John joins Hitchhikers Guide cast

John Malkovich is to appear in the movie version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

The heavyweight actor is to play a religious cult leader called Humma Kavula, a character Douglas Adams created for the film.

An early version of the script had Kavula, bizarrely, running a nightclub visited by Arthur Dent and the team.

Shooting begins on the film in London this month, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

It stars Mos Def as Ford Prefect, Zooey Deschanel as Trillian, Sam Rockwell as Zaphod Beeblebrox and Martin Freeman as Dent.

Bill Nighy has previously been named as playing planet designer Slartibartfast. In an interview last week he let slip that Anna Chancellor ­ aka Duckface from Four Weddings And A Funeral ­ also had a role.

And the League Of Gentlemen's Steve Pemberton is to appear, too, playing council employee Mr Prosser, who is determined to raze Dent's home.

Published: 16 Apr 2004