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!
I say, "NOOOOOO" only because one of my pet peeves is switching actors for a part in the middle of a series. I think if it would've been a battle between Nightly and Izzard for PC, I wouldn't have had an opinion. I liked Izzard's voice just fine, and I'm sure I'll like Nightly…I just HATE changes of a cast in the middle!
i am not to overly angry since we not really gonna see them in the film just hear the voice.
No. No. Noooo!! I hate it when the continuity is all messed up in movies. I hope they don't sound too different… :S
Ugh. Why did they need to change him??
Oh. This is . . . I don't understand. It seems so strange just to randomly change the voice of a character – why? WHY?
On the plus side – Bill Nighy is one of my favourite actors, I agree with the previous posters, he has an amazing voice. I was always slightly indifferent to Eddie Izzard. But surely stick to to one guy.
Here's hoping Nighy can pull off the humour/wisdom so well that no one'll notice!!
In terms of continuity its a disaster. They are probably making Reepicheep an older mouse. Izzard was ok but he had to deal with some very badly written dialogue.
I love, love, LOVE Bill Nighy, I'm a huge fan, but come on! Eddie Izzard was perfect as Reepicheep!
Okay….that was a shock….let me just recover…
NOOOOOO! It can't beee! Eddie was perfect for the voice of Reepicheep. I just hope that Bill at least puts on a voice that is very similar to Eddie's 😐
Exactly my thoughts, SavedByGrace. I thought Eddie Izzard was all right, but if Bill Nighy can do better than I'm all for him. I just desperately hope that his portrayal of Reepicheep won't fall flat. That would be such a disappointment. 🙁
I think they'll know. Reep will be the only mouse on the ship, and his personality is so distinct that I don't think the audience will confuse him. And I bet the main characters in the movie will show that they remember him, and say something like, "Oh, it's Reepicheep!"
Yeah, I'm not too worried about that.
Of course I could be wrong. 😉
Lol! I'm sorry, glumPuddle, I feel for you. But it could still turn out all right. Maybe we'll like Bill better.
Yeah, I hope Reepicheep doesn't taunt anyone before he kills them in this movie. I didn't like it, and I don't think it reflected Reep's character well.
Okay, um…I guess I am just confused what to think. I loved Reepicheep's voice in PC and I understand why they would change his voice if he grew older on us, but three years come on.
No one's voice is going to change so much in three years. Unless they are also going to change the amount of years between PC and VODT (please don't)to 6 or 7 years at least I don't see how the audience will believe that his voice changed. Although maybe they will conclude that he was like a young boy in PC and his voice finally cracked and gave way to a deeper voice in Dawn Treader. Well, I won't probably notice the voice change( I don't notice the voice change when I watch PC or LWW in French.) but I am a bit confused why they are changing. Also, I believe others would notice even if I didn't.
Yea, I think he'll do a better job.. 🙂
I don't really think I high pitched voice as described in the book would work.
Izzard was excellent, yes. But I will definitely give Nighy a chance, I like him too.
I totally agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely hate that they are changing this!!!!!! why on earth!!! They are really ruining the movie!!!!!!
Interesting. Curious as to why the change, but we may never know. I liked Eddie Izzard as Reepicheep, but I can look forward to hearing Mr Nighy.
I wonder why the change? I really liked Eddie Izzard as Reep, and I'm kinda disappointed that they changed the voice.
But at least Bill Nighy doesn't sound too different.
boy, thats a dissapointment. i loved Izzard as Reep. i wonder what happened? perhaps he couldnt do the movie anymore. well, i guess this guy's voice is cool, i just dont like the idea of Reep being british now. *sigh* oh well, i shouldnt let this bother me. i'm just gonna trust and hope. its all we can do right now anyway.
totally agree. i actually really like Nighy's voice, and perhaps dont mind them changing Reep to him as long as he can put off a great performance. i just dont like it when they have to change stuff. but oh well. i always tell myself, "well, thats business", everytime they do it.
