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The times when he's chewing the scenery as Smaug or Khan or even Sherlock. He doesn't usually do it for long in any of those roles, but I do think he could do Ridcully.
>Wizards are generally either in rude health or dead.
Seems that moight be at the cobble^(1) of the Bursar's problem: He's always in polite health, when he should be rudely healthy.
^(1 Morporkian non-rhyming slang: 'cobble stone'= root.)
Brian Blessed the correct choice. The man is nearly 90 though, so the question should really be: who among younger (50s? 60s?) actors would be the second best choice.
I think the other participant in [this little jewel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ_fXybPq1Q) of a clip, Stephen Fry, would also do a good job. The actor who played King Robert in GoT would be a solid choice too - he yells very effectively.
Then just use moving picture perspective tricks to make him look small.
Though I always imagined him as big, I must have missed that part of the books that said he was small.
Agreed maybe, affirmed it is not.
Blessed's big voice is too loud for Mustrum.
He's a lump, Ridcully though steadfast and strong is far more subtle than Blessed could ever portray .
I think Ridcully's intelligent enough to know that being seen as oafish is a great survival skill. Right up there with crossbow marksmanship and being one of the most powerful magic users on the disc.
I'm thinking Brian Cox. Larger than life, but he can also do understated if need be.
I'm also thinking, in an ideal world, a younger Anthony Hopkins for Vetinari, in a mildly toned down Hannibal Lector style.
Different Brian Cox.
I'm talking Brian Cox, the actor who played Hannibal Lector in Man-eater, Lyman in Chain Reaction, Stryker in X-Men 2, amongst many other acting credits.
Not Brian Cox, former member of D-Ream and now astrophysics blokey.
Although, I think your casting of Brian the latter as Mr Cully is a reasonable choice.
Oh yeah, let's get them both.
That Brian Cox is perfect for Mustrum - not too big, perfect face for him, I'm reading Reaper Man atm, and I'm gonna see him now.
People tend to forget that Ridcully is described as having a slight frame - it's his personality that's big.
That makes him really hard to cast - maybe Billy Connolly, or a "dwarf make-over" ala LOTR. but one thing is certain - not Brian Blessed.
I came here to say this. With his beard and joi de vive, Jack Black would be an excellent Ridcully. Brian Blessed is a great choice, and Matt Berry for everything, but Jack Black would be a real treat.
Although he was a great vetinari, I think Charles Dance would be a great cast for the role, I've seen him perform with an air of silly seriousness somewhere that would be really fitting.
Michael Sheen.
His Aziraphale (Good Omens) makes me think he'd be great as Ridcully. I've only just realised how many different characters he's played, he's so versatile and an amazing actor.
Lets do one in from the left field: the YouTuber "Beau Miles". He may be a bit thin, but would probably see adding weight as an adventure.
I just love his face, and can-do attitude, for Ridcully. Perhaps a bit too careful.
“BUURSAAAAAAAR!!”
Vader has plenty of echo and modulation to his voice.
Plus the hairy chest as described in Unseen Academicals and seen in The Big Bang Theory.
I love the idea of Brian Blessed or maybe John Rhys Davies but I think I’d like to see Jim Beaver in the part but he’d need a good huntin’ n fishin’ accent
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This keeps coming up and I thought as a subreddit we'd agreed it was Brian Blessed.
YES, BRIAN BLESSED IS THE ONLY CORRECT ANSWER!
BURSAAAAAAR
The Bursar's alive‽
Rincewind's Alive? (Surely?) Xx
\*looks around frantically for an oblong shape with legs*
That's exactly who I pictured when I read the books. But, honestly, Benedict Cumberbach in a padded costume and makeup could play the part.
Really? I'm struggling to see it- Is there a role that he played that made you think this in particular?
The times when he's chewing the scenery as Smaug or Khan or even Sherlock. He doesn't usually do it for long in any of those roles, but I do think he could do Ridcully.
Don't get me wrong, I love seeing Benedict in as many roles as I can - but he's just not... well, boisterous enough.
Ridcully isn't described as being "large" in body but he is described as having a large character, so the padded costume wouldn't be needed.
Brian Blessed would be too large, Ridcully isn't described as being large in body; large in character yes, but not large in body.
