ROTTEN TOMATOES: New Line Greenlights "The Golden Compass" -- for $150 Million

New Line Greenlights "The Golden Compass" -- for $150 Million

by Scott Weinberg | June 29, 2006

Fans of Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series have reason to rejoice this morning: New Line Cinema has given an official greenlight and production date to "The Golden Compass," which will be brought to the big screen by Oscar-nom Chris Weitz.

Thanks to ComingSoon.net for the New Line press release:

"New Line Cinema has officially greenlit production on "The Golden Compass," the highly anticipated adaptation of the first of author Philip Pullman's bestselling "His Dark Materials" trilogy, it was announced today by New Line's Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne. Production on the $150 million-budgeted film is scheduled to begin September 4 in the UK, with Oscar-nominated writer/director Chris Weitz ("About a Boy," "Antz") at the helm.

"'The Golden Compass' is the most ambitious film that New Line has undertaken since 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, and we have assembled a remarkable creative team, headed by Chris Weitz, to bring it to fruition," commented New Line's Shaye and Lynne.

Newcomer Dakota Blue Richards has been cast in the lead role of Lyra Belacqua. Richards landed the role after filmmakers conducted an extensive casting search throughout England, during which they saw more than 10,000 young girls. Open calls were held in Oxford, Cambridge, Exeter, and Kendal, before Richards was chosen from the Cambridge call for an audition and subsequent screen test.

"Dakota made what should have been an extremely difficult decision quite easy," says writer/director Weitz. "We wanted a completely new face for Lyra, but I was surprised that any young girl, especially one without training, could light up the screen as Dakota does."

Pullman adds, "I'm delighted with the casting of Dakota Blue Richards as Lyra. As soon as I saw Dakota's screen test, I realized that the search was over. Dakota has just the combination of qualities that make up the complicated character of this girl, and I very much look forward to seeing the film take shape, with Dakota's Lyra at the heart of it."

Helping to bring "The Golden Compass" to the big screen will be an all-star production team that includes Oscar-winning production designer Dennis Gassner ("Road to Perdition," "Big Fish"), Oscar-nominated costume designer Ruth Myers ("L.A. Confidential," "Emma"), and Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Mike Fink ("X-Men," "X2: X-Men United," "Road to Perdition").

"The Golden Compass" is being produced by Deborah Forte of Scholastic Entertainment and Weitz's Depth of Field production company. Paul Weitz (an Oscar nominee for "About a Boy") and Andrew Miano will serve as executive producers on the film. Bill Carraro will also serve as a producer on the film.

Based on the bestselling and award-winning Pullman novels, the "His Dark Materials" trilogy is comprised of "The Golden Compass," "The Subtle Knife" and "The Amber Spyglass." It revolves around a young girl who travels to the far north to save her best friend. Along the way, she encounters shape-shifting creatures, witches, and a variety of otherworldly characters in parallel universes."

In addition to the facts laid down in the press release, we also have a potentially juicy piece of casting news from the guys at IGN FilmForce: "According to England's Daily Mail, (Nicole) Kidman has been offered the key part of Mrs. Coulter � scientist, socialite, and conspirator. With the actress's good looks, charm, and intensity, she could be just right for the part; apparently Pullman himself has endorsed her for the role. As of yet, however, there's no word � official or otherwise � that Kidman has accepted the part."

Hmmm, guess I better take a visit to the library....

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Movie:	The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy
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(1-11 of 11 posts) | Reply

sorjue writes:
on Jun 29 2006 08:07 AM

You do realize posts like this is exactly what turns off non-Christians in the first place right? I'm guessing the only people who would react favourably to your off topic preaching are people who are already converted.

So if your intention was to piss off non-believers to get even farther away from God, congratulations!

Why are so many Christians (and other religious zealots) so stupid. Just because you believe in something doesn't mean everyone shares your views. Would you react favourably to a doctrine on Islam posted on a forum about oh.. say... Recipes inspired from the Bible? Do you see terrorists recruiting through Rotten Tomatoes? No.. they seek out disaffected youth who are seeking something more, not people who are just trying to get movie news.

The sad part is I am Christian but it's people like you that almost make it embarrassing to admit it.

Stick to movies and stop trying to convert people without understanding who they are and what they want. Nobody who doesn't want to be "saved" will listen to you.

(Reply to this)

eye_see writes:
on Jun 29 2006 08:19 AM

If the first post just random spam or in respons to the film.

As the the dark material trilogy is another one of these books series fundie christians hate. What harry potter does for witchcraft, dark materials does for atheists.

Though comments from the director stated he was going to remove all the bits about killing god. Which I find rather disapointing.

Damn americans.

(Reply to this)

dracus writes:
on Jun 29 2006 09:50 AM

[b]HERE WE GO AGAIN![/b]
I'm a Christian, a Catholic in fact, but I'm so sick of these stupid rants from these so called religious morons out there who constantly speak and pass judgment for Jesus, God, Mohammed, Buddha, etc whenever someone either makes a movie such as The Davinci Code, or draws a comic strip. It's not your place or anyone else�s to pass judgment and speak for anyone's god. I'm more than certain that God can speak and pass judgment him or herself. In the meantime, how about doing the rest of us a favor by nailing yourself to a cross!

