I'm on a child-lit discussion group in which PP is one of the members, and he is quite happy with all the progress so far, if that gives you any faith in the possibilities for this film. Yay! 
If you haven't read this amazing trilogy yet, now is the time. I think the first book was the best.
The Golden Compass Starts September 4!
Source: New Line Cinema June 29, 2006
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.
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=15180
If you haven't read this amazing trilogy yet, now is the time. I think the first book was the best.
The Golden Compass Starts September 4!
Source: New Line Cinema June 29, 2006
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.
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=15180
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