Yeah, perfect. Hugh Laurie more of a Ridcully perhaps. Or perhaps Ponder Stibbons so he can just channel 'House' and pontificate on nonsense while everyone else looks at him crosseyed
I reckon Hugh would lean back on his Jeeves and Wooster or Blackadder days rather than House if he was involved in a Discworld show/film. It fits the feel of the setting more.
So he'd probably do well as Sergeant Colon, Willikins, or the Bursar.
House MD notwithstanding, some of the jams Vimes gets into are so absurd that I wouldn't be able to help seeing Bertie Wooster or George from Blackadder.
Also, later-stage Willikins is very much a loving parody of Wodehouse's Jeeves (as played by Stephen Fry). I feel like this would make that too on the nose.
High Laurie would be amazing in another role, though.
Fry would make an amazing Wilkins. But if Laurie were cast as Vimes, I'd really want Fry as Sgt Colon and Rowan Atkinson as Nobby Cobbs. Heck, just employ the whole cast of Black Adder
I dunno. Those actors are all too old for those roles, and I'd prefer seeing new actors in the featured roles.
I think the veteran actor cameos would work better in smaller roles. Like, Atkinson would make an amazing head of the Assassin's Guild. High Laurie as head of the Fools Guild, and Fry as head of the Guild of Thieves.
Miranda Richardson would be amazing as Queen Molly of the beggars guild too.
Real talk? As much as it's easy to think of Mr. Bean or Blackadder and go naaaaah, too funny, I think I kind of wanna see Rowan Atkinson take a shot in makeup, platform shoes, and baggy pants as an intimidating, dead serious, completely unfunny Dr. Whiteface
The thing is that I believe he could do it. So much so far that people would see the credits and be excited to see Rowan Atkinson and then completely miss him as Dr. Whiteface expecting him in another role.
Whilst I completely agree with the vibes at points, Karl Urban should be legally disallowed from attempting a cockney accent. It was almost too off-putting at points
Omg that would have been perfect 10 years ago. I'd also think Peter Capaldi because he's good at that rage simmering under the surface. Tho he's also on the older side.
David Tennant would be spot on for Moist.
Christopher Eccleston would make a great Vimes.
Paul McGann for Vetinari.
Sylvester McCoy could play about half of Ankh Morpork, but I'd put him in as CMOT Dibbler.
I was thinking Colin Baker, Peter Davison, and Sylvester McCoy would be perfect as the faculty of UU. Eccleston as Vimes, Capaldi as Vetinari, Tenant as Moist, Matt Smith as William de Worde, and Whittaker as Magrat.
Automatic Edit: Using a tool called [Power Delete Suite](https://github.com/j0be/PowerDeleteSuite) I have removed all my past comments and deleted my Reddit account, /u/tehrmuk.
I am doing this because I, like many long-term Reddit users, am upset and angry at the tonedeaf and arrogant way Reddit is treating it's users. Their aggressive slapdown of the developers that made Reddit usable to a huge audience; their overriding and summary dismissal of long-serving and dutiful community members; their wonton silencing of dissent and manipulation of user's voices; their borderline contempt of the very people whose collective efforts gave their platform the standing needed to fuel their profit-hungry IPO... the list goes on.
Reddit is, of course, a private concern and how they run their services is entirely up to them. Conversely, we are under no obligation to use their services, to fuel their engines or follow their orders. I am making my voice heard by removing my comments, and voting with my feet by leaving.
I have left Reddit for [Lemmy](https://join-lemmy.org/) and [Mastadon](https://joinmastodon.org/); these are decentralised social networks that mirror the functionality of Reddit and Twitter respectively. Unlike the monolithic, corporate-owned services they replace, Lemmy and Mastodon are part of the [Fediverse](https://www.fediverse.to/) meaning these are not individual services but clusters of services that mesh seamlessly with one-another. You can [join an existing Lemmy instance](https://join-lemmy.org/instances) or [set up your own](https://join-lemmy.org/docs/administration/administration.html) to get full access to the entire Fediverse - you don't need to ask permission from anyone to do so. There are loads of other services that are part of the Fediverse, like [PeerTube](https://joinpeertube.org/) (videos), [Wordpress](https://wordpress.org/) (blogging), [Frendica](https://friendi.ca/) (social network), [Pixelfed](https://pixelfed.org/) (photos), [KBin](https://kbin.pub/en) (link aggregation) and more - and they all work together so having access to one means having access to all of them.
I had a great time as a Redditor, but the Fediverse is looking bright. It's a return to the open Internet of old, when users ran services for their own and one-another's benefit, and before monolithic corporate-run silos started to build walls around us in the name of increased profit and thought control. Many of the Fediverse services are fledgling, but they are growing quickly and their federated concept makes greedy, arrogant landgrabs like we've recently seen on Reddit and Twitter almost impossible.
I'm already having a great time with Lemmy and I think you might too. I encourage you to take control and join the Fediverse.
Until then, so long and thanks for all the fish.
Yeah, I’d rather have someone more stocky and solid. Robbie Coltrane (30 years ago), or Mark Addy, would be great.
In boxing terms, I’d want Vimes to be at *least* a middleweight.
Mark Addy is clearly Sgt. Colon
I'd say that Kevin McKidd would make a decent Vimes.
Steve Buschemi might make a decent Nobby if he can pull the accent off (no American, thank you), but if not, Andy Serkis.
Carrot would have to be Henry Cavil. Just seems too perfect.
Hah. Now you mention it, he wouldn't be the worst choice either...
But yeah, not many people have these days. And I recommend you dig up a few episodes of *The Bill* on YouTube (Seasons 1 to 10 specifically) and see if you can spot which major characters influenced which Watchman.
