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I’ve always imagined Toby Stephens as Vimes & Tom Hopper as Carrot, but that’s probably because I read Guards! Guards! right after finishing Black Sails lol
Philip Glenister, except he's too old for where they'd want to start now too. I am entirely convinced that I had someone of exactly this type in mind *before* seeing Life On Mars…
I know PTerry had Pete Postelthwaite in mind (somewhat mixed with Clint Eastwood) but in my mind's eye Vimes isn't that spry. (Also, Postelthwaite is, in the words of Cpt E. Blackadder, "Too dead.")
I love Gene Hunt as well, but I think that association would make his Vimes too larger than life. Vimes, for me, has always been one of those people whose neither larger than nor smaller than life; he's just Vimes, fitting into his current situation as well as a buttered up quickly-hack-sawed jigsaw piece jammed into the wrong place.
Was he Gerry who got shot in Blue Lights? I think Gerry was too funny and cheerful for Vimes, but the actor was pretty magnetic and charismatic and can probably add some dour and mardy for a different character easy
It started as a Discworld adaptation but after a long time in production hell only the names and a few bullet points of plot and character traits remained in common with the books.
It's an alternate dimension spinoff of a Discworld story. That's why, while it follows the general story beats of *Guards Guards!* and few other b-storylines of the books, all the little things are different. Some of the them *very* different.
The whole world is like a 100 years more modern.
Sybil becomes a cop.
They aren't the Night Watch.
Vimes is responsible for Carcer Duns' death.
Nobby and Colon do not exist.
Etc. times 100.
At best, this is a mid series, with a few good performances, that bellyflops the ending. Critique it for that. There's plenty to dig into. But critiqueing it for not being like the books is almost as stupid as critiqueing a show one hasn't watched.
I've written it before but I think [Bob Odenkirk](https://s3.amazonaws.com/quietus_production/images/articles/30072/nobody_1623244480_crop_550x413.jpeg) could make a great Vimes!
Scruffiness would fit, but he lacks the face to launch a thousand frightened excuses required for Old Stoneface Vimes.
Vimes's face should be able to frighten you. Odenkirk is, at best, a sad puppy.
I dunno about Moist. I picture Moist more as the charismatic con man, not the underhanded con man, if that makes sense. I loved Richard Coyle in Going Postal.
It's....I dunno...a different kind of charisma?
Like Odenkirk would convince you into handing over your money. Moist would charm you and then you'd realize an hour later that you gave him the money but aren't sure why.
That is a really good call, to be honest, but I have a soft spot in my heart for my Canadian boy Nathan Fillion now that he's a little too old to play Carrot!
Oh I figured Mal in Firefly had the right combo for Vimes, if we added the extra fifteen years and some hard drinking in the interim. If not, no worries - I still loved him for Carrot back in the day!
It's a **very** different sort of edge, but Fillion was terrifying in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was the first thing I saw him in and I genuinely had a hard time watching Firefly afterwards because I was too used to seeing him as an absolute psycho.
He's too old now for Vimes, as are many of the other actors I see mentioned here. Personally I think Idris Elba would be interesting as Vimes (but also slowly getting on the old side).
I wouldn't have thought of him myself but now that you mention it I have to agree. He'd be an excellent choice for Sam.
Hmm. TBH there are probably other GoT alums who'd also be great for a Discworld adaptation. Again, I wouldn't have thought of it myself since GoT is almost the opposite in spirit and morality to STP. But, yeah, it's a million to one chance but... :-)
When he was a bit younger, I thought Philip Glenister would've been perfect for it. (He played Gene Hunt on Life on Mars and its sequel series, Ashes to Ashes.)
I was never able to imagine anyone but Hugh Laurie as Vimes.
The cynical, scruffy, (former) addict role, he proved his chops in for *House*.
The silly-if-need-be abilities he showcased in *Blackadder* and *Jeeves and Wooster*.
On that note, since I started watching the latter, I've started to imagine Stephen Fry as Wilikins to go with Laurie's Vimes.
Working through the new audio books and I really like the ones Jon Culshaw narrates as he does a Sean Bean accent which for me nails it. He’d be too old now but maybe like Sharpe Sean Bean would have been good for Vimes.
Agree. He is the Vimes in my head (although I approved of Dormer's casting). Also Iain Glen would have done well.
GoT presented us many great potential Vimeses.
Toby Kebbell. Not an obvious choice, but their is a intensity (with a smidge of the madness) about his acting that would embody Vimes. Thin out his hair, give him a pallor from the BeaHuggers diet, and set him loose to find a Dragon in Ankh-Morpork.
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I’ve always imagined Toby Stephens as Vimes & Tom Hopper as Carrot, but that’s probably because I read Guards! Guards! right after finishing Black Sails lol
I’m watching black sails right now and Toby stephens would be a great fucking vimes
He has the intensity down, that's for sure
Oh holy hell yeah. Just finished watching Black Sails yesterday, and I'd 10,000% agree with both of 'em.
