You have to acknowledge that the Reepicheep from the PC movie is not the Reepicheep that needs to carry a very significant and emotional plot point in VodT. ... I don't know who's fault it was more; the script writers or Eddie's interpretation of the character.

Interestingly enough, while I was reading through your post I agree with everything you said except for laying the blame on Izzard. The script was written long before he was brought on board. The actors resonded to a stuff animal or actor wearing a green suit before Izzard was hired. The fault of Reep not living up to our standards was no fault of Eddie Izzard. If Reep had said the exact same lines he did "Yes! And throw them at the Telmarines! Shut up!", having a slightly higher comedic voice or a lower calmer voice would have made no difference in defining the movie character.

I too want to know why he's been recast. The 'why' part about this is what's bothering me far more than the fact that it happened.

I have nothing against Nighy, he's a fantastic actor, and I only wish he had been cast as Reep from the start. It's the lack of continuity that bothers me more than anything.

I love Nighy's voice. Absolutely love it. The problem is, it seems to fit more with Aslan than with a small mouse. Of course, I thought Eddie Izzard's voice was too deep for Reep in the first place, so I don't have much of a problem with Reep's voice being replaced by yet another voice which I don't think is quite right.

I should think that Izzard was replaced by another actor because of clashes in his schedule if he had a live action role, but Reep is just a voice role. All an actor has to do is show up in the studio in his jeans and read his lines. Even on a very tight schedule a person should be able to make some room for that.

So why an even deeper voice for Reepicheep? I am baffled.

I wish there was an option on the front page between "pretty good" and "not so good". I definitely don't think this is the worst thing that ever happened. Eddie Izzard did a fine job, but he certainly not irreplacable. If Nighy can do a better job (which I do think is possible), then I am fine with this change.

It would be nice to have a little continuity, but as long as the voice doesn't change drastically I can live with it. (Who knows, maybe I'll like the change).

Wow...that was totally unexpected. O_O I got on NW not except any new news...or at least nothing interesting, and behold - this! I have to admit, my first thought was "Is it April 1 already?" but then I realized that it definitely wasn't.

I think Bill Nighy will be briliant as Reep...he is an amazing actor, I really like him. I would rather they kept Eddie Izzard, though, simply because I like continuity in movie characters. I hate it when they change actors, and while it's just voice for Reep it's still annoying. I do prefer Bill Nighy to Eddie Izzard, though...I just wish he had been Reep in PC, too, so that we'd have continuity and the best voice all the way through.

As it is, it's just another thing that will set VDT apart from the first two movies. I'm wondering if it'll feel like part of the series, really, in terms of the movies...different director, different studio, different composer, and now a different actor...I really want to see how it turns out. ^_^

A number of people have mentioned Bill Nighy's deepe voice. I am sure he will be able to make any necessary range changes; be they higher or lower than his normal speaking voice.

I hope for and agree with everything you said GlimGlum! It's nice to hear some positives!

Thank you. I think Eddie Izzard did a good job and obviously the producers and director Michael Apted believe Bill Nighy will also. But I too would like to know the reason why concerning the change.

My initial reaction when seeing this last night was complete, utter shock.

I was never in love with Eddie Izzard's portrayal of Reepicheep, but I blamed that more on the script, Adamson, and such. I'm hoping this will be a good change, but I do really want the voices to be at least similar enough for the saw-PC-once-or-twice viewers to not notice, or barely notice, the change. If they can even pick up on it, it's going to be hard to see PCReep and VDTReep as the same characters (counting on the fact that Reep is more mature and noble, as he is in the books).

On the other hand, I do love that Nighy has such a lovely British accent. I know Izzard is British, but his accent sounded almost American. Which isn't bad, but I like the Narnian accents leaning towards that British sound. [/babbling]

Very suited to the character, and very suited to the PC movie - fast, energetic, dangerous, humorous.

I agree that Izzard's portrayal was appropriate to the PC movie. But, I can't say it was suited to the character. Yes, Reep is a energetic, dangerous, and humorous character, but he also has a deep sense of honor, chivalry of knighthood (or whatever you want to consider his position), and the leadership of his band of mice. So, the PC team got half of the character right, but forgot to balance his character. I know that he does mature more in the VDT book, so hopefully that's what the movies shooting for as well.

We always knew Reep was going to be a very difficult character to get right on screen. The trick was balance. He had to be cute, but still a credible threat. He had to be fierce and a bit quick-tempered, but also noble. His voice had to be credibly mouse-like, but not so high as to be comical. He had to be funny, but not so funny that he didn't have an emotional reality. Really hard character to get right.

glumPuddle, I know you were deeply affected by the news of the change when you wrote this, but do you really think they got the "emotional reality" of Reep? When he lost his tail is the only time they seemed to hit anywhere near this. From my discussions with family/friends, people found Reep to be "really funny" or a "cute character." No sense of the honorable mouse who fought for ideals, the staunch believe of fighting for Narnia.

