Media Essays: Sir Topham Hatt in TATMR: What If?

Written by Captain Conroy

Hi everyone, it’s me Captain Conroy once again and to kick-start – certainly been a while eh? 2024 was a crazy year for sure and hopefully 2025 has and will continue to bring us some great things. And speaking of great things, I had a thought recently which I thought I would justify by making a blog post about it. If Sir Topham Hatt had been in Thomas And The Magic Railroad or indeed any other kind of live action Thomas property who would they have got or who could they get to play him?

As well as thinking this, I decided to look up and see if he was ever meant to be in the movie other than a grumpy voice over the phone, so I looked it up and found to my surprise that he was indeed. According to the Thomas Wiki – Sir Topham Hatt was to be cast in a live-action appearance but was eventually dropped as “no actor of the right size” could be found. Sheesh – have they ever heard of a fat suit?

Anyway with this information in mind as well as my own curiosity, I have complied a list of candidates I believe would be suitable for the role and could have played him very well and some of these fellows could certainly be considered the right size.

And naturally as many of you will know, Thomas And The Magic Railroad was a 2000 release and was filmed in 1999, so I have gathered actors both currently living and sadly no longer with us which should help us broaden our imaginations. Plus, any I have selected who are currently living could still do it for any other kind of live-action performance if a new live action property is to surface at any point in the future while we still have them on Earth. I’ll even be sure to talk about the possibility of any of these actors doing it for the film – say if any scheduling conflicts might have got in the way.

And so without further ado, all aboard for this essay as we take a dive into a what could have been? I hope you enjoy looking through the candidates I’ve selected.

Candidate 1:

Name: Richard Griffiths

Nationality: British

Height: 5’7

Known For: Harry Potter, Withnail And I, Sleepy Hollow, Bedtime Stories

Birthdate/Deathdate: 31st July 1947 – 28th March 2013 – Aged 65 Years

To open this list, we’ll start with good ol’ Richard Griffiths. Richard was an actor with an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire in this case) under his belt. Naturally I won’t be looking at actors because of their shape for this essay, I’ll be looking at them if I think they would fit the part. And I think Richard really would fit the part.

He has done plenty of comedic things over his career and we all know that Sir Topham Hatt can have his moments of comedy. But my main reasoning would be because of how Richard was an actor who possessed a lot of authority and Sir Topham Hatt is a figure of authority and I can totally imagine his voice being fitting for the character. For the fun of it like the other candidates on this list, I even sometimes read the dialogue from the books with his voice in my head and I really do think it would have worked. With his authority also gains the respect of an actor and Richard was indeed a well-respected actor – which is just as well as many people including myself hate a certain character he played.

Yeah, him. He needs no introduction. But like I said, many of us, myself included know the value of hating the character and respecting the actor and Richard was indeed very respected.

But also on this note, as know Magic Railroad was a 2000 film – some of you might be wondering if he even would have been available due to maybe being busy filming Harry Potter. However, 2000 was when The Philosopher’s Stone started production and the filming side of Magic Railroad was from August the 2nd – October the 15th 1999. The production that would have clashed was Sleepy Hollow that he was in which was filmed from November 1998 to May 1999.

Now if he was to play Sir Topham Hatt, this would have been a very close call. I imagine it might depend on how big his role was in Sleepy Hollow and how much he would have to film if Sir Topham Hatt had been in the film. Any voice overs over the phone he could have recorded on the phone for all we know. There is no telling how alternate histories would play out and it’s fun to think about and play with the ideas for.

To which on that note – it’s funny as here I am contemplating about Richard Griffiths in a beloved English children’s franchise, because while there was never any time he was considered for this part – this is just me speculating and imagining my own alternate histories and what-could-have-beens, but what is a cast-iron fact is that he was considered twice for another role in a certain beloved English franchise that’s popular with children.

Yeah, I kid you not. Twice he was considered for Doctor Who – once for the Fifth Doctor following Tom Baker’s departure, but he was not available. And the second time was as the Eighth Doctor succeeding Sylvester McCoy had the series not been cancelled. Now those are certainly interesting what-could-have-beens eh?

But all in all, Griffiths was a fine actor who was capable of being funny as well as serious and authoritative and did stuff both for children and for adults and it’s no wonder he earned the respect he did and is still very much missed to this day. I think he would have made a mighty fine Sir Topham Hatt indeed.

Candidate 2:

Name: Robbie Coltrane

Nationality: Scottish

Height: 6’0

Known For: Harry Potter, Blackadder, From Hell, Brave

Birthdate/Deathdate: 30th March 1950 – 14th October 2022 – Aged 72 Years

Next up on my list is actor Robbie Coltrane – who funnily enough much like Richard is another actor with an OBE under his belt. I am a keen fan of Robbie’s and I was very upset when I heard of his passing. And also, much like Richard – he was known very well for being in Harry Potter himself. (Anyone sensing a theme yet?)

