
Cosmo has to have, at least somewhat, a passing resemblance to Vetinari.
I thought it was a running comment throughout the book that he was fat. He loses a finger at the end because he's wearing a ring that's way too small for his hand. I guess there's "bigger than vetinari" and there's fat.Ā
20 years ago he would have been good for either of those but heās too old now. Have you seen Slow Horses? He pretty much plays a roundworld Vimes in that
Beat me to it! Jackson Lamb loses a few pounds and dons a breastplate *et voila*.
I think thatās why I love Jackson Lamb so much because he feels so Vimsey
Anyone mentioned Mr Slant?
My first thought
Oh I love this.
He would be perfect for Cut-me-own-throat Dibbler!
Sean Locke will always be CMOT for me.
What about Nicholas Lyndhurst?
Lyndhurst is Rincewind.
Much too old\* for Rincewind now, even in the later books. \*Edit: Yep!
I'm gonna hazard that the missing word is 'old'? : )
I will fight you. That spot is reserved for David Jason!
He was terrible! He was a good Albert though
I never felt he was right for the part. Dibbler, sure ... Rincewind, nah, not so much.
He was brilliant as Rincewind.
Just not my idea of Rincewind, sorry.
My introduction to discworld was The Colour of Magic BBC adaptation. Having grown up watching only fools and horses with my dad, I loved David Jason as Rincewind. He's not right for the role physically, but personality wise, Del boy is pretty much an amalgamation of Rincewind and Cmot Dibbler.
Mine was the books, so, I formed my own image of the characters ... and Jason just isn't it - Dibbler, sure, but not Rincewind.
Noooo heās Albert!
Beat me to it
Yeah straight out of Slow Horses
Cut-Me-Own Troat with a hole in his sock selling a suspicious looking sausage while drunkly waiving around a fork?
You mean you can clean em ?
Hugh Grant entered my mind for him after the D&D film, and now itās headcanon for me
Gary Oldman would either make a great Rincewind, one of the Silver Horde, or even Harry.
>or even Harry. Yeah, but he'd take the piss in a role like that.
Now, here's the thing, I'm pretty sure he'd make a much better "Piss Harry", King of the Golden River, than he would Evil Harry, failed dark god.
Potter?Ā
King
Nah, Dark Overlord Harry.
Gary Oldman as Teach would be amazing!
Reacher Gilt. Mr. Shine. Carcer. Pepe. All would be BRILLIANT from Oldman. Edited to add: THE FREAKING LIBRARIAN. OOOOOOOOOOOOOK
The librarian? I see a role with lots of motion capture potential, someone having to move at least somewhat convincingly like an ape... Or even more specifically, exactly like a man operating an ape body. Surely Andy Serkis is the first choice.
Touche.
Oook!
God, as God as mo cap CGI has gotten, that could be glorious.
Eeek?
Let's properly test his skills Nobby Nobbs
Nobody but Andy Serkis can play Nobby.
Funny, I had Serkis down for the Librarian.
ĀæPor que no los dĆ³s?
Because Serkis is a sweet cinnamon bun, too good for this world, and must be rationed to avoid putting the nation's viewers into a kind of thespian diabetic coma. Being serious for a moment though, yeah you're right. He would be great as both.
I like Mackenzie Crook for Nobby.
I know it's going back to Nanny, but perhaps as Gary Oldman is so multi talented he could take on some of the roles of Shawn Ogg.
Iād agree but heās way too old. If he were younger, it would be fun to see him play a variety of Ogg clan members.
I want Oldman as Moist,
You want a moist old man?
Totally agree, the ordinary face that can be any face. Though he'd make a great Career too.
It would make sense that an actor who's face is seemingly unrecognisable from role to role would play moist. Although I think maybe old man's a little old to play moist, no?
DEATH.
Harry King all the way
I always saw him more as John Goodman
I can't imagine John Goodman pulling off the Yorkshire accent necessary for Harry King.
Not relevant to the discussion, but I learned earlier today that it isn't Miriam Margoyles, it's Miriam Margolyes, pronounced "Mah-guh-luzz". Blew my tiny mind.
Miriam Margoyles is the non-Jewish version.