I'd love to know what the rational behind the switch was though.

Ditto!

On another note, I love how Nighy describes the film as "beautiful." He doesn't say exciting, magical, adventurous, touching, romantic, epic, or anything else. He says beautiful. And that makes me very happy. That is how VDT should be.

I was grinning when he said that; I'm assuming that he's still working on his voice overs, or else just finished them. (I am correct in understanding that voice work is done after filming wraps?) If he's that recently involved with the script and such, then I have very high hopes for this film.

There is still time to get Mr T.

Please, don't give them any ideas, Cep!

To me, Reepicheep was never a funny character. He had comedic qualities, for sure, but that wasn't the part about Reep that I love the most. I love his boldness and his chivalry and his dignity and his heroism. So when Reep's comedic qualities were played up in PC and his other noble qualities were played down, it was a very out-of-balance Reep for me; not at all as I took his character to be from the books. Yes, Reepicheep does have aspects of his character that is very much in line with what Eddie Izzard portrayed (Rilian's reminder of the pirate line is a perfect example) but is that all, or largely what Reepicheep is? No!

Exactly! I will say that Book Reep was funny, but not usually intentionally (on Reep's part, intentionally on Lewis's part).

I have to admit, my first thought was "Is it April 1 already?" but then I realized that it definitely wasn't.

LOL! Me too.

[/very rambling post]

... I don't know who's fault it was more; the script writers or Eddie's interpretation of the character.

Interestingly enough, while I was reading through your post I agree with everything you said except for laying the blame on Izzard. The script was written long before he was brought on board...
...I too want to know why he's been recast. The 'why' part about this is what's bothering me far more than the fact that it happened...

I seem to remember hearing somewhere (maybe in a commentary or interview with one of the other characters?) that Izzard pretty much ad-libbed most of his lines. Which would put the blame on him. And it could also be part of the reason they didn't want him for VDT-- maybe they wanted someone who would follow the script.

However, I can't remember where I heard that (so I'm not sure if it's true)... I think maybe Ben Barnes said it in relation to the scene where he first encounters Reep? Does anyone else know what I'm talking about? Or maybe I just made it up.

I would rather they kept Eddie Izzard, though, simply because I like continuity in movie characters. I hate it when they change actors, and while it's just voice for Reep it's still annoying. I do prefer Bill Nighy to Eddie Izzard, though...I just wish he had been Reep in PC, too, so that we'd have continuity and the best voice all the way through.

Ditto.

Ugh,this is so annoying! I really liked Eddie Izzard as Reep! *sigh* I've only seen Nighy in "Pirates." I'm interested in how this will affect the movie.

I cannot sleep and my food has no savour and my eyes are darkened!!!!

In PC, it was almost like Reep stepped out of the book. I really feel like if you disliked Reep in the PC movie, you were probably never going to be happy with any interpretation of Reep.

This is the most devastating news since the kiss!!

Eddie Izzard was the perfect voice for Reep. He had the perfect balance of everything. The one thing that was almost guaranteed to be great about VDT is gone.

We always knew Reep was going to be a very difficult character to get right on screen. The trick was balance. He had to be cute, but still a credible threat. He had to be fierce and a bit quick-tempered, but also noble. His voice had to be credibly mouse-like, but not so high as to be comical. He had to be funny, but not so funny that he didn't have an emotional reality. Really hard character to get right.

And they found a near perfect balance everywhere!

This is heartbreaking. My expectations for the film just dropped.

I'm with you there! Aldo it's not as bad as the whole suspian mater. And I think if anyone is up to replacing Eddie Izzard, Bill Nighy is a pretty good bet. A different actor doesn't necessarily mean that they are reinterpreting the character.

Maybe they'll go for the aging thing. And, as some have said, aybe Eddie Izzard would not really fit in VDT because the movie is slower. I'm not sure I agree with this, I'll have to think about it for a while. Everything is really out of order in my head, or so does it feels.

I don't think this is good news, that's for sure. We were at least certain that reep would be done right, and in VDT, reep sort of represents the core theme of the book, and he is so important. I'm just affraisd this could ruin the movie! Maybe they had a good reason to do this, and maybe I'll agree with it the time I hear it.

But Nighy seems to understand the character well. So maybe he'll do an equally good job. The problem is that the one thing we were curtain of has been taken away from us.
AND IT HURTS!!!

Well this is really interesting. I went back and found the original press release regarding the movie...

