It has recently been reported that 20th Century Fox animation has signed on to make a feature length film based on Roger Hargraves Mr Men series.

The Mr Men series of short children’s books were famous for their characters like Mr Happy, Mr Tickle, Mr Slow and Mr Jelly, all of whom embodied the fundamental traits their names suggested, which inevitably got the better of them in some way and taught children a moral lesson. They were also featured on a range of putridly suggestive nylon boxer shorts that dads wore in the 90’s.

The books have been animated in several incarnations for television. The latest of which aired on the Cartoon Network. The original episodes, voiced by Arthur "Dad's Army" Lowe, were freaking adorable  (I suggest you brew yourself a cup of warm milo and watch this).



Although no writers or director have been signed onto the project yet, producer Shawn Levy has been revealed as heading the project. Levy has been responsible for several light-n-fluffy Hollywood romps like Date Night, Night at the Museum, Cheaper by the Dozen and, if you scroll down far enough on IMDB, the children’s television series The Secret World of Alex Mack. This project may be in safe hands yet.

Casting for the voice roles in the film is yet to be revealed either but we at TheVine have our theories. Mr Men is a particularly fun movie on which to speculate casting decisions. The actors assigned to these roles will undoubtedly be allocated-so due to their own fundamental personality traits. Actors in Hollywood are typecast in roles every day, but never before will this prejudice be so obvious, and highlighted so gleefully for everyone else, as the casting for the Mr Men movie. But who? Which of Hollywood's leading men, or those figures on the peripheries of the public's attention,  will accept the roles of Mr Nosy, Mr Messy and Mr Small?

Don’t worry Hollywood, this one is on us. We here at TheVine will gladly suggest the right actors for the parts. We’d only ask for a small consultant fee. Really.


Who better to depict the long-armed rascal than Ricky Gervais. After his recent performance hosting the Golden Globes it is clear Gervais would be perfect. You could almost see his figurative arms reaching out across the bejewelled crowd, tickling Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, tickling Steve Carrel. Ricky Gervais really does just live to make people laugh; a painful, uncomfortable laugh that is mildly torturous for the ticklee. Like the older brother of the world he will tickle without mercy in the Mr Men movie.


Mr Small lived in a house underneath a daisy at the bottom of the garden, and who better to squeak his voice onto the silver screen than Michael Cera, the smallest-voiced man in Hollywood .


After The White Stripe's recent announcement that the band has broken up, Jack White seems perfect for this role, as I get the feeling the move away from Meg won't hurt his career one bit.


Kanye West. West is yet to make his debut as a vocal actor on the silver screen, and Mr Upity, the incredibly wealthy monocle-wearer from ‘Big Town’, may just be the perfect foray for this outspoken man of refined tastes. There is even some resemblance between actor and character when Kanye wears a tux.



Incidentally, take a look Yeezy’s IMDB soundtrack credits. No wonder the man is rich as butter.


The poor injury prone Mr Man who is eternally clad in bandages; who better to voice Mr Bump that Johnny Knoxville. With his countless real-life dislocations, breakages, bumps and bruises under his belt (figuratively and also probably literally), Knoxville would no doubt bring some real pathos to this role. Mr Bump is blue for a reason, you know.


The role of Mr Happy should, without a doubt, be filled by Tom Cruise. Say what you want about Cruise but you cannot deny he is ONE HAPPY GUY! Can't you just picture him in the recording booth now? Karate kicking and thumbs-upping his way through the script? Even his shiny white teeth will make their impression through the audio recording, you can bet on that.


Tony Abbott. After his performance yesterday on 7 News attempting to defend his "shit happens" kerfuffle there is no competition.


Tied between the three Top Gear presenters James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond due to their recent racial slurs against the Mexican people on their program. The trio referred to Mexicans as "feckless", "lazy", and to their national cuisine as "re-fried sick". The remarks went well past bad taste and into bullying territory. Meanies.


It has recently been brought to my attention that Flavor Flav is the silliest man alive. Most people know Flav as the guy from Public Enemy who wore the clock around his neck, but did you know that he still wears that clock at 51 years of age? He has also been the host and subject of several reality TV shows, including three seasons of The Flavor of Love, a bachelor-type show in which female contestants compete for Flavor Flav's affections through a series of competitions. Additionally, he recently opened a fried chicken restaurant in Iowa which sells chicken based on Flav's own "secret recipe". Flav is no stranger to voicing cartoons. He recently provided the voice for Father Time in a new cartoon called YooHoo and Friends, which is due to debut in April 2011 (See the trailer below to check out his God-given voice acting talent). Once again, there is a resemblance between actor and character, mostly in the top hat area, but I have no doubt Flav could rock those shoes as well.