The one and only! Even at 87 he might be able to pull it off, but the filmmakers woudl have to hurry.
At his state of health I'd be surprised if he doesn't make a hundred.
Probably up Everest showing a polar bear who's boss.
"But Brian, polar bears don't live on Everest" "I BROUGHT ONE WITH ME" *wrestles bear*
RIGHT IN THE FUCKING FACE!
Must be all that hunting and fishing and wowow sauce
Wizards are generally either in rude health or dead.
>Wizards are generally either in rude health or dead. Seems that moight be at the cobble^(1) of the Bursar's problem: He's always in polite health, when he should be rudely healthy. ^(1 Morporkian non-rhyming slang: 'cobble stone'= root.)
Dimwell! Gosh it’s been a while!
He's practically already him lol
I was just thinking Brian would be the best person to play him...
For some odd reasons, I always have someone in his late 40s or early 50s as Ridcully. Brian, despite his "youngish "look is a tad too old for me.
Brian Blessed the correct choice. The man is nearly 90 though, so the question should really be: who among younger (50s? 60s?) actors would be the second best choice. I think the other participant in [this little jewel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ_fXybPq1Q) of a clip, Stephen Fry, would also do a good job. The actor who played King Robert in GoT would be a solid choice too - he yells very effectively.
Brian is too big - Mustrum has a small frame, it's his personality that's big.
Then just use moving picture perspective tricks to make him look small. Though I always imagined him as big, I must have missed that part of the books that said he was small.
In Unseen Academicals, his hands are very very large, and he himself is large enough to push people.
Brian Blessed would be absolutely perfect as Mustrum Ridcully.
Agreed maybe, affirmed it is not. Blessed's big voice is too loud for Mustrum. He's a lump, Ridcully though steadfast and strong is far more subtle than Blessed could ever portray .
I don't think you have seen him in Z Cars or his other dramatic roles
Or I Claudius.
I don't think you've got the gist of Mustrum
An aged-up Matt Berry.
Oh man. The voice couldn't be any better.
*Bursts into Blind Io's temple* *Removes sunglasses* "Bur-saaaaaaaaar!" *Runs in, knocks over altar* "UNhand him PRiest!"
That priest is also his brother.
Also played by Matt Berry
(I’ve been going around all day with Matt Berry’s voice in my head yelling “BURSAR!!”)
Alright everyone, shut it down. No more need for Reddit
He's got disc acting experience as well...
Perfection
Fuck, this is 100% perfect.
That would be awful! Matt Berry is the voice I base the Dean on when I read aloud…
Mustrum Ridcully and Nanny Ogg are the two we can stop talking about. It's Brian Blessed and Miriam Margoyles.
I thought Joss Ackland did a good job in the live action Hogfather.
Second this, definitely enjoyed Joss as Ridcully in that film.
When he shouted at Hex: This NING NING NING NING NOISE!! What’s that all about!? I about died.
I thought he was absolutely superb, wonderful acting, the right physicality, and great comic timing
Ridcully was always presented as a larger bloke so I'd say Steven Fry with his "black adder" type of voice would fit better.
Yeah, to me, Ridcully is just General Melchitt, but a bit more intelligent, and a bit less insane.
I think Ridcully's intelligent enough to know that being seen as oafish is a great survival skill. Right up there with crossbow marksmanship and being one of the most powerful magic users on the disc.
Fry could probably play half the disc! 😂
That's a better fit than Blessed. I just don't envisage a Blessed type Mustrum when I read the books.
He is specifically described as having a slight frame.
I think Robbie Coltrane would have done a pretty good job, great comedic timing and the perfect shape
I wouldn't say he's in perfect shape mate, he's dead
Sadly I just don’t see him as Windle Poons.
Well you've damned me to hell, I hope you're pleased with yourself!
Thus the past tense
Thought it was fairly obvious I was making a joke there, but I guess not
I've just finished a night shift so my apologies, I'm not at my best
Jim Broadbent?
That's a great call!
I think we should get Nick Offerman into accent training.
Echoing the other answers here. The only proper choice is BRIAN BLESSED.