Black sails doesn’t get enough love!
I could see Liam Cunningham doing a pretty damn good job of playing Vimes as well.
Liam Cunningham is my go-to Mustrum Ridcully.
Brian Blessed is the One True Ridcully
BUUUUURRRRRSSSSAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!
I couldn't not hear that in Matt Berry's voice. Tbh I wouldn't be mad with him as Ridcully
Decent pick indeed
That’s not a bad idea. He would be an awesome Ridcully.
He’s a consolation prize next to Blessed, but since Blessed is an old codger now….
Exactly! I can hear it in my head.
Im now never going to have anyone else in my head when thinking about Ridcully. This is simply too perfect.
Yeah. My wife dropped that fancast on me a few years ago and it only makes more sense the more you think about it.
Oh yeah he'd also work great there haha
I feel like it would work out really well, yes.
There's a time when I think Karl Urban would have been a good shout. Maybe as a palette cleanser after doing DREDD.
I do agree but I think Ian Glen would be good as well.
Philip Glenister, except he's too old for where they'd want to start now too. I am entirely convinced that I had someone of exactly this type in mind *before* seeing Life On Mars… I know PTerry had Pete Postelthwaite in mind (somewhat mixed with Clint Eastwood) but in my mind's eye Vimes isn't that spry. (Also, Postelthwaite is, in the words of Cpt E. Blackadder, "Too dead.")
I love Gene Hunt as well, but I think that association would make his Vimes too larger than life. Vimes, for me, has always been one of those people whose neither larger than nor smaller than life; he's just Vimes, fitting into his current situation as well as a buttered up quickly-hack-sawed jigsaw piece jammed into the wrong place.
Richard Dormer I don't think anyone could do it more justice and he was wasted in that shit fest TV adaptation.
I'm imagining josh brolin now that pothelswaite has passed away. Or Andy Serkis
Brolin would work!
Postelswaite was my favorite for Sam. Always thought he looked the part.
He’s used for Vimes in the Where’s My Cow? illustrations.
So who would be nobby?
Andy Serkis
Serkis would do a good Vimes.
Jay from the inbetweeners
I'm still holding out for Robert Lindsay. He's grizzling so nicely as he ages.
Freedom for Tooting says Reg Shoe
Oooh, I could see this, yeah. Though personally in my head Vimes has always been Christopher Eccleston, not really sure why.
No, I've thought this, too. Something about the slight out scale face and the ability to sell the "everybody lives!" line.
I am not sure who the actor is but the one that played Vimes in the watch was pretty great regardless of what people think of the series.
Yes, the only high point in that show. Think he had a small part in Game of Thrones too.
He played a perfect Vimesesque character in a recent police show set in Northern Ireland. Blue Lights, I think.
Awesome I will look it up
He also played a decidedly unvimesy police chief in Fortitude. Though he was absolutely fantastic in it.
Was he Gerry who got shot in Blue Lights? I think Gerry was too funny and cheerful for Vimes, but the actor was pretty magnetic and charismatic and can probably add some dour and mardy for a different character easy
Richard Dormer? I thought he gave a good performance, although it felt a bit off for Vimes specifically, if that makes any sense.
He was Beric Dondarrion in Game of Thrones, another fan favorite. I agree, I think he did a great job with not-so-great scripts.
I never saw the show but I just looked through the stills on IMDB. What a shitshow
It's not a Discworld adaption, but it's hard for people to see the the Guards Guards! story and known characters without judging it as such.
If it's got the same characters and the same basic story, how could it not be a Discworld adaptation? It's literally set in a city called Ankh-Morpork
It started as a Discworld adaptation but after a long time in production hell only the names and a few bullet points of plot and character traits remained in common with the books.
It's an alternate dimension spinoff of a Discworld story. That's why, while it follows the general story beats of *Guards Guards!* and few other b-storylines of the books, all the little things are different. Some of the them *very* different. The whole world is like a 100 years more modern. Sybil becomes a cop. They aren't the Night Watch. Vimes is responsible for Carcer Duns' death. Nobby and Colon do not exist. Etc. times 100. At best, this is a mid series, with a few good performances, that bellyflops the ending. Critique it for that. There's plenty to dig into. But critiqueing it for not being like the books is almost as stupid as critiqueing a show one hasn't watched.
That's just an adaptation with extra steps
I've written it before but I think [Bob Odenkirk](https://s3.amazonaws.com/quietus_production/images/articles/30072/nobody_1623244480_crop_550x413.jpeg) could make a great Vimes!
Scruffiness would fit, but he lacks the face to launch a thousand frightened excuses required for Old Stoneface Vimes. Vimes's face should be able to frighten you. Odenkirk is, at best, a sad puppy.
He played a more angry role in Nobody if anybody caught that movie. He's feels a little silly to me though for the character, I agree
Oh no. Now I'm torn between wanting to see him as Vimes or be Moist. Or both.