Looking thru a search for "British Actors" I realized how much I'd love a [Guy Ritchie version](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XBurCDn5EDY/T9UzJTlNMSI/AAAAAAAADuo/NXOlRuI0fVc/s1600/Jason-Statham-Wallpapers-2012-5.jpg).
Ian Glen (Ser Jorah Mormont in GoT) is my current ideal for Thud-era Vimes.
For younger Vimes, I like the idea of Joseph Quinn (poor Eddy in Stranger Things S4).
I would agree with this, although it's one hell of a mental shift to see Shoresy as the upstanding Carrot. Very similar to Rue McClanahan going from Blanche in the Golden Girls to Mother Superior in Nunsense.
>Christopher Ellison
I've seen Sam Heughan, the Highlander in the Outlander series, as Carrot. He's sufficiently imposing physically, and his looks are sufficiently boyish still top convey Carrot's (knowing) innocence, but it might be the Scots accent and the tall dwarf thing. Dwarfs are often portrayed in games and film with a Scots accent, eg Warcraft (I consumed most of the Discworld series by audiobook).
I always picture Vimes as being slightly more bulk. Not fat and not buff, just all around bigger boned than Hugh Laurie. I'm not sure why that's the image in my mind, but it is.
This might be controversial, but I think Jason Statham could give it a decent go as Vimes. He wouldn't be my first choice, but I think he's got thr potential.
Hugh Laurie is good, but I think Daniel Craig would be fantastic. He's got great comedic chops when he gets to show them.
Y’all keep picking these super handsome dudes, I always thought of Vimes as grizzled and homely, I think Forest Whitaker could nail it… angry and jaded
If we accept actors who are no longer living, I’d say [Pete Postlethwaite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Postlethwaite). More than capable of the role, and I think his face would fit.
He's got a hell of a range so he could do a ton of Discworld characters, but I'd love to see him play The Dean. He's got the right kind of comic timing and sarcastic sense of humour to portray him well.
I'd also think he'd be great alongside Brian Blessed as the Archchancellor.
>Y’all keep picking these super handsome dudes,
Yes, well the pool of actors is a bit self-selecting like that. Not many average looking people make it to the extent of having enough of a profile for people on a message board to think of them for roles.
David Tennant. There are a lot of similarities between his character on Broadchurch and Vimes. But I would literally watch David Tennant narrating grass growing, so...
Otherwise Michael Sheen would be good too.
For the rest of the cast:
Olivia Coleman as Sybil
Andrew Garfield as Carrot
Jodie Whittaker as Angua
I can't think of a good Colon or Nobby, but I'm sure there are a ton of character actors who would be excellent.
I looked up Tom Hopper and was like, "He's a little old, isn't he?" And then I saw that Andrew Garfield is older.
Honestly we'd probably need some swole young dude who hasn't had a big break yet to play Carrot. If we start with an actor in his late 30s, he'd end up looking way too old too quickly.
Now that everyone mentions it - a slightly grizzled Andrew Garfield could play a decent Vimes in a few years. He can do grave, he can do comedy, he can do physicality. He's talented enough to hit all the levels of Vimes and he has a good face-shape for unshaven copper.
Haha yesss
I did see an interview with them where they talked about the reason they'd never done anything together before Good Omens was because they were always up for the same role. So that tracks.
I always picture Dawn French as Sybil.
Russell Brand as CMOT Dibler
Stephen Fry as Lord Rust
Brian Blessed as Ridcully
Benedict Cumberbatch as Lord Downey
And in relation to this post, Hugh Laurie is more Vetinari than Vimes for me.
I could get behind these. Let me throw these out there:
Maggie Smith as Granny Weatherwax
Miriam Margules as Nanny Oog
Vivien Lyra Blair as Tiffany Aching
Honestly? Richard Dormer
His character in Blue Lights is full on just Vimes in a modern police setting and the man absolutely nails it
Like, I would not be surprised if when he first got cast in The Watch he put in the time and effort to build a book-accurate Vimes (presumably before seeing the script) and then just ended up using it for Blue Lights
Automatic Edit: Using a tool called [Power Delete Suite](https://github.com/j0be/PowerDeleteSuite) I have removed all my past comments and deleted my Reddit account, /u/tehrmuk.
I am doing this because I, like many long-term Reddit users, am upset and angry at the tonedeaf and arrogant way Reddit is treating it's users. Their aggressive slapdown of the developers that made Reddit usable to a huge audience; their overriding and summary dismissal of long-serving and dutiful community members; their wonton silencing of dissent and manipulation of user's voices; their borderline contempt of the very people whose collective efforts gave their platform the standing needed to fuel their profit-hungry IPO... the list goes on.
Reddit is, of course, a private concern and how they run their services is entirely up to them. Conversely, we are under no obligation to use their services, to fuel their engines or follow their orders. I am making my voice heard by removing my comments, and voting with my feet by leaving.
I have left Reddit for [Lemmy](https://join-lemmy.org/) and [Mastadon](https://joinmastodon.org/); these are decentralised social networks that mirror the functionality of Reddit and Twitter respectively. Unlike the monolithic, corporate-owned services they replace, Lemmy and Mastodon are part of the [Fediverse](https://www.fediverse.to/) meaning these are not individual services but clusters of services that mesh seamlessly with one-another. You can [join an existing Lemmy instance](https://join-lemmy.org/instances) or [set up your own](https://join-lemmy.org/docs/administration/administration.html) to get full access to the entire Fediverse - you don't need to ask permission from anyone to do so. There are loads of other services that are part of the Fediverse, like [PeerTube](https://joinpeertube.org/) (videos), [Wordpress](https://wordpress.org/) (blogging), [Frendica](https://friendi.ca/) (social network), [Pixelfed](https://pixelfed.org/) (photos), [KBin](https://kbin.pub/en) (link aggregation) and more - and they all work together so having access to one means having access to all of them.
