Hollywood ready for cult comedy

It looks like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy will finally be turned into a Hollywood movie.

Author Douglas Adams repeatedly tried to persuade studios to take the project on, but died before anything came to fruition.

But now Austin Powers director Jay Roach and Chicken Run scriptwriter Karey Kirkpatrick have signed up to make the film a reality.

Adams completed a draft version of the script, which Kirkpatrick will complete.

The film is in development at Spyglass Entertainment, whose recent films include The Count of Monte Cristo.

The cult saga started as a Radio 4 comedy, became a series of novels (the unfinished sixth book Salmon of Doubt being released this year) and a TV series (pictured).

Adams died in May last year following a heart attack.

Published: 17 Sep 2002