Veteran filmmaker Michael Apted is at the helm of the new Narnia venture. Returning as the Pevensie children are Georgie Henley as Lucy and Skandar Keynes as Edmund. Ben Barnes reprises the role of Caspian. Cousin Eustace will be played by UK native Will Poulter.

The supporting cast includes several veterans of the Aussie film world, including Gary Sweet, Bruce Spence, Arthur Angel and Kiwi native Shane Rangi, back for his third go-round in Lewis’ fantastical world (donning the guise of a Minotaur, as he did in the two previous films). And, lending his vocal talents again to the project is Academy Award® nominee Liam Neeson as the all-powerful ruler of Narnia, Aslan the Lion.

Absolutely nada about Eddie Izzard and I hadn't even noticed. Guess I should have been paying closer attention.

There are two issues here that keep on getting confused:

1) Eddie Izzard's performance
2) Reep's character, as written

Let's not confuse those.

Regarding Issue #1 (the focus of this thread): Izzard nailed it. The best example is when Lucy says he's cute, and he shouts "Who said that?!" Seconds later, after realizing it was a queen who said it, he shifts back to being calm and collected. That was a brilliant Reep moment. Both well acted (by Izzard and the animators) and well written.

Normally, I am the one who isn't bothered when they change actors. (I have been arguing for years that they should re-cast the HP actors every two movies or so). The real characters are in the book and my imagination, so an actor rarely has any affect on the way I view the characters in the book. But Reep was a rare exception. I am totally locked into Izzard's voice coming from that character. I almost hear his voice when I read the book now... which is an astonishing thing considering what a beloved character Reepicheep is, and how long I've been reading these books.

Yes, Reepicheep does have aspects of his character that is very much in line with what Eddie Izzard portrayed (Rilian's reminder of the pirate line is a perfect example) but is that all, or largely what Reepicheep is? No!

You are critisizing the Reep in PC for not being the Reep in VDT. In the PC book, Reep is a very minor character, and little more than an amusing idea (a warrior mouse). Then, in VDT, Lewis devloped that into something with more depth. He set up the character in PC, and then developed him in VDT.

That's why I'm excited about the movies. They got off to a good start in PC, and now it's time to take it all the way.

Regarding issue #2: I don't see how Reep was anymore "blood-thirsty" than he was in the book. Reep was always in favor of solving things with duels or some kind of fighting (with the exception of the sea-serpent battle, which is why that scene is so funny). He is "blood-thirsty" to the point of being a little reckless. In the PC book/movie, he wants to raid the castle. In VDT, Caspian has to stop him from fighting DragonEustace. He was also in favor of pursuing the pirates ship and hanging all of them in VDT. Lewis writes: "For his mind was full of forlorn hopes, death-or-glory charges, and last stands."

This is the reason Reep throwing his sword away is one of the most powerful character moments in the series.

"I thought I heard someone laughing just now. If anyone present wishes to make me the subject of his wit, I am very much at his service—with my sword—whenever he has leisure." (PC, Ch. 13)

glumPuddle, I know you were deeply affected by the news of the change when you wrote this, but do you really think they got the "emotional reality" of Reep?

He isn't really given much of an opportunity for this in PC. Nor is he in the book. In the PC book, Reep came across as little more than a great gag, and then in VDT Lewis developed him into something with more depth.

Exactly! I will say that Book Reep was funny, but not usually intentionally (on Reep's part, intentionally on Lewis's part).

100% agree. Reep isn't trying to be amusing, but a warrrior mouse cannot help it. They nailed that in the movie. Reep also knows he is cute...and hates it.

In the words of Mark Johnson, "I have so much respect for the respect [Reep] has for himself." Even though he is an amusing character, you still take him seriously in the sense that you know he is not kidding around. He is displaying genuine courage.

Everything we knew really was about to change... Sometimes I wonder if the filmmakers started using that as an unofficial motto.

I'm hoping for the best. After the studio change, the leaked script, the unfathomable fate, mysterious little characters, statues nobody knows about, islands cut off the script, rumors of a battle at the end of the movie and now this... it can't get any worse, right?

Here's hoping the best for Nighy, because it's nearly impossible to do justice to Izzard's performance. I say, let him have a go at it anyway. He can't make the situation any worse than it already looks.

Judging from all the weird rumors so far, this is either going to be the best Narnia movie ever made or the worst - and the last. I think there's no way to believe there's a middle ground anymore.

Having had a while to recover from the initial shock of this news story (months without any significant news, and then Bam!) here are a few further collected thoughts on the matter.

1. I cannot believe this recasting could possibly be due to anything other than a change in artistic direction from the film's producers. I don't see how it could possibly be due to scheduling conflicts, since post-production on this film is going to run well over a year, and even if Eddie Izzard was on a stand-up tour for the whole time (which he isn't) they could still have found ample opportunity to fit a few voice recording sessions into his timetable if they really wanted to.

