Lyra Cast and Movie to Begin Production
Posted on by Ian

Dakota Blue Richards has been cast in the lead role of Lyra Belacqua. Richards, 12 years old, landed the role after filmmakers conducted an extensive casting search. More than 10,000 young girls attended open calls in Oxford, Cambridge, Exeter, and Kendal, before Richards was chosen from the Cambridge call for a further audition and subsequent screen test.

Philip Pullman commented, “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.”

New Line have given the go ahead to production on [i]The Golden Compass[/i] film and filming will begin September 4th, for a scheduled November 16th, 2007 release date.

Read more.

New Line Cinema Greenlights The Golden Compass for September 4 Start Date

12-year-old British schoolgirl to play Lyra in adaptation
of the first of Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy.

Film set for November 16, 2007 release date

LONDON (June 28, 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,” comment 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, 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.

About Ian

A keen fan of His Dark Materials and Philip Pullman. Assistant to Paul Temple and Sir Graham Forbes.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.




791 Responses to Lyra Cast and Movie to Begin Production

  1. ONLY ONE says:

    Calm down! The girl's only 12 for pity's sake! Be kind and welcoming, a lot of you are sounding like the school bullies taunting the new kid. It's so idiotic to be that way . . .NOW LISTEN UP! I come from a film study background and I'll tell you straight that we will probably not see her picture till the start of filming. You may have to wait weeks and weeks so just quit the complaining and go do something else. FURTHERMORE! Pullman has just told you the most important thing about Dakota, "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." Did you hear that? Do you think "looks" our more important then acting?! Don't be so shallow! It offend me to the core to hear fans rant and rave because the new actress/actor has the wrong hair color, eye color or nose. How hypocritical! It's the acting that's important . . and Pullman has said he thought she was perfect. So TRUST HIM and wait.

  2. Dannii says:

    thank you only one! well said.

  3. The Bard says:

    So Far, "Only One" is the only person who has said anything sensible, calm down, I don't necessarily think it's a good thing to release the picture such a long time before filming, because the chances are, she's going to run into a lot of criticism from you judgemental twits who won't have seen how good she is as Lyra, because you won't have seen her act the part. Now shut it and wait, if Pullman likes her, then it's none of your damn business to criticise or assume she's doing it for the money. You're forgetting that kid's that age rarely care very much about money, and I should know, because I have a 12 year old sister. So quit whining and grow a pair.

  4. author116 says:

    By the time the get to The Amber Spyglass she is going to be much older.

  5. Dannii says:

    well only one is not the only one(!) hazel, me and hope have all said something too. :laughing:

  6. Werecatweird says:

    ok, all u ppl who r yelling at us. u have a point. but nagging and insulting us, isnt going to stop ppl.
    just give ppl a bit of time to calm down. WERE SUPPOSED TO BE EXCITED, its NOT a crime.
    so give ppl a break already

  7. Galadriel says:

    I am just really glad Pullman likes her so much. I can't wait to see how she does.

  8. Zelda_dude92 says:

    It would be awesome to be Dakota right now with all these people praising her and being recognized like that by Pullman. She must be awesome!

  9. Galadriel says:

    I know. I wish I had had the opportunity to audition, but I am American and wouldn't have qualified. 🙂

  10. Aurania says:

    🙂 This is awesome! Philip Pullman likes Dakota, down to a detail as tiny as bone structure! I'm sure she'll be good.

  11. Moonflash says:

    Bethan, I'd just like you to know that you started this whole madhouse on the comments page :tongue:
    Well, not really. Take a chill pill, people. The photos will come when they will.

  12. Rin says:

    I just hope she'll be good….but pullman likes her, so it's probably OK. I thought they wern't going to cast anyone until, like, August!!!This is so cool!!!

  13. Lizzietiffon01 says:

    i KNOW! I thought they wouldn't pick the person til Autumn or summat- Dakota sounds so good that the desicion must have been really easy. I'm really glad that P. Pullman approves-coz he knows Lyras character best. I can't wait to see a photo of her!!!!!!!!! God, I'm just repeatin' everyone else aren't i? They probably can't put her pic out on the internet coz of legal rights and protection and stuff, if shes not been acting in anything else before. Hey "The Bard" I'm nearly 12 and i think about money all the time!(Joke) 🙂

  14. Rin says:

    Me too! :laughing: :tongue: 🙂

  15. roxy says:

    f u cuz i dont need a pic shes my best friend and we go 2 school together ha ha ha in ur face i know her so ha :angry: 🙂 😉 :tongue: :laughing:

  16. roxy says:

    HA HA i dont need a picture because she is my BEST FRIEND!!!!!!! i can tell you now she is beautiful kind and funny, not to mention clever. i hope she does well i no u will bun!! im gonna miss u/her and i'll come and visit u every sunday in london!!! xxxxxxx 🙂 🙂

  17. roxy says:

    i just wanna say again HA cuz i c her every day so i dont need a pic! guys she loves all her fans by the way!!!!!!!! xxxxxxxxxx roxy (her bessie!!)