But digressing aside – Robbie was known for being in productions both for adults and children and was a well know comedy actor but he could play serious just as well as funny. The most serious thing I have seen him in up to yet was the 2001 production From Hell where he stared alongside Johnny Depp. But of course, being serious isn’t the only side to Sir Topham Hatt’s character.

Sir Topham Hatt alone is an authoritative individual with a warm side and is somewhat of a father figure to the engines. And Robbie could not only play a man like that very well in my view but despite his seriousness in his career, he was a nice guy in real life and was known for good humour.

But now we do have to discuss – yes he would have fit the part very well – but could he have done it? Much like Richard – it could have been possible but it might have been only just. 1999 brought us Message In A Bottle – which was filmed from April 13th 1998 – July 28th 1998 – and as we remind ourselves, Magic Railroad was filmed on August the 2nd – October 15th 1999. But 1999 also brought us The World Is Not Enough which was filmed from January – June of 1999. And Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was filmed in 2000, as was From Hell so if Robbie was to be Sir Topham Hatt – he could have done it but it would have been an only just sort of thing.

And when I looked up to do some research for this essay – I found a fan casting which also like the idea of Robbie being Sir Topham Hatt which it’s nice to know I’m not alone and given others thought of the idea too – I suppose it’s worth mentioning.

So for me, Robbie was a man who certainly had all the right credentials to play Sir Topham Hatt and he was certainly a fine actor too and much like Richard – he was a very class actor and he is indeed very dearly missed.

Candidate 3:

Name: Ian McNeice

Nationality: British

Height: 5’6

Known For: Doctor Who, Doc Martin, A Christmas Carol (1999) Spartacus (2004)

Birthdate/Deathdate: 2nd October 1950 (Aged 74 Years at the time of writing)

Ian McNeice is one that my good friend who goes by the username DoctorWhoRocks97 suggested and it’s very easy to see why. (On that note, how appropriate that I used one of his images from Doctor Who eh?)

Anyways, like all of the candidates on this list, it isn’t just merely down to size, Ian is a real class actor and I enjoy him anytime I see him. Like the previous two he can be funny and he can certainly play serious too. He radiates so much authority as Winston Churchill in particular whenever he showed up in Doctor Who, which the way some of the camera angles and set ups play it alone – he just symbolises so much of it whenever he just enters a room. He is also perfectly capable of being a very hammy actor too which would be perfect even outside of Magic Railroad. Who else other than me can imagine him playing the misfortunes of Sir Topham Hatt so well in Lady Hatt’s Birthday Party?

But it’s not just that, he would play every aspect of Sir Topham Hatt so well from the stern, authority, disciplinary figure to the warm side of him like, say a scene where he’s bonding with his grandchildren to being a wise father figure of reason to his engines. It’s a role he’d just be so perfect for. However we do need to look into the possibility of the likelihood he could have done it,

Well, 1999 was a busy time for stuff with McNiece in. There was The Auteur Theory, The Cherry Orchard, the 1999 version of A Christmas Carol and a 1999 production of David Copperfield, but annoyingly enough I can’t find any filming dates for any of them, which is exceptionally annoying. The only solid information I can get, but it’s still not a lot to go on, was a production of Joseph And His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat which was shot in just over three weeks from around July/August time which might have been a bit of a stretch as it was August 1999 Magic Railroad began filming.

So this is one where we can really use our imaginations – even if there is no really solid evidence for now whether or not he would have been able to do it. But nevertheless, should he still be available/acting or even alive as much as I don’t like to think morbidly – all I can say to any production is if they can - just get him. And if you want something more to really fit the image – look below.

See? We’re already halfway there – just need to give him a black tie, a yellow waistcoat and a black morning coat and we’re there. I think that particular picture was from another time he played Churchill which was outside of Doctor Who – but still there he is in a top hat for the taking.

So yes, even if it seems unclear that he could have done it for Magic Railroad, McNiece would be a strong contender for the controller of the North Western and many thanks goes to my good buddy DoctorWhoRocks97 for suggesting it.

Candidate 4:

Name: Sir Peter Ustinov

Nationality: British

Height: 5’9

Known For: Disney’s Robin Hood, Alice In Wonderland (1999) Spartacus (1960) his portrayal of Hercule Poirot in both film and television

Birthdate/Deathdate: 16th April 1921 – 28th March 2004 – Aged 82 Years

Next up, certainly a man of class and a particularly dignified career as he received a knighthood – Sir Peter Ustinov. Peter has naturally had many film and TV credits under his belt, but most noteworthy for Disney fans like me was voicing Prince John and King Richard in the Disney Robin Hood and for many others he is their definitive version of the beloved fictional detective Hercule Poirot. It’ll either be him or David Suchet that most people will think of once the name Hercule Poirot is mentioned.

All this aside though, I believe Peter would have been another great contender for the mantle of Sir Topham Hatt as he had a good voice when he was alive and although my introduction to him was a thumb-sucking royal cry-baby, he still radiated enough authority which would have been one key reason to earning a knighthood and having seen bits of Death On The Nile (1978) he sure was one heck of a class actor. You can always have your next Hollywood pretty boys as far as actors go, but there was only ever and only will ever be one Peter Ustinov.

