RHI Entertainment, the Mob Film Co. and Sky One have teamed for The Colour of Magic, a miniseries based on Terry Pratchett's fantasy novel to star Sean Astin, Tim Curry, Christopher Lee and David Jason.

The live-action/CGI project, a follow-up to the trio's successful adaptation of Pratchett's Hogfather as a miniseries last year, was written by Vadim Jean, who also is directing.

Beyond its 2008 premiere on Sky One, RHI is looking to distribute The Colour of Magic as a theatrical movie in some territories.

RHI recently set up Hogfather for a U.S. debut on Ion Television as part of the RHI Movie Weekend franchise. There is no U.S. outlet yet for The Colour of Magic.

The Colour Magic is the first novel in Pratchett's series of novels set in Discworld, a flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants. It follows Discworld's first-ever tourist, Twoflower (Astin); the inept wizard Rincewind (Jason); and their scheming nemesis Trymon (Curry). Lee will voice Death, a prominent character in the novels.

Hogfather was an unparalleled success in every way we could have imagined, which makes it even more exciting to see that with this unbelievable cast already on board, The Colour of Magic is set to go even further beyond our expectations," said Richard Woolfe, director of programs at Sky One, Two and Three.

Production on the multi-million dollar production recently started at U.K.'s Pinewood Studios.

"I'm honored to be given the chance to make the part of Twoflower my own, starring in a fantasy tale that has captured the imagination of millions of people around the world," Astin said.

Jason, who starred in Hogfather, also will serve as an executive producer on The Colour of Magic.

Also exec producing are Rod Brown and Ian Sharples for the Mob Film, Elaine Pyke and Sarah Conroy for Sky One and Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. for RHI. All six worked on Hogfather.

We have been told by Mob Films to bring down the curtain on this. They have already had to make some agonising choices as it is and those chosen, and indeed not chosen, will very shortly be informed.

We’ve seen some faces that could only come from Ankh-Morpork – you know who you are!

Thanks to one and all and we look forward to seeing the lucky few very early on August 1st.

Folks,
 
Here is an update.

As we indicated, we are not the judges here, but stuff is passing through our hands and so it might be time to sharpen things up a little.  We understand that decisions are being made over the next few days.

Fans are being invited to come along to be part of an Ankh-Morpork mob.  The film makers have done it because they know the fans like costuming and would like to be part of the action.  And that’s it.  They are not providing costumes, although my suspicion is that the wardrobe and makeup departments might be able to help out here and there on the day.  Your costumes don’t have to be grand – exactly how grand is an Ankh-Morpork mob going to be in any case?  We have to say this because some people appear to have the idea that if they turn up, costumes will be supplied.  That will not happen. 

It’s probably worth pointing out that Death, for example, will not be in the mob.  Nor will Susan, nor will postmen or galactic stormtroopers (I’m putting this one in despite Rob’s pleading.)  Apart from anything else, this is set in the early history of the Discworld books and so people like Moist von Lipwig and William de Word, for example, haven’t come close to setting foot in Ankh-Morpork or may not have even been born. 

However, we have seen a lot of natural Ankh-Morpork folk passing across our screens and we are urging Mob Films to start making some choices, particularly since the foreign fans will have to make their travel arrangements.

As Mob said at the start, you will be getting a small payment for this.  Crass though I know it sounds, I had better add that if your keenness and devotion to Discworld leads you to pay international airfares then we shall all be jolly well humbled by your dedication to the cause but, alas, there will be no budget for that.