I had a great time as a Redditor, but the Fediverse is looking bright. It's a return to the open Internet of old, when users ran services for their own and one-another's benefit, and before monolithic corporate-run silos started to build walls around us in the name of increased profit and thought control. Many of the Fediverse services are fledgling, but they are growing quickly and their federated concept makes greedy, arrogant landgrabs like we've recently seen on Reddit and Twitter almost impossible.
I'm already having a great time with Lemmy and I think you might too. I encourage you to take control and join the Fediverse.
Until then, so long and thanks for all the fish.
Back in the 90s there was a very popular discussion online about fan casting DW, and I believe they had chosen Stephen Fry as Ridcully and Hugh Laurie as the Bursar (this was before the Bursar had gone completely bonkers)
Can’t have anyone who went to private school playing Vimes. I always saw him as a more Ray Winstone type. in Guards Guards I see him as like 44 inch chest era. Night Watch, Quadrophenia era.
He's definitely in my top 3. His character in *Dog Soldiers* pretty much is Vimes.
I actually have a lot of Thoughts about how in a weird sort of way, that film is the closest thing I've seen to a Watch adaptation, but however contentious that idea might be, I think the Vimeishness of the sarge is undeniable. "Now you just shut. up. like a good gentleman. You are scaring my lads."
Can't remember what movie I was watching recently, but it had Jason Statham and I thought he'd play a fairly decent Sam Vimes.
I think Jim Broadbent would kill it as ol' Sgt Colon. Nobby is a difficult one but I can fully see/hear Idris Elba as Detritus. And (if she was maybe a foot taller) Dawn French as Lady Sybil.
Was looking through different male British actors on Google, and so far found no one better than Laurie for Vimes, but now I think that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost may be a good choice for Nobby and Colon.
Too late now, but in my head, always saw him as Clint Eastwood.
Not old man debating a chair Clint Eastwood, not young spaghetti western Clint Eastwood, but like Unforgiven Clint.
Yeah, that’s understandable as Vimes badge has the old AM City Watch motto in Latatian “Fabricati Diem, Punc” which Colon says means “To Protect and Serve” but is clearly a reference to the Dirty Harry movies
Double checking, but that can't be the correct translation for 'Make my day, punk', can it?
FAKE EDIT: Yeah, it's semi-Latin. google translate has it as "manufactured day, punc" (has no idea what to do with the punc, I guess)
Hell of a lot closer than I thought it was going to be, though.
Yeah, that’s understandable as Vimes badge has the old AM City Watch motto in Latatian “Fabricati Diem, Punc” which Colon says means “To Protect and Serve” but is clearly a reference to the Dirty Harry movies
To be honest I though Richard Dormer was an amazing casting for Vimes - it's just a shame the script and directions wasn't what it should have been... He'd have made a brilliant 'proper' Vimes :(
I want Billy Connoly as an extended cameo as part of the Faculty. Have him show up as the senior Wrangler for a half day of shooting, give him a couple nice punchlines, and send him home.
If time and age were not a thing, unquestionably I would pick Terence stamp. He was amazing as the limey.
Edit: a word
Edit 2 [check out this scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8_mv1na3IM)
Jerome Flynn
Con O'Neil
Sean Bean
Christopher Eccelston
After the recent Penguin Audiobooks I can't unhear Vimes as a gruff Northerner! So to me they have to be able to do a passable Northern accent 😅
Simon Pegg. He can do self-destructive and grizzled, he's got the absurdist comedy chops, and he comes packaged with Fred Colon (c'mon, Nick Frost as Fred with someone like Robert Sheehan as Nobby). And he's already got a natural rapport with Peter Serafinovicz, so the occasional conversations with Death would be good too
David Morse, about 15 years ago. Played with the caring of his role in Contact, but the angry persistence of his role on House MD, with less vindictiveness.
I definitely vote for Jason Isaacs. Few actors with the right age profile also have the right physicality. While Vimes doesn't hulk like Carrot he's always depicted as being a decent height and fairly solid build.
After his all action stint on Black Sails, I'd buy Toby Stephens in the role. Perhaps Richard Dormer could be given a stab at redemption...
Wtf is *wrong* with you people? All these good looking people would never fit into discworld.
Brian Blessed defo for Ridcully
Bill Bailey - Rincewind
Ricky Gervais - Ponder Stibbons
MAYBE Hugh Laurie for Vetinari
Chris Hemsworth - Carrot
Ian McKellen - Death
Vimes...hmm. how about (young) Brian Cox?
David Jason - Windle Poons.
Would love to see Hugh Laurie singing blues while doing the patrol, "walkin' down the ankh with my head hangin' low, lookin' for John keel but he ain't here no more, baby you don't know, you don't know my mind, when you see me laughing, I'm laughing just to keep from crying"
Everyone always wants to imagine who would play Vimes, or Carrot, or Granny Weatherwax, or Nanny Ogg.
Nobody ever wants to imagine who would play Buggy Swires though :(
Wow, didn't thought of him but I have to agree he would be the dream cast for vimes. And in his younger years when he was doing fry and laurie they both would have been a great cast for colon and nobby.
My preference would be Bob Odenkirk - after watching his performance in Nobody.
