The Official Golden Compass (Northern Lights) Thread - Pictures, News, Posters...

[Galactus]

An interview with the director: http://www.bridgetothestars.net/index.php?p=weitzinterview

 

[ultimatefan]

He looks to be very into the books... I wish I had read them, they sound great. Not sure if they have been published in my country.

 

[Galactus]

Citing the "technical challenges of making such an epic," director Chris Weitz has exited New Line Cinema's highly anticipated adaptation of the bestselling Philip Pullman trilogy His Dark Materials, and the studio has launched a search to find his replacement, reports BridgesToTheStars.net.

Weitz emphasized that his exit was not tied to any creative differences regarding the project, and he expressed satisfaction that New Line is planning to move forward with the script he penned for the film.

"Working on 'The Golden Compass' has been an extraordinary high point of my career," said Weitz. "It will be an extraordinary film, but at this point in my life I am not the right director to bring it to pass. Though I remain honored to continue serving as caretaker of Philip Pullman's work on the page as this project's screenwriter, the technical challenges of making such an epic are more than I can undertake at this point. I look forward to retaining my place as screenwriter and helping to bring Mr. Pullman's epic vision to cinematic life. I deeply appreciate his support, and the understanding of everyone at New Line in allowing me to step aside."

New Line has received interest from a number of accomplished filmmakers about taking over the reins of His Dark Materials, and the studio is currently in the process of deciding on a new director.

"His Dark Materials is an amazing story, and at this point we have such a strong screenplay, I'm confident we'll have real interest from A-level filmmakers," said New Line production president Toby Emmerich. "Chris over-delivered on the script, and I can only respect him for being realistic about the physical, emotional, and technical demands of the project."

Based on the bestselling 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.

 

[ultimatefan]

Well, at least he still seems to be the screenwriter.

 

[C.F. Kane]

This ought to make some big bucks, if not for the movie itself, then for the controversy that will surely come up when it's released.

 

[Sava]

This ought to make some big bucks, if not for the movie itself, then for the controversy that will surely come up when it's released.

why?

 

[Michael Jackson]

I'm seeing the stage version of the trilogy soon. It has amazing reviews in London....

 

[C.F. Kane]

why?

Are you asking me why it would make money from controversy or why it would be at all controversial?

 

[C.F. Kane]

bump

 

[Oerwinde]

I was really disappointed to learn that they are cutting out all the religious stuff.


Considering the series is about a war against god... that officially makes it suck.

 

[logansoldcigar]

I'm seeing the stage version of the trilogy soon. It has amazing reviews in London....

At the NT?
Im going too. One saturday, im seeing part one in the morning, and then part two in the evening. Im quite looking forward to it.

 

[Galactus]

The Los Angeles Times reports that New Line will consider shooting the second and third novels of Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" simultaneously if the first film, The Golden Compass, strikes a chord with moviegoers. This is much like how Warner Bros. filmed "The Matrix" trilogy and New Line says the "Materials" trilogy would soar far beyond the $350 million the studio spent on "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Based on the bestselling Pullman novels, "His Dark Materials" 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.

New Line has committed to producing only The Golden Compass, a special-effects-driven fantasy which could cost more than $150 million to bring to the screen.

The project has been on the drawing board for years. In 2002, New Line executives talked about wanting to complete The Golden Compass in time to have it in theaters last month. Now it looks like the release date will be Christmas 2006 at the earliest.

The studio is still on the hunt for a director. Chris Weitz (American Pie, About a Boy) recently dropped out of The Golden Compass. After spending six months researching the script - he rewrote Tom Stoppard's original adaptation of the novel - and meeting with design consultants and special-effects houses, Chris Weitz concluded that he didn't have the expertise to tackle such a technologically difficult movie.

In related news, the company also is waiting for actor Chris Tucker to sign off on a script for its $115-million sequel Rush Hour 3

 

[Galactus]

Anand Tucker (upcoming Shopgirl, Hilary and Jackie) is in talks to direct His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass, according to Production Weekly. The site says that Tucker will rewrite Tom Stoppard's original script.

Philip Pullman's bestselling "His Dark Materials" trilogy is comprised of "The Golden Compass," "The Subtle Knife" and "The Amber Spyglass". The first book 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.

New Line Cinema is planning a 2007 release date for the first film. Chris Weitz was previously attached to direct but left the project citing the "technical challenges of making such an epic."

 

[clobberintime]

Oy! Am I out of touch? Last time I heard anything about this one, Ridley Scott was attached to direct The Northern Lights and then produce the next two (Like George Lucas did with Star Wars OT) Still New Line Cinema have a understanding of epic trilogies so let's see if they can continue the good works. Any-one know if any castings been done. Timothy Dalton was awesome as Lord Asriel in the play...