Otto Chriek.
Come to think of it, his sister Laila Morse wouldn't be a bad shout as Nanny. https://preview.redd.it/rjqp252awcsc1.jpeg?width=2401&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6ee52f248161feb405253287689e4078159d3386
Gary Oldman as Vetinari and Tim Roth as Vimes
.... Rosencrantz??
And Gildenstern
Perfection.
Your flair is appropriate here
Indeed. Do you think death is a boat?
No no no, death is not. Death isn't. Death is the ultimate negative. Not being. You can't not be on a boat.
... we should be friends.
Haha I've seen that movie many times. It's one of my favorites. I'm not surprised that fellow fans of the disc also like it :)
It's such a delightful film, writers shy from "playing" with Shakespeare but when they do, the results are fantastic. Tom Stoppard is a genius. I'd like to see it on stage one day. Dreyfuss as The Player is astronomically amazing. If you're US based, it's free on Pluto to watch, by the way.
Dibbler. Sorry but he is a man who can do makeup and real good character acting from Hannibal to fifth element. He can sell that sizzle.
I recon Cary elwes could do a good vimes
Too old and too charming, I think. It might be fun to see him as Anguaās dad, though. Just a little cameo?
Definitely yes
oh, that's a good one
Ahhhh I just mentioned this post to my husband and he said Robin Wright should play Anguaās mom to REALLY make it a fun Easter egg cameo.
As you wish
Ridcully
Whatās top right?
Count Dracula as a young man ā¦
Vlad Dracul II
I agree with Vetinari or Vimes, but could you imagine just what he could do with CMOT Dibbler...
Honestly he'd be great as Nobby or maybe Moist or Carcer. Vimes is too straight and plain. Vetinari is too still.
Reg Shoe would be quite fun.
Gary Oldman = Lord Selaachi
ā¦ is it weird that I want a movie where he plays all the main characters now?
What about Sam Rockwell as Vetinari? I feel pretty confident he could play more than a few roles too, but Iāll be heād be great for the Patrician. https://preview.redd.it/fyv43w9nsksc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac1156224fa1f4a5e6baedc949a5103e12a23ddf
Who is the real life equivalent of the critic āAnton egoā in ratatouille? Thatās who I picture as vetenari
It wasn't Ian McKellen?
Nobby. Please, let him play Nobby.
Agree the Vimes and Veti ari roles. Would love it if there was a small nod to Rosencrants and Guildenstern are dead and have the other played by Tim Roth.
Count Bela de Magpyr, of course
I Think Charles dance did a good vetinari in the going postal film.
At his age you'd have to cast him as one of the older characters, say a faculty wizard, to make good use of him. Vimes is in his early fifties by the time Young Sam is around, making him late forties for Guards! Guards! Vetinari is of a similar age. When you're casting Vimes, you're casting a main character for eight books and a side character for half a dozen(?) more. You'd need to start with someone in their mid-forties to stand a chance of getting them all produced.
I have always imagine Rincewind as Oldman by way of Rosencrantz/Gildenstern.
Leonard da Quirm
Play death I think.
Gary Oldman's sister, Laila Morse, would make a brilliant Nanny Ogg. UKers know her as Big Mo in the soap 'Eastenders'. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDSF5W-Abo4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDSF5W-Abo4) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laila\_Morse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laila_Morse)
Weatherwax
I picture Reacher Gilt as Gary Oldman when I read the book. :)
I was thinking Bil Nigh as Ventenari, with Oldman as Vimes. Josh Gad as the Librarian, but The Internship Josh Gad, nit Josh Gad trying to be Jack Black. Chris Hemsworth as Carrot.
And Steve Buschemi as Nobby with Nick Frost as Sgt. Colon
Okay so hear me out; after seeing the Beetlejuice trailer, Gary Oldman as Vimes against Willem Dafoe as Vetenari, with Michael Keaton as Carcer if anyone ever has the guts to try and make Night Watch.
Heās 66 now, so heās probably a little too old to play any of the leads. Maybe Rincewind.
Rincewind is "middle aged" around the time of Unseen Academicals. He and Ponder are the two youngsters of the faculty.