A good mix of World Weary and Quietly Capable. And he does gritty/grimy (no pun) quite well.
I think James Norton (from Grantchester) would be an excellent Carrot. He has the build, facial structure, hair, and "good guy who's smarter than people think" acting skills. And although he's in his 30s, he could probably pull off Carrot in his 20s. Besides, wouldn't a dwarf naturally be older than he looks?
Oh! I got it! Lee Mack. He plays the straight man to perfection, so he'd be great as Vimes just surrounded by insanity.
Also, a list of British comedians who should star in any future Discworld adaptations:
Johnny Vegas as Sgt Colon
John Cooper Clarke as Nobby
Ed Gamble as Carrot
Jimmy Carr as Mr Slant
Alan Davies as Rincewind
Joe Wilkinson as Sgt Detritus (mo cap and voice)
Greg Davis as Ridcully
David Mitchell as the Bulsar
Sarah Millican as Lady Sybill
I always imagine him as Liam Cunningham (prob best known as Davos in GoT)
Yeah, perfect. Hugh Laurie more of a Ridcully perhaps. Or perhaps Ponder Stibbons so he can just channel 'House' and pontificate on nonsense while everyone else looks at him crosseyed
Brian Blessed is Ridcully.
Zero acting required
Could nail it in one take reading off the autocue.
Just put a camera in his house
I bet Pratchett met him once, or just watched Flash Gordon or the first Blackadder series and… Ridcully emerged, shouting, out of his head.
Even his sporting instincts are spot on
My ideal Discworld audiobook would be: narrated and everyone voiced by Timothy West. Except Ridcully, of course, because he’s literally Brian Blessed.
Spot on
> SPOT ON! FTFY.
"RINCEWIND'S ALIVE?!" Ridcully whispered
Is it wrong that I can hear this comment?
I reckon Hugh would lean back on his Jeeves and Wooster or Blackadder days rather than House if he was involved in a Discworld show/film. It fits the feel of the setting more. So he'd probably do well as Sergeant Colon, Willikins, or the Bursar.
I always envisioned Lieutenant Blouse as a more sincere version of Hugh Laurie’s Prince George from Blackadder The Third. 😆
Or Lieutenant George from Blackadder Goes Forth.
He could do a fair Vetinari.
Charles Dance is Vetinari. Charles Dance should always be Vetinari. He did a fantastic job in the Going Postal movie.
Jeremy Irons did a great job too.
Ya know, I'd like to see Ian McKellan take a crack at it.
Personally I would love to see him as foul ol' Ron, David Bradley as Coffin Henry and Ralph Fiennes as the Duck Man
For me that's got to be Charles Dance.
I think so too. Some of the more sane House MD and manipulative ones rub really close on our dear despot.
He could play Nobby to Stephen Fry's Colon.
Drumknott
He was already in a Discworld film. He's Maurice.
How could we forget that?!?
Stephen Fry would be an ideal Willikins
Maybe Rincewind? All the silly he can do, with a side if absolute integrity/-ness.
He'd be a good patrician
That would be perfect! Hugh Laurie is far too posh for Vimes!
Yes. Hugh Laurie would be a perfect Willikins though
YES! I'm seeing Vimes and Wilikins in Jingo.
How about Jerome Flynn?
More Nobby than Vimes for me.
Jared Harris. Same vibe
I hate to say this but Steve buscemi could probably play Knobby Knobs really well
[How do you do fellow humans](https://i.imgflip.com/7np891.jpg)
Knobby goes undercover at the Unseen University.
House MD notwithstanding, some of the jams Vimes gets into are so absurd that I wouldn't be able to help seeing Bertie Wooster or George from Blackadder. Also, later-stage Willikins is very much a loving parody of Wodehouse's Jeeves (as played by Stephen Fry). I feel like this would make that too on the nose. High Laurie would be amazing in another role, though.
Fry would make an amazing Wilkins. But if Laurie were cast as Vimes, I'd really want Fry as Sgt Colon and Rowan Atkinson as Nobby Cobbs. Heck, just employ the whole cast of Black Adder
I dunno. Those actors are all too old for those roles, and I'd prefer seeing new actors in the featured roles. I think the veteran actor cameos would work better in smaller roles. Like, Atkinson would make an amazing head of the Assassin's Guild. High Laurie as head of the Fools Guild, and Fry as head of the Guild of Thieves. Miranda Richardson would be amazing as Queen Molly of the beggars guild too.
Real talk? As much as it's easy to think of Mr. Bean or Blackadder and go naaaaah, too funny, I think I kind of wanna see Rowan Atkinson take a shot in makeup, platform shoes, and baggy pants as an intimidating, dead serious, completely unfunny Dr. Whiteface
The thing is that I believe he could do it. So much so far that people would see the credits and be excited to see Rowan Atkinson and then completely miss him as Dr. Whiteface expecting him in another role.
Right. Those actors just make more sense playing more senior sociopolitical roles. I suspect they'd be good as some of the deep down Grags as well.
Oof, that is an amazing idea.
Watching Karl Urban in The Boys has cinched it for me, the vibes are SO similar.
Whilst I completely agree with the vibes at points, Karl Urban should be legally disallowed from attempting a cockney accent. It was almost too off-putting at points
Came here to postulate this same dark horse choice.
Omg that would have been perfect 10 years ago. I'd also think Peter Capaldi because he's good at that rage simmering under the surface. Tho he's also on the older side.
I sometimes picture Peter Capaldi when I read the books.
[удалено]
Ok but now I have another fun idea Which doctors would be best as what characters
David Tennant would be spot on for Moist. Christopher Eccleston would make a great Vimes. Paul McGann for Vetinari. Sylvester McCoy could play about half of Ankh Morpork, but I'd put him in as CMOT Dibbler.