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------I don't let no one mess with mine. Just step off hater or it's Clobberin time

 

[Asr]

Wtf, I'm the first one to notice the title sounds like a porn movie?!

 

[MiniChief]

I love these books; I read them last year and I sobbed (yes sobbed) at the ending.

This is going to be hard to pull off, and that's without thinking about the religious controversy. The technology, characters, and emotion is going to require some amazing talent. I hope they don't screw this one up.

 

[Phoney Bone]

Sweet.....I'll see this.....There's a stage version? Even cooler......

 

[Silver]

I can't wait for this film! I love the books!

 

[clobberintime]

These books are truly amazing Silver, you're spot on there. The first books I've really championed to all my friends since the Lord of the Rings. Aye Phoney Bone, there is a stage version, three books split over two plays. Was lucky enough to see them in February. Not sure if they'll be doing it again with the movies in the pipeline but well worth catching if they do. They managed to get a lot into the plays with a small budget (well, compared with a movie budget anyways) so I really have high hopes for the film. Pullman has said that he is happy with the new director that's attached so there's another plus too. I just hope they can get the cast right, especially Lyra and Will. Fingers crossed

________________________________________________________________

Because it is time to--!! Now it's time to-- it's time to-- (I'll work on it.)

 

[Phoney Bone]

How did they do the deamons on stage?

 

[clobberintime]

The Daemons are done with puppets operated & voiced by people in all black suits. Sounds rubbish I know but it really works.Try this link if you like for more details: http://www.stagework.org.uk/webdav/servlet/XRM?Page/@id=6026&Session/@id=D_LTHnO8F8RKMBoED4DqS6&Section/@id=520

Hope this is interesting to you. Guess they'll CG them in the film

 

[logansoldcigar]

These books are truly amazing Silver, you're spot on there. The first books I've really championed to all my friends since the Lord of the Rings. Aye Phoney Bone, there is a stage version, three books split over two plays. Was lucky enough to see them in February. Not sure if they'll be doing it again with the movies in the pipeline but well worth catching if they do. They managed to get a lot into the plays with a small budget (well, compared with a movie budget anyways) so I really have high hopes for the film. Pullman has said that he is happy with the new director that's attached so there's another plus too. I just hope they can get the cast right, especially Lyra and Will. Fingers crossed

________________________________________________________________

Because it is time to--!! Now it's time to-- it's time to-- (I'll work on it.)

One thing is certain...if they do another run of the play, the NT is the only place that can show it in that form.

Removing all of the religious stuff, well, i aint sure about if thatll work. I think people lose sight of the fact it is as much as anything about how power corrupts, but more than anything, its a sad reflection on society in general, and US society especially, that they feel they have to do this..that people cant watch the film for the sake of it. It will take something from the movie, IMO

 

[clobberintime]

I agree. I'm actually unsure how they'll make it work without using the church in the way Pullman does in the books. Still Pullman is involved so maybe he'll be able to work something out for them...

________________________________________________________________

Because it is time to--!! Now it's time to-- it's time to-- (I'll work on it.)

 

[Galactus]

While in Toronto to discuss his upcoming film Shopgirl, written by and starring Steve Martin based on his own novella, director Anand Tucker reluctantly answered a few questions about his next high profile project, The Golden Compass, the first part of "His Dark Materials," a trilogy of fantasy novels by Phillip Pullman.

ComingSoon.net wondered how he was going to make the transition to such a big project from something relatively small like Shopgirl. "For me, I don't even think about it that way," he said. "I'm thinking that it's just a movie about a little girl who's looking for a family, so it's still just all about emotions. It doesn't matter how big or small it is, you still have to turn up with a camera and some actors and try to make it convincing for an audience. If you don't get that right, forget it. It doesn't matter how much CGI you have. It's still gotta work on an emotional level and tell a good story."

Of course, many people were probably wondering how the director of smaller projects like Hilary and Jackie was able to score himself such a huge and long awaited project like this one. "I loved that project for ten years, and I tried to option the book when it first came out," he told ComingSoon.net. "I've been passionate about it forever, and I was the bottom of a very long list of people when the chance came in February to try to get the job. I put together a pitch and I hustled and lobbied, and I met everybody at New Line and told them what I felt what the movie should be. To their credit, they decided they would want to go with that. I hope I don't let them down."

 

[JackBauer]

Wtf, I'm the first one to notice the title sounds like a porn movie?!

lmao, yeah, you may be the first but you're definitely not the only one... when I saw that title I couldn't help but think "yeah, wanna see MY dark materials?"