WHY?! Why are they recasting Reepicheep?! I don't get it! Was Eddie Izzard being a jerk so they recasted him which is was happened with the guy that played Rhody in Iron Man. I liked Eddie Izzard as Reepicheep! Why the change?! Well I hope Mr. Nighy does a good job with his voice. His and Eddie Izzard's voice do sound kind of similar. Except Mr. Nighy's is a bit richer, in my opinion anyway. But man, this is weird! Do you think Bill Nighy could have said a bogus comment for some unknown reason?
Woah! I wasn't expecting that at all!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! EDDIE IZZARD WAS THE PERFECT REEEPICHEEP! HIS VOICE SUITED HIM PERFECTLY! WHY SO MANY CHANGES?!
I SO AGREE!
They can't replace the reepicheep voice! LOL! Nooooooooooooooooo!
Destrier, what do you have against Eddie Izzard?
And you're right that it probably won't ruin the character. For example, Caspian is (supposed to be) three years older, just like Reepicheep. Doesn't your voice change in three years? Ben Barnes will probably change his voice a bit. As long as the voice (of Reepicheep) sounds similar (has the same quality and tone, if not pitch or volume, etc.), I really don't care if it's exactly the same as PC. I thought Reep's voice in PC was terrific, but really it's not that bad if it changes a little in VDT. It's not like they suddenly recast Lucy or Edmund or something! Or worse- Aslan!!! THAT would be horrible!
I liked Izzard as Reepicheep, but it's not the end of the world if he isn't. I think that a very small portion of movie-watchers (otherwise known as Narnia fanatics such as ourselves) will recognize a large difference in voice and be weeping and moaning… but that the majority of the audience will just be like, "He sounds a little different- so what?" I hope that Nighy does sound a little bit like Izzard though. If production changes his voice too much, then people might be like, "Yeah, he looks like Reepicheep and he acts like Reepicheep but he doesn't SOUND like Reepicheep! As long as they don't give him an accent other than the British one, or give him wrinkles or large eyes (he has beady eyes) or cut off his tail again (that bit was so cheesy) I will be at least satisfied.
220, why is it so shocking that he's been in those movies? Sorry, was just confused by how you worded it there…
I really loved Eddie Izzard as Reepicheep, and I would rather they keep him, just for the continuity. But since you don't actually see the actor's face, just their voice, I can live with it. Actually, I really like Bill Nighy…he's a brilliant actor, and so I'm kind of hovering between "ok" and "EPIC WIN". I think I'll go with "EPIC WIN" for now. I like being positive. 😀
Bah! This is not good news. Nothing against Bill Nighy, but I'd strongly prefer continuity.
I'm not really disappointed. I think it might turn out to be a good change (I personally didn't care for Izzard's voice as Reepicheep).
I too prefer continuity. Oh well. He seems to have a nice voice though.
Am I the only freak here who read the 'In a stunning turn of events' line from the news post, remembered the intro from 'the Incredibles' and started cracking up in front of the computer?
I don't know what to think, other than the whole thing is hilarious. The making of this VTD looks more and more like a whole comedy movie in itself – let's hope that's a good thing in the end.
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! 🙂
I loved Eddie Izzard as Reepacheep's voice in PC!!!! Hopefully Bill Nighy can do just as well! 😐
I totally agree with you
WHAT???? why is eddie izard being replaced? oh well…..I just hope the new guy doesn't make Reepicheep sound high pitched!
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 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?
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.
i thought reepicheeps voice was perfect its so stupid how they are changing it
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?!?!?!?!?!
Haha!! I love the movie The Incredibles.
I agree with you, but I'm sure that they put alot of thought into casting Bill Nighy. I mean, we don't know why they recast Eddie Izzard. Maybe some emergency.
Me too. I really wonder why they changed Izzard. He was such a great Reepicheep
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.