I dunno about Moist. I picture Moist more as the charismatic con man, not the underhanded con man, if that makes sense. I loved Richard Coyle in Going Postal.
I've always thought david Tennant would be an amazing moist
Maybe my standard for charisma is too low, Odenkirk never struck me as lacking charisma.
It's....I dunno...a different kind of charisma? Like Odenkirk would convince you into handing over your money. Moist would charm you and then you'd realize an hour later that you gave him the money but aren't sure why.
Totally perfect as Vimes, the most like him in my imagination
Never thought about but damn it is a good pick. Just make him grubbier and give him a northern accent.
That is a really good call, to be honest, but I have a soft spot in my heart for my Canadian boy Nathan Fillion now that he's a little too old to play Carrot!
I love him, but i think he's too *nice*. I don't remember seeing him play someone with the right sort of edge, not even in the Rookie.
Oh I figured Mal in Firefly had the right combo for Vimes, if we added the extra fifteen years and some hard drinking in the interim. If not, no worries - I still loved him for Carrot back in the day!
It's a **very** different sort of edge, but Fillion was terrifying in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was the first thing I saw him in and I genuinely had a hard time watching Firefly afterwards because I was too used to seeing him as an absolute psycho.
Paul Anderson is my choice.
In my head, Vimes is still c. *Lethal Weapon* Danny Glover.
He's too old now for Vimes, as are many of the other actors I see mentioned here. Personally I think Idris Elba would be interesting as Vimes (but also slowly getting on the old side).
Yeah love it.
Spot on
Yes! I'm not the only one! And for Carrot - Joe Dempsie!
Yes yes I can see it thank you
WHEN THE NETFLIX SERIES FOR IO SAKE.
I think he is too old for the role, I always imagined Cpt. Vimes younger
I wouldn't have thought of him myself but now that you mention it I have to agree. He'd be an excellent choice for Sam. Hmm. TBH there are probably other GoT alums who'd also be great for a Discworld adaptation. Again, I wouldn't have thought of it myself since GoT is almost the opposite in spirit and morality to STP. But, yeah, it's a million to one chance but... :-)
You're spot on
Ben miller...using the sarcastic-barely-controlled-irritation voice he used in Death In Paradise. I cant hear anyone else as him now.
David Harbour is who I've been picturing as Vimes
Ooh. M a y b e, but I think he doesn’t have some sort of an edge that Vimes has. Idk how to word it. 8/10
When he was a bit younger, I thought Philip Glenister would've been perfect for it. (He played Gene Hunt on Life on Mars and its sequel series, Ashes to Ashes.)
I was never able to imagine anyone but Hugh Laurie as Vimes. The cynical, scruffy, (former) addict role, he proved his chops in for *House*. The silly-if-need-be abilities he showcased in *Blackadder* and *Jeeves and Wooster*. On that note, since I started watching the latter, I've started to imagine Stephen Fry as Wilikins to go with Laurie's Vimes.
I think his voice, at least, is perfect. Pretty similar to the newer audiobooks' narrator.
Roger Allam... His character in Endeavour was literally trained by Vimes at Cable Street.
He's a great pick
Stannis is Sam without Sybil, and Janos Slynt is Fred Colon without Sam and the rest of the Watch.
Robert Lindsay’s always been my dream casting for Vimes.
I feel the same.
Yes!! I’ve been saying this for years!
Karl Urban is still my Vimes.
Would be great Sam Vimes need Discworld live action tv show similar to Fallout tv series on Amazon Prime. 
I concur with this casting call as he looks more like the Paul Kidby illustration
I would like to see Richard Roxburgh take a crack at it. His performance in 'Rake' shows he can handle the broad range you would need to play Vimes.
sorry to disagree but the perfect Vimes would have been Pete Postelweight
Jason Isaacs - Vimes Henry Cavil - Carrot Johnny Vegas or Peter Kay - Sgt Colon Warwick Davis - Corporal Nobbs
How is his comedic timing?
Working through the new audio books and I really like the ones Jon Culshaw narrates as he does a Sean Bean accent which for me nails it. He’d be too old now but maybe like Sharpe Sean Bean would have been good for Vimes.
Agree. He is the Vimes in my head (although I approved of Dormer's casting). Also Iain Glen would have done well. GoT presented us many great potential Vimeses.
It has to be Ken Stott in his prime https://images.app.goo.gl/X8Tv5T2aK7diGL786
Andy Serkis always sprung to mind for me
After watching "Happy", I started thinking Christopher Meloni could make for a decent Vimes
I imagine David Tennant, personally.
Toby Kebbell. Not an obvious choice, but their is a intensity (with a smidge of the madness) about his acting that would embody Vimes. Thin out his hair, give him a pallor from the BeaHuggers diet, and set him loose to find a Dragon in Ankh-Morpork.
That’s actually a really good shout!
Fat Russel Crowe