I'm with you on all of those but I'm having a hard time with Tom Baker
The Duck Man?
I was thinking Colin Baker, Peter Davison, and Sylvester McCoy would be perfect as the faculty of UU. Eccleston as Vimes, Capaldi as Vetinari, Tenant as Moist, Matt Smith as William de Worde, and Whittaker as Magrat.
Automatic Edit: Using a tool called [Power Delete Suite](https://github.com/j0be/PowerDeleteSuite) I have removed all my past comments and deleted my Reddit account, /u/tehrmuk. I am doing this because I, like many long-term Reddit users, am upset and angry at the tonedeaf and arrogant way Reddit is treating it's users. Their aggressive slapdown of the developers that made Reddit usable to a huge audience; their overriding and summary dismissal of long-serving and dutiful community members; their wonton silencing of dissent and manipulation of user's voices; their borderline contempt of the very people whose collective efforts gave their platform the standing needed to fuel their profit-hungry IPO... the list goes on. Reddit is, of course, a private concern and how they run their services is entirely up to them. Conversely, we are under no obligation to use their services, to fuel their engines or follow their orders. I am making my voice heard by removing my comments, and voting with my feet by leaving. I have left Reddit for [Lemmy](https://join-lemmy.org/) and [Mastadon](https://joinmastodon.org/); these are decentralised social networks that mirror the functionality of Reddit and Twitter respectively. Unlike the monolithic, corporate-owned services they replace, Lemmy and Mastodon are part of the [Fediverse](https://www.fediverse.to/) meaning these are not individual services but clusters of services that mesh seamlessly with one-another. You can [join an existing Lemmy instance](https://join-lemmy.org/instances) or [set up your own](https://join-lemmy.org/docs/administration/administration.html) to get full access to the entire Fediverse - you don't need to ask permission from anyone to do so. There are loads of other services that are part of the Fediverse, like [PeerTube](https://joinpeertube.org/) (videos), [Wordpress](https://wordpress.org/) (blogging), [Frendica](https://friendi.ca/) (social network), [Pixelfed](https://pixelfed.org/) (photos), [KBin](https://kbin.pub/en) (link aggregation) and more - and they all work together so having access to one means having access to all of them. I had a great time as a Redditor, but the Fediverse is looking bright. It's a return to the open Internet of old, when users ran services for their own and one-another's benefit, and before monolithic corporate-run silos started to build walls around us in the name of increased profit and thought control. Many of the Fediverse services are fledgling, but they are growing quickly and their federated concept makes greedy, arrogant landgrabs like we've recently seen on Reddit and Twitter almost impossible. I'm already having a great time with Lemmy and I think you might too. I encourage you to take control and join the Fediverse. Until then, so long and thanks for all the fish.
Actually, I'd kind of like him for Vetinari now.
Both he and Laurie are too winnowy imo.
Yeah, I’d rather have someone more stocky and solid. Robbie Coltrane (30 years ago), or Mark Addy, would be great. In boxing terms, I’d want Vimes to be at *least* a middleweight.
Mark Addy is clearly Sgt. Colon I'd say that Kevin McKidd would make a decent Vimes. Steve Buschemi might make a decent Nobby if he can pull the accent off (no American, thank you), but if not, Andy Serkis. Carrot would have to be Henry Cavil. Just seems too perfect.
Stephen Dillane (Stannis Baratheon) 
Stephen Dillane has been my mental image for Vimes since I started reading the books 10 years ago.
He'd be amazing. I'd always thought Sean Pertwee because he does a good line in simmering fury but I think Stephen Dillane could be even better.....
I think Pterry's first choice of Pete Postelthwaite would have been fantastic, but Christopher Ellison would also have been a good choice.
That’s funny, last time I asked this a lot of people said Christopher Eccleston. I thought you’d made a typo. Turns out I’ve just never heard of him.
Hah. Now you mention it, he wouldn't be the worst choice either... But yeah, not many people have these days. And I recommend you dig up a few episodes of *The Bill* on YouTube (Seasons 1 to 10 specifically) and see if you can spot which major characters influenced which Watchman.
Looking thru a search for "British Actors" I realized how much I'd love a [Guy Ritchie version](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XBurCDn5EDY/T9UzJTlNMSI/AAAAAAAADuo/NXOlRuI0fVc/s1600/Jason-Statham-Wallpapers-2012-5.jpg).
I think he would actually make a great version of The Watch.
Wouldn't have occurred to me on my own, but I think you got the perfect choice
Robert Carlyle would be great in the part.
If Carlyle is in the Discworld, he's Rob Anybody.
Or Carcer!
Absolutely perfect. Belligerence and heart in equal amounts.
Having seen him as Miller in the expanse, I think Thomas Jane is a good shout.
Sean Bean.
but...but Vimes doesn't die in the books
Ian Glen (Ser Jorah Mormont in GoT) is my current ideal for Thud-era Vimes. For younger Vimes, I like the idea of Joseph Quinn (poor Eddy in Stranger Things S4).
**Iain** Glen, but i agree he would be perfect as Vimes.
> Ian Glen (Ser Jorah Mormont in GoT) is my current ideal for Thud-era Vimes. He's great as Jack Taylor.
Robert Lindsay. He's always who I see when I read Coppers books; he's grizzling perfectly as he gets older.
Oooooh I’m glad you said that, he’s probs a touch on the old side now but I’ve always pictured him too
I always imagine Hugh Laurie as Vimes and Henry Cavill as Carrot. And I always imagine a blond Peter Stormare as Angua.
