NEW LINE CINEMA ANNOUNCES
OPEN
CASTING CALLS FOR LEAD
ROLE IN
“THE GOLDEN COMPASS”
Search For Actress To
Play “Lyra Belacqua” Comes To Four
LONDON, MONDAY MARCH 13TH, 2006: New Line Cinema, the
studio behind the Oscar®-winning LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, has launched a nationwide casting search in the UK to find a
young actress to play the lead role of Lyra
Belacqua in the highly anticipated feature film adaptation of Philip
Pullman’s bestselling novel The Golden Compass, it was announced today
by New Line Cinema and producer Deborah Forte. British director Anand Tucker
(SHOPGIRL, HILARY AND JACKIE) is set to direct.
Lyra Belacqua,
is one of the
most beloved and spirited characters in children’s literature, and like her
creator, a born storyteller. THE
GOLDEN COMPASS casting directors Fiona Weir and Lucy Bevan are looking for a
talented young actress who embodies Lyra’s loyalty, bravery and mischievous
nature.
The
initial open casting calls will take place in Cambridge, Kendal (in the Lake
District), Oxford and Exeter during the first two weeks of April and are open
to girls between the ages of nine and thirteen who are accompanied by a parent
or guardian and resident in the UK. Applicants will be asked to complete a form
and may be seen briefly by one of the casting directors. Children should come as themselves (no
costumes or makeup allowed), dress warmly, and be prepared to wait. No previous acting experience is required.
The Casting Calls, with queues open from
DATE CITY VENUE
April 4
April 11
Street
April 13
Based
on the bestselling, award-winning and critically acclaimed 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
(Lyra) 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. THE GOLDEN COMPASS is directed by Anand Tucker and
produced by Deborah Forte of Scholastic Media.
For further information, please
contact:
Dennis
Davidson/
DDA PR:
E: dennis.davidson@ddapr.com / lawrence.atkinson@ddapr.com
T: +44 (0) 207 932 9800
Notes to Editors:
About New Line Cinema Corporation:
Founded
almost 40 years ago, New Line Cinema is the most successful independent film
company in the world. Its mission is to produce innovative, popular and
profitable entertainment in the best creative environment. In addition to the
production, marketing, and distribution of theatrical motion pictures, the
fully integrated studio has divisions devoted to home entertainment,
television, music, theater, merchandising and an international unit. In 2005,
New Line partnered with HBO to form Picturehouse, a new theatrical distribution
company to release independent films. A pioneer in franchise filmmaking, New
Line’s Oscar-winning THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY is one of the most
successful film franchises in history. New Line is a division of Time Warner, inc.
(TWX).
About Scholastic Media:
Scholastic Media is a leading producer of quality, family-oriented feature
films, television programming, videos, and web sites and is a major developer
and marketer of children's brands worldwide. A division of Scholastic, the
global children's publishing, education and media company, Scholastic
Media produces the award-winning, top-rated animated series Clifford The
Big Red Dog® (PBS KIDS®); the Emmy-award winning spin-off to this hit series,
Clifford's Puppy Days(tm) (PBS KIDS); the Emmy-award winning series I SPY (HBO
Family) and The Magic School Bus®(TLC), starring Lily Tomlin; the award-winning
Dear America® series; and the popular kids' adventure series Animorphs® and
Goosebumps®. In October 2004, Scholastic Media's new series, Maya &
Miguel(tm) debuted on PBS KIDS GO! Scholastic Media's critically acclaimed
feature films include Clifford's Really Big Movie, The Baby-sitters Club, The
Indian in the Cupboard, and The Mighty.
ENDS/.