The first book of the His Dark Materials series, The Golden Compass, is being produced by New Line Cinemas as a major motion picture. The film is due to be released in the United States on December 7, 2007.
Golden Compass Movie
http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/
This official movie website
includes trailers, a blog, and information about the alethiometer, Lyra’s world,
and daemons. There is also a "meet your daemon" quiz which matches a
user’s personality with a daemon.
The Internet Movie Database: The Golden Compass
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385752/
Includes plot synopsis, cast listing, production photos and a trailer.
Breznican, Anthony. "Polar bears: The coolest characters in film." USA Today 27 July 2007.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-07-26-arctic-tale-cover_n.htm
This article documents the rise of polar bears’ popularity in film (both documentary and fiction), and their role as "cuddly new icons of the environmental movement." The Golden Compass movie is mentioned as one of the upcoming films to star a polar bear: "Though the bear is a side character, it takes center stage in promos for the Dec. 7 movie."
"Russell Schwartz, marketing chief for Compass distributor New Line Cinemas, says the bear is a striking visual. "Yorek speaks with a human tongue and helps the girl on her quest. I guess you would call him a samurai bear," Schwartz says. "It shows this is a much rougher world she travels through."
“Into this Wild Abyss: Adapting the Golden
Compass”
http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/blog/us/featured/filmmakers/into-this-wild-abyss-adapting-the-golden-compass/
This article reveals the enthusiasm that filmmakers have for the trilogy: Director/writer Chris Weitz wrote New Line Cinemas a "manifesto" about his love for the series. Weitz traveled to Svalbard to write much of his adaptation, periodically meeting with Pullman for advice and feedback. Producer Deborah Forte dreamed of turning The Golden Compass into a movie when it was still in manuscript form. Many of the other producers have apparently read and enjoyed the books as well.
Lyall, Sarah. “Staging the Next Fantasy Blockbuster.” 25 January
2004.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/25/arts/theater/25LYAL.html?ex=1390366800&en=0b886fce5907fe2e&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND
Lyall sees The Golden Compass as a
greater challenge to bring to film than other fantasy blockbusters, but with
great potential as well. This article addresses the criticism of HDM’s
religious controversy and notes that New Line "will probably insist that the
books’ repudiation of religion be softened into more of a meditation on the
corruption of power in general." Lyall also discusses the play’s stage
adaptation for the National Theater.
Pullman, Philip. From a Q&A session with the Balliol College English
Society, 6 November 2002.
http://www.hisdarkmaterials.org/information//his-dark-materials-movies/page/philip-pullman
Pullman reveals that he sold the film rights to The Golden Compass early on, and that he is “quietly hopeful” about the film. He states that he is comfortable with only a small amount of creative control over the production of the film:
“Inevitably, film-makers for reasons of practicality are going to want to abridge the plots of the books in order to create their screenplays: and that can be hard on an author. But, whatever happens to the film, I can rest assured that the book will still be there in its entirety for people to read.”
[Fan: "Lord Asriel."] “Why Their Dark
Materials Might Not Be Your Dark Materials.” Hisdarkmaterials.org January 2007.
http://www.hisdarkmaterials.org/essays/why-their-dark-materials-might-not-be-your-dark-materials
A fan-written article discussing the upcoming Golden Compass movie addresses concerns about casting, production design, the film script by Chris Weitz, and the religious controversy rumored to be toned down. The most interesting part of this article is the excerpt from an interview with executive producer Ileen Maisel on the changes of the Magesterium’s depiction in the film. Information on why Tom Stoppard’s script was ultimately rejected in favor of Weitz’s—hard to find elsewhere—is also included.
Wloszczyna, Susan. “Movies turn to magic for next big thing.” USA TODAY. 9
August 2007.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-08-09-fantasy-movies_N.htm
The Golden Compass is mentioned as one of many fantasy films being produced by studios embracing what "once was a much-maligned genre" and is now "a source of Oscar-worthy prestige, cutting-edge artistry and, potentially, many pots of gold — especially given the franchise potential and the genre’s strength in overseas markets." Toby Emmerich, production president of New Line Cinemas, talks briefly about how movies based on books come with "a fan base built in."
"But I would never make a movie that had to be as successful as Harry Potter, a once-in-a-generation phenomenon, or The Lord of the Rings, a beloved book for the ages. Each movie must work on its own terms."