  18. Runner says:

    Well, as long as Pullman likes her.

  19. Merecat says:

    It is going to be great! It looks absaloutly fantastic and I bet it is a 12! 🙂

  20. Werecatweird says:

    'HA'

    roxy forgive me if i have absoulty no itention of believing u.

  21. Runner says:

    Frankly, I agree with WerecatWeird

  22. Charlotte says:

    :angry: I was going to audition too. I could not get there though.

  23. KittyKat: says:

    my friend got really far into the auditions, she saw Dakota and she (dakota) didn't volunteer for anything, and she looks like one of those puppy…things…whatchacallems…

  24. Kieran says:

    I'm so glad production has finally begun on this.

  25. Missy-me says:

    *still waiting*
    I'm agreeing with evryone who was saying if Pullman likes her she probable be good..:smile:

  26. daz says:

    dont be cheeky callin me :angry:i got the part fair and square

  27. Dannii says:

    uh hu? and i am really meant to believe that you are dakota? i am not beliving anyone on here :laughing:

  28. Runner says:

    Believe me. Cuz i agree with you. 🙂

  29. Werecatweird says:

    no-one posting on these boards would ever be the real Lyra because she was most likely told by new line not too.

    wow, some ppl rly think were dum dont they?

  30. daz says:

    u r right im not dakota. im just a girl. forget my silly remark

  31. Missy-Me says:

    annonn!!!..:sad:

  32. Serafína says:

    My god sounds like we´re all going insane just because we´re waiting for that stupid photo…
    🙂

  33. Missy-Me says:

    ye..:tongue:

  34. Galadriel says:

    She probably wouldn't be posting because she doesn't know about the site.

  35. tony says:

    Hilarious :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

  36. Nalanna says:

    🙂 To the bard:

    I thought you actually had a pic then! And if she looks like that and that is her hobby then The northern lights is going to be very interesting… 🙂

    Good luck Dakota!

    (At least it's not Dakota Fanning… I won't have a heart attack now…) :laughing:

  37. Missy-Me says:

    GOD.. I thought 2 it was really a pic..:angry: :tongue:
    I suppose we'll have to wait till august or something for we get one.. :wassat: 🙁 :angry:
    :tongue:

  38. Galadriel says:

    They probably won't release a picture until they start production in September.

  39. Chris says:

    Someone who knows her will sell a pic to the press soon.

  40. Galadriel says:

    The press doesn't seem very interested in the movie, but I do live in America.

  41. Runner says:

    I think miss Dakota has already gotten her fair share of fame. If you type in her FULL name on google you get over a million hits. And c'mon how common is the name: Dakota Blue Richards?

  42. Galadriel says:

    I think there will be more media coverage when the movie comes out because it is so controversial

  43. Wytchbabi says:

    well, i'm pissed that i didn't even get a chance to try out, but i'm glad that they found someone to play Lyra that Philip Pullman likes. if he's taken to her, then you know she'll be good. has anyone seen any pictures of her? i can't find any, which surprises me. i want to make sure she'll do the character justice, and i say that as an actress and a fan.

  44. Bobert says:

    Picture…? I'm dying here… I'm scared that they won't even show her to us until the day the movie is released…

  45. KittyKat: says:

    no WAY!!! what about trailers, posters and adverts?
    …no way!
    please no way, anyhoo

  46. Galadriel says:

    You guys are a bit late. You have missed all the posts about how they won't release pictures until they start production.

  47. Missy-Me says:

    and that is in september

  48. KittyKat; says:

    wha-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-t!?!?!?!
    *dies*

  49. Andrea Michelle says:

    *sigh* Of course the acting is important, but we won't be seeing that for ages, and so…I WANT A PICCYTURE!!! :crying:

  50. tony says:

    Hilarious :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: