Bill Nighy – The New Voice of Reepicheep!
In a stunning turn of events, the voice of Reepicheep has been recast in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The actor who will be voicing him? None other than the English actor, Bill Nighy.
This news was revealed by Nighy himself in an interview with David Frost posted on YouTube which can be seen here. (Comment made at 5:26.)
Eddie Izzard voiced Reepicheep in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. There is no word on why he was replaced for Dawn Treader.
Bill Nighy, the 60-year-old actor from England, is probably most famous for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean as the octopus-faced Davy Jones. His full list of films can be viewed on his IMDb profile here.
Full credit for the find goes to ladisneyprincesse on IMDB. Thanks to icarus for the heads-up!
So what do you think? Go back to the homepage, scroll down, and vote!
Uh, I wonder why they changed the actor! Might it be because Reep is older so they needed an older voice? Or maybe they had contract problems with Izzard. I guess we'll find out sooner of later. *shrug*
No big deal. Reep is older in this and both Eddie and Bill are truly great and very funny english blokes. Bring it on ya´ll! 🙂
WHAT???? why is eddie izard being replaced? oh well…..I just hope the new guy doesn't make Reepicheep sound high pitched!
Er, actually… the book "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" describes Reepicheep as having a "shrill, piping voice." That was my main beef with Eddie Izzard's performance… too low.
Well this guy's voice isn't any higher than Eddie Izzard's!
i thought reepicheeps voice was perfect its so stupid how they are changing it
WHAT?!?!?!?!?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW CAN THIS BE POSSIBLE!!!! I'M DEVESTATED!!! just…no. No! Eddie Izzard was PERFECT for the role of Reepicheep!! They can't find anyone who can do Reep like h can! Eddie made Reep step out of the book for me, and I'm going to miss his talents sooooooooooooooo much!!!!
I totally agree with you!!!
Eddie Izzard captured Reepicheep so well, I really felt like just listening to his voice I could see Reepicheep without having to look at the screen. I hope he doesn't ruin it 🙁
I agree!!!!!!! Eddie Izzard was PERFECT!!! I loved Bill Nighy in Pirates of the Caribbean, but that was a completely different role. Reepicheep really seemed to just walk off the pages for me in Prince Caspian, and now it could possibly be ruined… I wonder why they are changing it? Bad Idea!!!
Well, I am VERY disapointed, but it's really not that big of a deal, guys. I mean, maybe Eddie I. wanted to quit. Perhaps to spend time with his family. He was a busy man, you know. i DON'T think his voice really fits for Reepicheep, but he'll have to do.
I meant this Bill Nightly person doesn't fit Reeps voice.
I say give the guy a chance, it might surprise us. I enjoyed Eddie Izzard, but the filmmakers made the move. We'll have to see. I'm not to worried.
Ah well. I liked Eddie Izzard as Reep, but this guy might be just as good, if not better. There was definitely room for improvement in Izzard's performance, and this might be it, who knows?
Um, not really sure how I feel about this. As long as you can't really tell a great difference than I guess I'm okay with it…
Bill Nighy has been to the great seas before you know!
He was the squid head demon in Pirates Of The Carribean!
WHAT?!?!?!?!?!
OMG I LOVE BILL NIGHY AND PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN AND HES GOING TO BE IN NARNIA!! COOL! 😀
🙁 Sad. I thought that Reep was portrayed very nicely in PC. I really hope that this new guy does not make Reep's voice high and squeeky… that would be so depressing. We'll just have to wait and see! Thanks for posting!
Not quite sure how to feel about this..
WHAT?!?!?!?! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Why why why did they replace Eddie Izard?!! I hate it when hollywood changes actors!!! Eddie is a PERFECT Reep!!!!!!
What!!! I can't believe Eddie was replaced! I didn't love him but it's still kinda wierd to have the casting change…
*checks to make sure it's not April Fool's Day…*
Wow. That's big news. Wonder why they switched. I didn't like Izzard a whole lot in the first place…he does sound very American. Hopefully they'll tone down Reep's character and make him more chivalrous than comic. 😛 Because in the books he's funny without meaning to be at all, and very noble. Which he wasn't in the movie, really.
thats really cool!!
While this is very unlikely, but he never said he was going to be the voice of Reepicheep. Remember, he played Davy Jones in Pirates of the Carribean as a man in a suit; maybe he has a similar role in, as he likes to call it, "Narnia 3"; perhaps it's a Gollum thing; walking around in a suit to get the character performance and such. I know they didn't do this for Prince Caspian, but then again, I'm just pointing it out 🙂
Thank Aslan!!!! I was rooting for Bill Nighy to do Reepicheep's voice before Prince Caspian the movie was in shooting. My wish came true!!! yay!!
Pay the Bill for Bill to Play!
I really don't think I care all that much about this casting change. It's not that huge of a change, really. Personally, I didn't care for Eddie Izzard or the portrayal of Reep in "Prince Caspian." As I've said before, I think they made him rude, obnoxious, and violent, rather than gallant.
Why? Why? Not Eddie Izard? ARG! I understand that they thought his voice was to high but Nighty's voice isn't that high either! *sigh* This is the only thing that has upset me! Why?
NO WAY! I PREFERRED EDDIE IZZARD! THIS IS A BIG SURPRISE.
hang on, it isn't april fools, is it?
aaargh.
wait, is this a joke?
aaaarghh!
this is a big shock! how could they! oh… my… goodness… how is this possible?
*sticks head between knees about to faint*
I really preferred Eddie Izzard! He had a very noticable voice, he was perfect. usually, stuff like this doesn't really bother me, I'm mainly a Lucy/Georgie fan, but this amazingly made me feel quite sad. I feel as though somebody has just told me that Georgie Henley has suddenly decided to drop out of Narnia… or that Walden and Fox has scrapped the rest of the series! I never thought…
All the memories of Disney dropping Narnia come flooding back…
nooooooooooo.i hope he doesnt suck.i like reepicheep just the way he was!!!!!!!!!!!
His voice sounds like it would be a pretty good Reepicheep. I liked Eddie Izzard, too, but this guy sounds really dignified like a commander mouse should be.
Edddie Izzard was cool! Probably they changed the voice for non-availability (is that how you spell it?) or just for him to sound older or just because Disney's not involved.
He sounds way to low for Reep! Too bad. I think this is a VERY bad idia!!!!!
It is a shame that Edddie is no longer on board. Bill could pull this off though, and it's good to hear that he loves the script.
Wait a minute, is this the William Nighy that played Sam Gamgee in the British Broadcasting Company's dramatization of LOTR?
I just popped in my CD of the radio drama, and the name checks out. Imdb says it's the same guy too, but I've been mislead by them before. But if it is the same guy, then he is capable of giving a very sweet and moving voice performance. Sam was one of my favorite characters in that radio drama. But he was a lot younger then, I just cant imaging Reep as an old mouse! I imagine him in his daring, laughing, swashbuckling, prime of life!
I AM SOOOOO HAPPY! I DID NOT LIKE EDDIE IZZARD AND I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY WITH THE CHANGE!!! Well, maybe it was the script Eddie was given but I seriously did not like that version of Reep.
I agree. Reepicheep was so not himself in PC that I'm very excited about /any/ change for him. It will be easier to separate PC's Reepicheep from VDT's Reepicheep now, though he still won't have the shrill voice I loved so much in the book. I actually got lightheaded from joy when I saw this article. 🙂
Me too! Eddie Izzard was UNDERWHELMING as Reep. I don't think we'll loose anything by trying somebody else. Though this guys sounds more like a snuffly old bear!
I think Izzard did a great job I was very annoyed with him leaving but im excited for Bill Nighy hes a great actor and great voice for me. The thing allot of people won't give Bill Nighy a chance.
That does kinda stink. I thought his voice was GREAT! I am just so excited about the movie…I wonder why on earth they changed it?!
I think he will do just fine. I saw him in 'I Capture the Castle' and you would not know him for Davy Jones. He is a fine professional actor from a country full of sterling actors. I'm sure he can voice the character, as his voice is very versatile.
I don't so much mind the actor, I just mind that they're changing the voice. I hate it when they change voices in movies, it drives me crazy! I think Nighy will do a fine job, I just want to know why Eddie Izzard isn't coming back. 🙁
ok guys relax, i asked Narniafans on their facebook site and they confirmed that Reep is OLDER in VODT, hence the casting of Bill Nighy. its probably to make Reep's going over to Aslan's Country more poignant.
I agree.
Shoot. I liked eddy! although i do see where they are coming from. it is 3 years later in narnia time
Is this some sort of febuary fool's joke? O.O I agree, i thought Eddie was the perfect voice… but who knows? Bill did do a good job in G-Force, and his voice is in Reep's PC range… in fact the more i think of it the more i can picture it. I CAN'T WAIT FOR VoDT!!!!!
I have mixed feelings about this. First, I liked Eddie Izzard in the role. Second, I listen to Nighy's voice, and I just don't see Reepicheep.
However, I'm a fair minded person. I can imagine this working if they made it so that Reepicheep has become substantially older since the last film (three years is significantly longer for a mouse than it is for a human). And thus, his voice has changed.
In terms of the story, this angle really could work. It might even add something to the end of the story, if they make it clear that Reepicheep is nearing the end of his life.
Hm. All of a sudden I don't feel so bad about it.
Maybe they are thinking that since he is older he will be taken more seriously in his role. Or the emotions of the role will mean more to him. The important thing, I believe, is that he doesn't think Reepicheep's longing for the end of the world and Aslan's Country is crazy. If he can understand the book Reepicheep I definitely think his voice will be a very good choice for the role.
I'll be praying for him.
I was horrified when I saw this and I'm still not really happy with it, but alot of the time when I hear who is going to do a part in a movie, I try and think of what it might sound like and I usually think it won't be good. When I see the movie I'm always shocked at how good it is so I think we should give Bill Nighy a chance.
i did not like eddie izzard for reepicheep. it jst wasnt the same. if youve ever heard haperaduio's recording, thats what ive always imaginded it be.
Well, this is certainly a shocking piece of news. I wonder why Eddie Izzard chose not to repeat his role of Reepicheep. That said, I absolutely LOVE Bill Nighy, and I can guarantee you all that he'll make a great Reepicheep.
Hmm… This could be interesting. I liked Eddie Izzard, but if Bill Nighy voices Reep in this one (and potentially in LB), then he will be Reepicheep, rather than Eddie Izzard. He did change his voice a lot for "Pirates", so maybe he'll sound more like the Reepicheep we all grew to know in PC in the movie. Well, just so long as they don't switch Aslan or any non-CG characters!
I thought Eddie Izzard was PERFECT as Reepicheep! 🙁
Strange about the changing of actors. I was happy with Izzard but Nighy sounds great too. I just hope I'm not distracted by the change. As long as Reep's charcter is good I won't care. It's Reep I love. Not his voice. 😉
My first disappointing news regard this movie.
Davy Jones as Reepicheep…I'm not exactly excited about this.
WHOA!…….. Where have I been? I wasn't expecting this. =S 🙁 I thought Eddie Izzard was perfect as Reep! I'm not too sure about how I think of this new person yet…..
I guess we'll just have to wait and see what we think when the movie comes out! 🙂
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EDDIE IZZARD was PERFECT as Reepicheep!
wow. long line of o's! 😛 😛
WTF!!!!! Eddie Izzard replace by Davy Jones. Lets hope they can pull this off!
His voice seems to deep for a mouse. I see Reep as high pitched.
I think Nighy is a good choice. It would have been nice, for consistency's sake, to have Izzard return, but apparently it just wasn't to be.
I actually remember Nighy more as Slartibartfast, in the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (the Disney movie, not the BBC TV miniseries) more than for POTC. That performance shows that his range goes far beyond "tentacley" Captain Jones!
I am really not happy with this change. I kind of died a little on the inside when I heard about it actually. It was bad enough Disney was dropping the movie. That I got over after a little while but this will bug me to no end. Though I am curious as to why he was recast, and there is a number of posabilities, I think they would have been better off with Izzard. Mainly because of Reepicheep's fanbase. Just by looking at these comments I can see the majority of us isn't very happy because for the past few years, wether he was the right choice for the role or not, Izzard's voice was what we thought of when we pictured Reepicheep.
I don't care all that much for Nighy, but if I could take the recasting of the dub for Pokemon and still watch the show despite it, I can suck it up and keep my mouth quiet about Nighy as Reep's voice. I just hope he doesn't sound any different. I'm sure I'll get over it the minute the movie comes out I've been waiting for it so long, but what I really don't think I can take is if they make Reepicheep older. That would kill the whole movie for me.
I don't know if it would be good
This is getting ridiculous. Period. Let's recap…….
First, Andrew Adamson is replaced by Michael Apted as director for FILM #5: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER. Then, Walt Disney Pictures runs away from the biggest live-action film series they have ever been a part of, and with 20th Century Fox, we'll all be hearing the Fox Fanfare that we've ALL come to associate with STAR WARS, Harry Gregson-Williams gets replaced by some other music composer, AND………… to top it all off, Eddie Izzard, the original voice of Reepicheep, is replaced by Bill Nighy. (Don't get me wrong, I like both of them. It's the inexplainable change I don't like.) HELLO?!?!?!?!?!?! How many MORE changes will we be subjected to? This is SOOOOOOOOOO much like the changes I heard that ALFONSO CUARON was going to bring to HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, but I think this one could be worse. Then again, as someone stated above, we'll just have to wait and see when the film comes out.
NOOOO! Not Harry-Gregson Williams! *cries self to death*
"And I'm a mouse. A warrior mouse named Reepicheep." His voice sucks for Reepicheep. :p and I haven't even seen the movie yet. This is going to be a total disaster. Why, Disney? Why?
+ Disney has enough money already, be it that they're one of the best well-known movie-making companies on earth. Why'd they abandon the Narnia series JUST because their last movie did less than the first one? Ridiculous.