 This film was in "Development Hell" for over twenty years. At one  point, Douglas Adams (qv) insisted it would be made "sometime  before the last Trump". Just prior to his death, a deal was almost  in place with Jay Roach (qv) directing and starring  Hugh Laurie (qv) (Arthur), Jim Carrey (qv) (Zaphod Beeblebrox)  and the late Nigel Hawthorne (qv) (Slartibartfast).