Hip-hop artist/actor Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel and "The Office" star Martin Freeman have hopped aboard the Spyglass Entertainment/Walt Disney Co. project "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," a big-screen adaptation of the cult hit novel by Douglas Adams.

Mos Def will play Ford Prefect, an alien disguising himself as an out-of-work actor who sets out on an intergalactic journey with his best friend, mild-mannered earthling Arthur Dent (Freeman). The duo hitch a ride through space with the two-headed president of the galaxy, the beautiful and brilliant scientist Trillion (Deschanel) and a depressed robot while on a quest to discover the meaning of life.

"Galaxy" begins shooting in April in London under helmer Garth Jennings. Adams adapted his own novel for the screen. After his death, Karey Kirkpatrick came aboard for a rewrite. The cult hit "Hitchhiker's Guide" began as a radio series and launched a book series, television series and video game.

Spyglass toppers Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber are producing the feature along with the company's Jon Glickman, filmmaker Jay Roach and Nick Goldsmith. Derek Evans, Robbie Stamp and Adams will receive executive producer credits. At the studio, the project is being overseen by Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group president Nina Jacobson along with executive vp production Jason Reed.

After starting his career as a hip-hop artist, Mos Def is on a roll in Hollywood. He appears in the Kevin Bacon starrer "The Woodsman," which was a Sundance Film Festival hit and was acquired last week by Newmarket Films. Mos Def also has appeared in "The Italian Job," "Brown Sugar" and "Monster's Ball" and recently wrapped HBO Films' upcoming "Something the Lord Made," with Alan Rickman.

Mos Def is repped by Emily Gerson Saines of Brookside Artist Management and Umi Smith of Mos Def's shingle Good Tree Media. He is additionally repped by attorney Jason Sloane of Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Sloane and Richman. Mos Def is set to release a new album on Geffen Records this year.

Deschanel is repped by Endeavor, Seven Summits and attorney Steve Warren. She also made the rounds at Sundance with Lions Gate Films' "Eulogy" and hosted the closing-night awards ceremony. Her credits include "Elf," "The Good Girl," "All the Real Girls," "Manic" and "Almost Famous."

Freeman is repped in London by agent Michael Wiggs. His credits include "Love Actually," "The Debt," "Hardware" and "Ali G Indahouse."

Ian Mohr reported from New York; Chris Gardner reported from Los Angeles.