Having seen him in Death On The Nile, a documentary about Jack the Ripper and Alice in Wonderland (we’ll get to that) I’m sure he could easily have been considered the right size for Sir Topham Hatt as well. However, as well as availability – goodness knows if the film would have been able to afford to get him for Magic Railroad – they might have done given they had a 19 million dollar budget, but not like that mattered given it only made 19.7 million worldwide – whoops.

But say they could’ve afforded him – could he have done it? Well, going back to Alice In Wonderland in which he played the Walrus – that was filmed from August the 10th – October 24th 1998. There was a production of George Orwell’s Animal Farm in 1999 as well, but no joy in finding filming dates for that. But even with that inconclusive information – there was the Bachelor which was filmed from November the 5th 1998 – Jan 22nd 1999. So it looks very likely they could have gotten him – especially keeping in mind Railroad’s filming dates and that Ustinov himself sadly passed away in 2004.

Well, so far it appears Peter was the likeliest candidate who could have done while the Richard and Robbie could have been close calls and Ian’s is too uncertain to say for sure. And he certainly would have been one of the best candidates for him too. All of them on this list so far are and it would be so hard to choose for sure say if they were all sat in a room together. But we still have one more candidate to look at before this essay draws to a close.

Candidate 5:

Name: Jim Broadbent

Nationality: British

Height: 6’2

Known For: The Paddington film series, Harry Potter, The Great Train Robbery (2013) The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (2005)

Birthdate: 24th May 1949 (Aged 75 Years at the time of writing)

And last but certainly not least, and certainly not the largest man on this list, but would be great nevertheless, is the magnificent Jim Broadbent. Jim is one of those actors where you must have seen him at least once throughout your time indulging in media. He’s done it all, things for kids, things for adults, comedies, serious dramas, whimsical, non-whimsical, you name it Jim is that actor that’s most likely done it. Heck – on the subject of kids’ things – my introduction to him would have most likely been the adaptations of the Percy the Park Keeper stories.

Naturally I have looked at many class actors on this essay and Jim is certainly no exception. As I say he may not be the largest man on this list – but that’s O.K as he would fit the role so well and naturally if they needed him any bigger – that’s where a fat suit would prove helpful. But size aside as I say, he’s just a man who’s done it all. He’s versatile and very expressive, in fact I should probably have done this with the others as well – but let’s just imagine a scenario using screenshots which might be able to help one imagine him kin the role:

“Engines don’t swim Henry, you’re meant to deliver fish, not swim with them! You should know that by now!”

“Yes sir, I’m sorry sir.”

You totally just read that in his voice didn’t you? LOL It’d just be so perfect any time he has to tell an engine off be it either a harsher telling off or a nicer one:

“You have a lot to learn about trucks little Thomas. After pushing them about here for a few weeks, you’ll know almost as much as Edward, then you’ll be a really useful engine.”

Or whether he’s showing his warmer and kinder side – he’s another one who’d fit the role very well. But now, let’s look at his availability to see if he could have done it. There was Topsy-Turvy which was realised in 1999 in Venice and America and us Brits didn’t get it until 2000, principal photography began on June 29th 1998 and concluded on October 24th of the same year. There was Curse Of The Fatal Death which was a Doctor Who comedy sketch which Jim was in but the filming for that was in February of 1999 which would make that in time for Magic Railroad’s August 1999 filming date. There was a television short called Big Day but I can’t find any filming dates for that – but given it was released on November the 14th 1999 – I suppose it would stand to reason it was filmed a while in advance so he still could have been our man of the hour. I think Big Day might be relatively unknown was Wikipedia doesn’t even appear to have an article about it and I can only go by what little I can find on IMDB.

So much like Peter before – it would seem that Jim is another likely candidate who could well have been Sir Topham Hatt had he appeared in Magic Railroad. And as well as availability – he is another of them who would just fit the role so incredibly well and other than Ian McNiece if I was making a live action Thomas movie in the now – Jim would be another top choice for Sir Topham Hatt in my eyes say if McNiece was not available. He is versatile, incredibly gifted and it’s no wonder he’s an actor who has a large filmography under his belt.

And thus, there we have it. Had Sir Topham Hatt been in Magic Railroad or if there was any other live action Thomas production some time around the time the actors mentioned here who are no longer with us were still here – these would have been the actors I would most love to see have a go at playing the North Western Railway’s beloved Controller. But now it’s time to hear it from you. Do you agree with my choices? Who would you have loved to see play Sir Topham Hatt yourself had he been in Magic Railroad? Or heck, who would you even love to see play him now if a live action production comes up? Do let me know in the comments below as I would love to see who you guys come up with should you mention someone who is not on this list.

So, that’s it from me for now and join me next time as one could call this post a warm up for Thomas’ 80th Anniversary – next week I shall review the very book that started it all. But until then, see you next time every one.

This essay is dedicated to the following:

             Richard Griffiths            Robbie Coltrane                 Peter Ustinov