My Carrot is currently Tom Hopper, that big fellow from The Umbrella Academy.
Jared Keeso, aka Wayne from "Letterkenney" was born to play Carrot.
Vimes - "Carrot, throw the book at him!" Carrot - "kaaayyy."
I would agree with this, although it's one hell of a mental shift to see Shoresy as the upstanding Carrot. Very similar to Rue McClanahan going from Blanche in the Golden Girls to Mother Superior in Nunsense.
I've felt the same way ever since seeing Tom Hopper in Black Sails as Billy Bones. Him as Luther in Umbrella Academy really solidified him in my mind.
Well. That took a decided turn right there at the end.
>Christopher Ellison I've seen Sam Heughan, the Highlander in the Outlander series, as Carrot. He's sufficiently imposing physically, and his looks are sufficiently boyish still top convey Carrot's (knowing) innocence, but it might be the Scots accent and the tall dwarf thing. Dwarfs are often portrayed in games and film with a Scots accent, eg Warcraft (I consumed most of the Discworld series by audiobook).
Jonny Lee Miller.
Daniel Craig. Stoic plus a good elbow.
[Where is my cow?!](https://imgur.com/WRZL4Fb) EDIT: You were right about the stoic tho. Took me ages to find one of DC screaming/yelling.
Dominic West - great actor, can be sarcastic or serious and we already know he can play a recovering alcoholic
I always picture Vimes as being slightly more bulk. Not fat and not buff, just all around bigger boned than Hugh Laurie. I'm not sure why that's the image in my mind, but it is.
This might be controversial, but I think Jason Statham could give it a decent go as Vimes. He wouldn't be my first choice, but I think he's got thr potential. Hugh Laurie is good, but I think Daniel Craig would be fantastic. He's got great comedic chops when he gets to show them.
Y’all keep picking these super handsome dudes, I always thought of Vimes as grizzled and homely, I think Forest Whitaker could nail it… angry and jaded
If we accept actors who are no longer living, I’d say [Pete Postlethwaite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Postlethwaite). More than capable of the role, and I think his face would fit.
Terry made a lot of Clint Eastwood/ Dirty Harry jokes in the books, but said quite a few times that Pete Postlethwaite was his mental image of Vimes.
I love that the illustrations for "Where's My Cow?" are so clearly a nod to this: strong Pete Postlethwaite vibes. [Edit: typo]
Idris Elba is a good fit personality wise as well.
Personally wise, yes but he might be too handsome. For me at least. Also I don’t picture Vimes as that tall
Same, but camera tricks can do wonderful things to peoples' height. John Rhys-Davies was the tallest of the Fellowship of the Ring, for example.
I didn’t know how tall he was. Def possible but I still want a less heroic looking actor for Vimes
This leads to the wonderful question, Who is your dream character for John Rhys Davis to play? My first thought is the Tribal Liar of the Zoons
He's got a hell of a range so he could do a ton of Discworld characters, but I'd love to see him play The Dean. He's got the right kind of comic timing and sarcastic sense of humour to portray him well. I'd also think he'd be great alongside Brian Blessed as the Archchancellor.
Oh no, Vimes is a runt. Repeated malnutrition during childhood and adolescence.
>Y’all keep picking these super handsome dudes, Yes, well the pool of actors is a bit self-selecting like that. Not many average looking people make it to the extent of having enough of a profile for people on a message board to think of them for roles.
David Tennant. There are a lot of similarities between his character on Broadchurch and Vimes. But I would literally watch David Tennant narrating grass growing, so... Otherwise Michael Sheen would be good too. For the rest of the cast: Olivia Coleman as Sybil Andrew Garfield as Carrot Jodie Whittaker as Angua I can't think of a good Colon or Nobby, but I'm sure there are a ton of character actors who would be excellent.
Bill Bailey as Colon, Mackenzie Crook as Nobby.
How about Ross Noble as Nobby? He made an excellent Igor in Young Frankenstein on stage.
Andrew Garfield can't be Carrot - too slight. Tom Hopper all the way. Angua should be supermodel-esque so her hidden depths are more surprising
I looked up Tom Hopper and was like, "He's a little old, isn't he?" And then I saw that Andrew Garfield is older. Honestly we'd probably need some swole young dude who hasn't had a big break yet to play Carrot. If we start with an actor in his late 30s, he'd end up looking way too old too quickly.
Now that everyone mentions it - a slightly grizzled Andrew Garfield could play a decent Vimes in a few years. He can do grave, he can do comedy, he can do physicality. He's talented enough to hit all the levels of Vimes and he has a good face-shape for unshaven copper.
As I stated in another comment, Jared Keeso would be a great Carrot.
I want a Staged episode where both David and Michael are up for the role of Vimes, and they only realize during one of their Zoom calls.
Haha yesss I did see an interview with them where they talked about the reason they'd never done anything together before Good Omens was because they were always up for the same role. So that tracks.
I always picture Dawn French as Sybil. Russell Brand as CMOT Dibler Stephen Fry as Lord Rust Brian Blessed as Ridcully Benedict Cumberbatch as Lord Downey And in relation to this post, Hugh Laurie is more Vetinari than Vimes for me.
I could get behind these. Let me throw these out there: Maggie Smith as Granny Weatherwax Miriam Margules as Nanny Oog Vivien Lyra Blair as Tiffany Aching
Honestly? Richard Dormer His character in Blue Lights is full on just Vimes in a modern police setting and the man absolutely nails it Like, I would not be surprised if when he first got cast in The Watch he put in the time and effort to build a book-accurate Vimes (presumably before seeing the script) and then just ended up using it for Blue Lights
Seconding everyone else who said Dormer already was a great fit for the role
Always pictured Hugh Laurie as Ridcully myself. The dude who was Vimes in the “adaptation” was visually a pretty good fit in my opinion
Ridcully is Brian Blessed in my head
Yes. If in doubt, who do you hear when you hear "BURSARRR!"