(Reply to this)

drebay40 writes:
on Jun 29 2006 04:18 PM

[b]Ahhh[/b]
I was really hoping the films would be faithful to the books, still crossing my fingers.

(Reply to this)

medicineman writes:
on Jun 29 2006 04:55 PM

I noticed that the coward who went on his Jesus chant against this movie during as the first entry to this thread and brought great replies fron Sorjue and Dracus has now deleted it. Good!

(Reply to this)

phill01 writes:
on Jun 29 2006 05:34 PM

All Dogma aside (it is just a movie)

This sounds like a very original story, and given the talented crew and decent budget could make for a great movie

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granfalloongirl writes:
on Jun 30 2006 01:02 AM

I really hope they at least leave in some parts about subervting authoritiarian institutions. It doesn't specifically have to be directed at Christianity because I think it can be applied to a much broader issue. It could just as easily be about any other organized religion or repressive government. But it was this social commentary that made the books so much more than other childrens fantasy series for me. (Don't get me wrong.. even with out all the controversal stuff, the books are still some of the best I ever read.)

But the anti-christian themes, are not the only touchy subjects in the books. Don't forget that a large part of the 3rd book involves the sexual awakening of two 12 year olds.

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tonybbb writes:
on Oct 11 2007 11:23 AM

I read the Golden Compass, and it was entertaining and well-written, but I am sorry... it was also virulently anti-Christian (Portraying God as the original deciever, the only real problem in the universe, and now as a dottering and aged fool, re-inventing one Old-Testament prophet as a now heavenly tyrant and reinventing another Old-Testament prophet as a homosexual angel... and the list could go on and on). And quite aside from the religion bashing, the book's message is decidely anarchist as well.

The posts I see all seem very angry at the people who have complained about this, but free speech does not mean Mr. Pullman gets to say anything he wants, and no one he offends (and quite purposefully offends, by the way) gets to say a word about it. Or maybe that is what free speech means to some of you, I don't know. Or perhaps, many of you didn't recognize the names of the many biblical figures Mr. Pullman personally attacks instead of just using imaginary characters, and so you think Christians are imaging he is attacking Christianity (and Judiasm, BTW). Don't get me wrong, he can exercise his free speech to insult whomever he likes, but I am surprised that so many of you seem to feel like no one else can speak their mind about Mr. Pullman's ideas.

I just wish a writer with Pullman's talent and imagination wasn't putting all of his efforts into convincing young children that God is the real problem, and that doing whatever you want is actually the real path to happiness.

Tony

(Reply to this)

CAPOI writes:
on Oct 21 2007 07:31 PM

In reply to this comment (#1183692)
It is interesting that non-Christians (or those claiming to be Christians but not living it) think that they can shut down or shut up those of us who express a pro-Christian view against this film. Ultimately, of course, I realize we won't agree on any issue because you can't change someone who is anti-christian, only God can.

(Reply to this)

TexasRose writes:
on Nov 07 2007 08:03 AM

We have a huge, powerful church in our town that seeks to shut down any opposition to its corporate viewpoints. They are just beginning to get hold of "Golden Compass". Let the censorship begin!

As a parent of teenagers, why do these people believe that they are in a better position than I to determine what is best for my children. ow incredibly presumptuous!

Now there will be a huge, overwrought campaign to "educate" the public here in the midwest to the "dangers" of this movie, and by extension, the books. (yawn)

As a believer, I have a little advice: "Focus on your own family!"

(Reply to this)

rusty9073 writes:
on Nov 25 2007 12:57 PM

In reply to this comment (#1260260)
Dear TexasRose,

I appreciate your comments, but I find them somewhat repulsive and naive. By making this statement I'm sure it only enhances your opinion to bury your head in the sand as long as your family is taken care of%u2026 but oh well.

I, too do not believe in censoring opinions or beliefs. I don't believe in big churches calling for the ban of some item simply on blind faith or hysteria. However, to make the statement of "focus on your own family" and not worry about what happens in the world around your family is a borderline idiotic remark. What happens in the community around your family affects your family. One cannot and should not force others to believe as they do... but one does have the right to stand up for what one believes in and share that opinion with others. Others then have the free agency to make an educated opinion for themselves.

I sure there are a lot of misguided people in a hysterical uproar about how wrong this movie is and are protesting on an emotional rather than educated basis. I'm not saying that is necessarily right. There are, however, many people out there that are passing information about this movie simply to supply others with more knowledge so that they can make an educated decision for their family. Texasrose, I find it almost insulting in your comments that you cover the word educate with quotes, implying a sarcastic tone to the word. Isn't providing information and then letting someone decide for themselves a good thing? Should we instead tell these people, "Hey, don't bother other people with your information or opinion...just worry about your own family!"????

I, myself, am not planning to join some big church organization to protest the Golden Compass or spend the next month sending thousands of emails out to others to ban this film. I am, however, grateful that others are taking the time to share their information and opinions with others. Despite their motives, it has given me the opportunity to know about this controversy. When I looked more into the Pullman's books... I came to the conclusion that I don't want to promote such ideas. Thank you to those who provided the initial information (impartial or not) to allow me to come to that decision. Thank you being concerned for others and not just "focusing on your own family."

(Reply to this)