Freeman lands Hitchhiker lead

The Office's Martin Freeman is to star in the film version of Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.

Freeman, who is Tim in the BBC1 sitcom, will play Arthur Dent, the sole surviving human once the Earth is demolished for an interplanetary bypass.

Love Actually's Bill Nighy is also to appear, as planetary architect Slartibartfast, the BBC's film website has revealed.

"I'm a big fan of the book and the people who are making it are very cool people and I think they're going to do a good job," he said.

"It's a really good script. It's really, really faithful. All the jokes are there and with all the technology we have now, it can not only be a big satisfying comedy but I figure it could be quite exciting as well."

The long-delayed project to bring Douglas Adams's work to the big screen is being spearheaded by music video team Hammer & Tongs (aka writer-director Garth Jennings and producer Nick Goldsmith).

Shooting on the film is expected to star soon, some of it on location in Iceland.

Published: 13 Jan 2004