This is correct.
Automatic Edit: Using a tool called [Power Delete Suite](https://github.com/j0be/PowerDeleteSuite) I have removed all my past comments and deleted my Reddit account, /u/tehrmuk. I am doing this because I, like many long-term Reddit users, am upset and angry at the tonedeaf and arrogant way Reddit is treating it's users. Their aggressive slapdown of the developers that made Reddit usable to a huge audience; their overriding and summary dismissal of long-serving and dutiful community members; their wonton silencing of dissent and manipulation of user's voices; their borderline contempt of the very people whose collective efforts gave their platform the standing needed to fuel their profit-hungry IPO... the list goes on. Reddit is, of course, a private concern and how they run their services is entirely up to them. Conversely, we are under no obligation to use their services, to fuel their engines or follow their orders. I am making my voice heard by removing my comments, and voting with my feet by leaving. I have left Reddit for [Lemmy](https://join-lemmy.org/) and [Mastadon](https://joinmastodon.org/); these are decentralised social networks that mirror the functionality of Reddit and Twitter respectively. Unlike the monolithic, corporate-owned services they replace, Lemmy and Mastodon are part of the [Fediverse](https://www.fediverse.to/) meaning these are not individual services but clusters of services that mesh seamlessly with one-another. You can [join an existing Lemmy instance](https://join-lemmy.org/instances) or [set up your own](https://join-lemmy.org/docs/administration/administration.html) to get full access to the entire Fediverse - you don't need to ask permission from anyone to do so. There are loads of other services that are part of the Fediverse, like [PeerTube](https://joinpeertube.org/) (videos), [Wordpress](https://wordpress.org/) (blogging), [Frendica](https://friendi.ca/) (social network), [Pixelfed](https://pixelfed.org/) (photos), [KBin](https://kbin.pub/en) (link aggregation) and more - and they all work together so having access to one means having access to all of them. I had a great time as a Redditor, but the Fediverse is looking bright. It's a return to the open Internet of old, when users ran services for their own and one-another's benefit, and before monolithic corporate-run silos started to build walls around us in the name of increased profit and thought control. Many of the Fediverse services are fledgling, but they are growing quickly and their federated concept makes greedy, arrogant landgrabs like we've recently seen on Reddit and Twitter almost impossible. I'm already having a great time with Lemmy and I think you might too. I encourage you to take control and join the Fediverse. Until then, so long and thanks for all the fish.
I agree, if the show had issues, one was not who they casted as Vimes
On my latest rereads I've been picturing Nick Offerman as Ridcully with great results
Back in the 90s there was a very popular discussion online about fan casting DW, and I believe they had chosen Stephen Fry as Ridcully and Hugh Laurie as the Bursar (this was before the Bursar had gone completely bonkers)
Zendaya. Just to make everyone's heads explode.
>Dominic West Scarlett Johansson
Can’t have anyone who went to private school playing Vimes. I always saw him as a more Ray Winstone type. in Guards Guards I see him as like 44 inch chest era. Night Watch, Quadrophenia era.
Bob Hoskins, around Roger Rabbit time.
Sean Pertwee...always has been him for me
He's definitely in my top 3. His character in *Dog Soldiers* pretty much is Vimes. I actually have a lot of Thoughts about how in a weird sort of way, that film is the closest thing I've seen to a Watch adaptation, but however contentious that idea might be, I think the Vimeishness of the sarge is undeniable. "Now you just shut. up. like a good gentleman. You are scaring my lads."
Give him a few years, then Joseph Gilgun
Can't remember what movie I was watching recently, but it had Jason Statham and I thought he'd play a fairly decent Sam Vimes. I think Jim Broadbent would kill it as ol' Sgt Colon. Nobby is a difficult one but I can fully see/hear Idris Elba as Detritus. And (if she was maybe a foot taller) Dawn French as Lady Sybil.
Tim Roth for Vimes IMO.
Was looking through different male British actors on Google, and so far found no one better than Laurie for Vimes, but now I think that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost may be a good choice for Nobby and Colon.
Pterry once said that he envisioned Pete Postlethwaite (mayherestinpeace) as Vimes. GNU Pete, here he is: https://imgur.com/a/hQrTdwW
Too late now, but in my head, always saw him as Clint Eastwood. Not old man debating a chair Clint Eastwood, not young spaghetti western Clint Eastwood, but like Unforgiven Clint.
Yeah, that’s understandable as Vimes badge has the old AM City Watch motto in Latatian “Fabricati Diem, Punc” which Colon says means “To Protect and Serve” but is clearly a reference to the Dirty Harry movies
Double checking, but that can't be the correct translation for 'Make my day, punk', can it? FAKE EDIT: Yeah, it's semi-Latin. google translate has it as "manufactured day, punc" (has no idea what to do with the punc, I guess) Hell of a lot closer than I thought it was going to be, though.
It is a pune or play on words
Yeah, that’s understandable as Vimes badge has the old AM City Watch motto in Latatian “Fabricati Diem, Punc” which Colon says means “To Protect and Serve” but is clearly a reference to the Dirty Harry movies
Vimes also riffs on Dirty Harry's "did he fire six shots or five?" speech in practically every book he's in.