I also can't believe it could possibly be an issue of money, as someone of Bill Nighy's standing would surely have cost them just as much, if not more, than Eddie Izzard. Had they hired a complete unkown to replace him, we would all of probably sighed in disappointment and cited it as another example of the studio cutting costs and cutting corners, but Bill Nighy is very much a step up the celebrity ladder. Which is not to say anything against Mr Izzard, who is undoubtedly one of the best stand-up comedians of all time, but Bill Nighy is very much of a higher standing in the acting world.

2. Given that this is probably an artistic change, i think you really have to commend the producers for making a big gutsy decision like that, regardless of your opinion on the respective actors. They could so easily have maintained the status-quo on this one, and stuck with Izzard merely for the sake of continuity (as many people seemed to suggest they should have) but in axing in one of the most popular castings from the last film (outside of NarniaWeb at least, the film geek sites like AICN only gave any amount of praise for Prince Caspian to Eddie's performance as Reepicheep) they have made a really big statement of intent about this film. Going from a comedic actor (who also does drama) to a dramatic actor (who also does comedy) says alot about the direction they are taking the whole movie - that they are really going to focus on the serious and dramatic aspects of the story, and do away with much of the unnecessary jokes and humour. As sad as i am to see Eddie Izzard depart, i am filled with confidence about the implications such a big-risk, high-stakes, change says for the direction they are taking the series in.

3. Just to quickly pick up on a comment made by Mark Sommer in the comments section:

It doesn’t sound like Nighy knows very much about the role. "Brigadier or Field Marshall? … Second in command to "Prince" Caspian"????

Although that doesn't sound a great deal like the Reepicheep from the book, i wouldn't say it is an indication of Nighy not knowing anything about the role - in fact quite the opposite, i would say that gives us a very clear indication of his role in the film version, since Nighy will no doubt be basing that statement about Reepicheep on the character brief he was given by the producers, and not on any in-depth knowledge of the book.

I would think therefore that his statement about Reepicheep being maybe the equivalent of a Brigadier or Field Marshall perhaps fits in with the theory that Reepicheep is going to be played as slightly older in the film. i.e. that in "Prince Caspian" he was a young, headstrong, front-line soldier fighting in Prince Caspian's army, but that in "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" he has grown and matured, and become alot more considered and calmer individual, and has now become the commander of the entire Narnian army (hence a Field Marshall or Brigadier, the 1st and 5th highest ranks in the British Army respectively) and that his portrayal of Reepicheep in VDT is accordingly as you would expect of someone of such high rank - more commanding and authoritative than swashbuckling and aggressive.

4. Anyone who fancies amusing themselves this weekend might do well to buy Valkyrie on DVD - both Eddie Izzard and Bill Nighy star alongside Tom Cruise as members of the Nazi party who conspired to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Here they are together at the Valkyrie premiere:

Reepicheep and Reepicheep

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/RuUPF1RG ... die+Izzard

Normally, I am the one who isn't bothered when they change actors. (I have been arguing for years that they should re-cast the HP actors every two movies or so). The real characters are in the book and my imagination, so an actor rarely has any affect on the way I view the characters in the book. But Reep was a rare exception. I am totally locked into Izzard's voice coming from that character. I almost hear his voice when I read the book now... which is an astonishing thing considering what a beloved character Reepicheep is, and how long I've been reading these books.

In the PC book, Reep is a very minor character, and little more than an amusing idea (a warrior mouse). Then, in VDT, Lewis devloped that into something with more depth. He set up the character in PC, and then developed him in VDT.

That's why I'm excited about the movies. They got off to a good start in PC, and now it's time to take it all the way.

Reep evolves in VDT to a main character, so I guess they would have to evolve him, just like Lewis did. But now it seems like they are throwing a lot of what they build up in PC out of the window, and are starting all over again. That's not evolving.

I'm deeply afraid that, in the end, we will end up with two really different versions of reep, so that it seems like the PC one is completely different from the VDT one. It's even possible that the audience wonth notice that it's the same mouse. If they only saw PC once or twice, they might not even recognize him.

PS: I know this is of topic, but Glumpuddle, would you really want new actors for Harry, Ron and Hermione every two movies? I love how you can see them evolve, and for me, they really became the face of the movie franchise. When I read the books, I do not picture them in my head (I do this with Hagrid dough!). Imagine that Lucy would be played by someone else than Georgie Henley. I would find that immensely distracting.

A new poll on the homepage (bottom/right corner) asks how you feel about the recasting. I really want to get a good sample.
Vote now!