Blowzabella, you asked for examples (GUEST at posting two was me, BTW)- Now I'm getting this at second hand from somebody on IMDB who has seen the casting call, so it MAY just be nasty rumours, but:

1) Will Stanton is bookish and awkward, but realising his innate 'coolness'

2) James is obsessed with girls and with very little time for Will

3) Robin and Paul are 'grungy kids' who bully Will

4) And that's it for the brothers. Will is no longer a seventh son of a seventh son.

5) Will's father is (an American) college physicist and a professor (NOT a jewller)

6) The Rider poses as the village doctor

7) Ian McShane as Merriman?? Now, I know he's a brilliant actor, but I bet he can't play tall and thin.....

8) And they are starting the series at book two - WHY??

Oh, and finally, I hear the company making the film has a Christian agenda. There goes Merriman's speech at the end of the final book - the message of the series (if it can be said to have a message) -

"For Drake is no longer in his hammock, children, nor is Arthur somewhere sleeping, and you may not lie idly expecting the second coming of ANYBODY now, because the world is yours and it is up to you. Now especially since man has the strength to destroy this world, it is the responsibility of man to keep it alive, in all its beauty and marvellous joy."

FAR too new-agey and anti-apocalyptic!