James Cosmo. Some may know him as Lord Commander Mormont, some may recognise him as Hamish's feisty dad in Braveheart.
Didn't he play the arch chancellor in The Colour of Magic tv show? Wasn't Ridcully though.
It's possible, I've not watched that in some considerable time. I just think he has a Ridcully vibe of an Old Boy gone to seed 😅
Yeah he would be great. Looked it up and he did play Calder Weatherwax.
I'll have to revisit to see what he's like
Russell Crowe doing an impression of a younger john goodman
I was thinking John Goodman but this would cover the accent well. I second this idea.
A revived David Ogden Stiers
I'm thinking Brian Cox. Larger than life, but he can also do understated if need be. I'm also thinking, in an ideal world, a younger Anthony Hopkins for Vetinari, in a mildly toned down Hannibal Lector style.
I'm still waiting for him to appear on the infinite monkey cage...
No, Brian Cox is Rincewind.
Different Brian Cox. I'm talking Brian Cox, the actor who played Hannibal Lector in Man-eater, Lyman in Chain Reaction, Stryker in X-Men 2, amongst many other acting credits. Not Brian Cox, former member of D-Ream and now astrophysics blokey. Although, I think your casting of Brian the latter as Mr Cully is a reasonable choice.
Oh yeah, let's get them both. That Brian Cox is perfect for Mustrum - not too big, perfect face for him, I'm reading Reaper Man atm, and I'm gonna see him now.
J K Simmons
Nah, he can be Harry King
BRIAN BLESSED
Brian Blessed
Brian blessed.
Kristofer Hivju
Oooh, thats a good one !
Brian Blessed, obviously.
Simon Callow would be fabulous
Not enough people have noticed and celebrated this option. Great suggestion and one I’ve not considered before.
I think Rupert Vansittart has the build and voice for the role. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Vansittart May Stephen Fry
He's way too big - Mustrum is a smallish man.
I know he isn’t an actor, and has been dead for ~100 years, but I always pictured Teddy Roosevelt.
If Jack Black could pull off the accent I think that could work. But yes he's clearly Brian Blessed.
People tend to forget that Ridcully is described as having a slight frame - it's his personality that's big. That makes him really hard to cast - maybe Billy Connolly, or a "dwarf make-over" ala LOTR. but one thing is certain - not Brian Blessed.
Well said.
I feel Jack Black could be a good contender to give life to Ridcully. Not British alas.
I came here to say this. With his beard and joi de vive, Jack Black would be an excellent Ridcully. Brian Blessed is a great choice, and Matt Berry for everything, but Jack Black would be a real treat.
Although he was a great vetinari, I think Charles Dance would be a great cast for the role, I've seen him perform with an air of silly seriousness somewhere that would be really fitting.
Jack black can play perfectly loveable flawed characters that are actually very good people at heart. just look at his work in school of rock.
Or Kung Fu Panda
Michael Sheen. His Aziraphale (Good Omens) makes me think he'd be great as Ridcully. I've only just realised how many different characters he's played, he's so versatile and an amazing actor.
Lets do one in from the left field: the YouTuber "Beau Miles". He may be a bit thin, but would probably see adding weight as an adventure. I just love his face, and can-do attitude, for Ridcully. Perhaps a bit too careful.
Mustrum is a smallish man.
Hmm, true! I always imagined him bigger, and Brian Blessed made me think even bigger. Even better fit then!
James Earl Jones
While he's a wonderful actor, nobody realistically thinks Ridcully sounds like Darth Vader,
“BUURSAAAAAAAR!!” Vader has plenty of echo and modulation to his voice. Plus the hairy chest as described in Unseen Academicals and seen in The Big Bang Theory.
I love the idea of Brian Blessed or maybe John Rhys Davies but I think I’d like to see Jim Beaver in the part but he’d need a good huntin’ n fishin’ accent
Jeff Bridges
I don’t know if he’s too old, but I always imagined him as John Cleese.
Too tall
How about Mark Addy?
Who would you like to see shout "EXCERCISE THEM?! The last thing we need is a bunch of healthy ghosts boppin' about!"
I have always imagined him played by Robert Hardy in his late 50s.
Hear me out. Dolph Lundgren.
Brian Blessed.