Grab your towel, your favourite book of Vogon poetry and stick a little fish in your ear because we are finally getting the long-awaited movie version of the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy!

Douglas Adams' trilogy in five parts has long been a mainstay on the book shelves of sci-fi fans and comedy fans alike, yet despite many attempts and false starts it has never made it to the big screen.

However, Spyglass/Disney, who picked up the movie rights to the book have now officially given the project the "green light".  Music video director Garth Jennings will be sitting in the little chair and shouting "Action!" while the script, which has been passed around more writers than a govenment dossier on weapons of mass destruction, is being finished off by "Chicken Run" writer Karey Kirkpatrick.

"Austin Powers" and "Meet The Parents" director Jay Roach, who was originally lined up to direct the film, evidently got bored of waiting for the production company to pull their finger out and has since moved on to other projects.

Nothing has been announced as far as casting goes, but it has been confirmed that shooting will start in London in early 2004.  If you fancy being a bit interactive then why not use the comment box below and tell us who you would like to see playing your favourite HHGTTG characters in this new movie version?  Go on, it won't hurt!*

* Please note that if you have an electrified metal keyboard and are currently coated in a fresh layer of baby oil then it almost certainly WILL hurt.