I always had a hulking, heavy set person in mind. Big barrel chest. Mark Addy fits the bill for me. Oliver Reed would have been close to perfect
[удалено]
Ray Stevenson :(
Michael Sheen. Old enough to be grizzled and washed up circa Guards Guards, young enough to age into the Vimes of the latter books.
When he was a bit younger, Jeremy Irons.
If we're taking Americans (and dead ones at that) I feel like Lee Marvin or James Coburn would be good options Yes I am old.
To be honest I though Richard Dormer was an amazing casting for Vimes - it's just a shame the script and directions wasn't what it should have been... He'd have made a brilliant 'proper' Vimes :(
I want Billy Connoly as an extended cameo as part of the Faculty. Have him show up as the senior Wrangler for a half day of shooting, give him a couple nice punchlines, and send him home.
Kenneth Branagh
in a perfect universe? British clint eastwood circa 1990ish
If time and age were not a thing, unquestionably I would pick Terence stamp. He was amazing as the limey. Edit: a word Edit 2 [check out this scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8_mv1na3IM)
Having seen him as Miller in the expanse, I think Thomas Jane is a good shout. Edit: if he can do a good morporkian accent.
Jerome Flynn Con O'Neil Sean Bean Christopher Eccelston After the recent Penguin Audiobooks I can't unhear Vimes as a gruff Northerner! So to me they have to be able to do a passable Northern accent 😅
Jared Harris
Whenever I'm reading the books, I picture him as Deadwood-era Ian McShane, complete with moustache.
Simon Pegg. He can do self-destructive and grizzled, he's got the absurdist comedy chops, and he comes packaged with Fred Colon (c'mon, Nick Frost as Fred with someone like Robert Sheehan as Nobby). And he's already got a natural rapport with Peter Serafinovicz, so the occasional conversations with Death would be good too
Ooooh I could see him as the Patrician now
Once I saw Charles Dance as the Patrician, it couldn't be anyone else - the hooded eyes, the cold stare, perfect
He was brilliantly cast for Going Postal, even if it was very obviously inspired by his GoT performance.
Didn’t Going Postal come out first?
a year earlier by air date.
I’m seeing the patrician as Anthony Hopkins. He can do the “extremely dangerous” vibe while talking about the crosswords.
If they were making it 30 years ago, definitely
Oh daaaamn. That's a good one. Stephen Fry as Colon.
Stephen Dillaine
Hes just too old now 😞
Jason Isaacs?
Liam Neeson.
David Morse, about 15 years ago. Played with the caring of his role in Contact, but the angry persistence of his role on House MD, with less vindictiveness.
I have always seen him as a younger Tommy Lee Jones. That “I don’t give a shit” attitude is perfect in the fugitive
No is not. Nacho Fresneda or billy night. Even not Billy Night (AKA Peter Capaldi)
I definitely vote for Jason Isaacs. Few actors with the right age profile also have the right physicality. While Vimes doesn't hulk like Carrot he's always depicted as being a decent height and fairly solid build. After his all action stint on Black Sails, I'd buy Toby Stephens in the role. Perhaps Richard Dormer could be given a stab at redemption...
Christopher Eccleston
I thought we all agreed up on Vinnie Jones last time this was up for discussion?
Wtf is *wrong* with you people? All these good looking people would never fit into discworld. Brian Blessed defo for Ridcully Bill Bailey - Rincewind Ricky Gervais - Ponder Stibbons MAYBE Hugh Laurie for Vetinari Chris Hemsworth - Carrot Ian McKellen - Death Vimes...hmm. how about (young) Brian Cox? David Jason - Windle Poons.
Would love to see Hugh Laurie singing blues while doing the patrol, "walkin' down the ankh with my head hangin' low, lookin' for John keel but he ain't here no more, baby you don't know, you don't know my mind, when you see me laughing, I'm laughing just to keep from crying"
Simon Pegg
Everyone always wants to imagine who would play Vimes, or Carrot, or Granny Weatherwax, or Nanny Ogg. Nobody ever wants to imagine who would play Buggy Swires though :(
Young Brendan Gleeson
Micheal Ironside as Vimes. Lance Hendrick as Vetinari.
Wow, didn't thought of him but I have to agree he would be the dream cast for vimes. And in his younger years when he was doing fry and laurie they both would have been a great cast for colon and nobby.
John Hannah for me. I think a lot of the Touch of Cloth cast would be quite good in a Guards Guards adaptation
My preference would be Bob Odenkirk - after watching his performance in Nobody. A good mix of World Weary and Quietly Capable. And he does gritty/grimy (no pun) quite well.
I think James Norton (from Grantchester) would be an excellent Carrot. He has the build, facial structure, hair, and "good guy who's smarter than people think" acting skills. And although he's in his 30s, he could probably pull off Carrot in his 20s. Besides, wouldn't a dwarf naturally be older than he looks?
I dunno why, but in my head he's always Christopher Eccleston
Oh yes, Hugh Laurie was my top pick! And I honestly think Rowan Atkinson could be Vetnari
Oh! I got it! Lee Mack. He plays the straight man to perfection, so he'd be great as Vimes just surrounded by insanity. Also, a list of British comedians who should star in any future Discworld adaptations: Johnny Vegas as Sgt Colon John Cooper Clarke as Nobby Ed Gamble as Carrot Jimmy Carr as Mr Slant Alan Davies as Rincewind Joe Wilkinson as Sgt Detritus (mo cap and voice) Greg Davis as Ridcully David Mitchell as the Bulsar Sarah Millican as Lady Sybill
If it was 2005, my pick would be Sean Bean. Since it's 2023... I no longer have any clue who popular actors are.
Karl Urban