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.
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.â€Â
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.â€Â
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.
Guys, chill. The pics will probably get here within a month or so. Besides, Pullman likes her a lot, so whats da rush?
:angry:
were back to the pic discussion and the ppl telling us to calm down and take a chill ppl. @!*@!
I know. I thought we got over that three pages back.
Any suggestions on what to talk about then?
errr…hello! the comments are for the Lyra film, not bliming pirate of the stupid carabian. if you want to chat about them sort of things then you should do it on msn. (pirate1 is better)
I liked Pirates2 and 1 about equally.
ANYWAY, back to the love of our young lives: HDM.
i wish they'd show us her screen tests. that'd be perfect. maybe i'll email the hosts of this website and ask…
Yes! I want to see the screentest because it probably uses the script!
::cough:: IsawPirates2atmidnightonThursday/Friday ::cough::
and I loved it ::cough::
I WANNA KNOW WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE!!! (patience=gone)
I wanna see a piccy 2, but maybe they (the production team) r doing it on purpose… you now, to keep us guessing. A cruel trick, but I bet it works… 😉
i didn't think hollywood was THAT cruel
Hollywood loves publicity. they'd get it whether or not they revealed what Dakota looks like. if they did show her, people would wanna know more about her, family life, etc. if they didn't, same deal. win-win situation. except for us waiting FANS!!!
There will definately be pictures by the time they start filming, considering there's always people offset looking to meet the cast/take pictures. As for those who lost patience for the pictures, re-read HDM ^-^ It'll *sort* of take your mind off it, and give you a nice read.
Also: Saw Pirates, it was fun.
To those living in Europe: Besides in the Guardian, have you seen ANY reports of D(akota)BR? As far as I can tell, the US doesn't care.
i asked the website people if they could get the screentest – apparently they can't.
(*ahem*johnnydeppwassoFINEinbothPiratesmovie
s*ahem*)
😉 mmmm…. jonny depp….
Ahem! Back to HDM!
Just think about this… I'm sure this Dakota girl looks like how Philip Pullman imagined lyra because he LIKES her. Thats got to be somthing at least.
And yes, Hollywood is VERY cruel.
No idea why we're talking about Pirates of the Caribbean, but I LOVED the second one, saw it twice already, seeing it again soon. I'm such a money waster sometimes.
I doubt anyone could get their hands on the screentests though. I think NewLine is doing it on purpose not to release a picture for her own good, 'cause there will be too much unwanted attention, what with the matter of the controvertial plot already on their hands.
Yep, Hollywood's a biatch.
i wonder if dakota knows there are a bunch of crazy people out here who want to see her 😉
and i bet it's better for her privacy (and safety) that no info but her name has been released
Alewyn: only on websites…
she's probobly watching us argue right now……….
HELLO!!!!!! :tongue:
..er, YEAH RIGHT Em!
…
…hi Dakota 🙂
(i'm so weak :sad:)
what do u think dakota looks like? blounde hair, blue eyes? so lucky.
hrm, PP said 'looking like someone doesn't just mean blue eyes blonde hair', implying that she…does not. so thereis a possibility that she has red hair and one brown one green eyes. hrm indeed… i hpoe she doesn't though.
Haha I'd laugh if she had red hair and one brown eye and one green eye 'cause of all those girls out there who thought that to be Lyra all you needed was blonde hair and blue eyes…
I think she most likely has blondish hair and, well eyes don't really matter that much if you think about (look at Harry Potter… there's so much importance on green eyes yet Daniel Raddcliffe has blue eyes). I think it's mostly the air she gives off and the way she holds herself, as Pullman said.
keep in mind that our beloved Lyra is all attitude. Dakota could have black hair and violet eyes (ooh, nice combination) but if she's determined and sweet and courageous and kind then that part is hers.
lucky British kid. if only i were 12 again, and lived in the UK…*sigh*
"You can be whatever you want to be…unless some little British school girl shows up and steals your part."
ILOVEJOHNNY
no kiddinghow many years did i dream of playing lyra, and they finally decide to make the darn movie, and here i am in college
I guess I was lucky to have started reading the series when I was older than Lyra… not to mention I SUCK at acting, so I would never dream of playing her. Oh well, I can't wait to see the movie, and to see Dakota's acting 😀
i AM a british schoolgirl, i AM 12 and i DID go to the auditions.
sadly my name ISNT Dakota and i'm NOT playing Lyra, though i would love to…shame…
how'd your audition go do you think? i mean, not to be mean or remind you that you didn't get the part, but do you think you did well?
the acting counts form most of it. However, looks areso important that people become too procupied with what a person looks like and if they are like the character or not. An actor can be whoever hey want to be, and with amazin gmakeup etc, it doesn't matter if they are a 7ft migit with bright bluee hands… technology is amazing.
'a 7ft migit'… :wassat:
i cant be patient!
I'm 14 tho I went to the auditions when I was 13. I live in Liverpool
:laughing: I didn't even get my picture taken but I'm happy. Lyra auditions taught be a big lesson about auditions. In future I know to not to try (and fail) to be cool. I'll just be myself. Best of luck to Dakota in filming, and best luck to everyone who auditions for anything in future. Next I'm setting my sights on the part of Angelica!
how were the Auditions, Alex. (I was GOing To E-mail you but thought this would be nicer :laughing:)
Does anyone know if / when they are holding auditions for other parts in the film? Or even open extra auditions? Because I would LOVE to be in the film and I've pretty much always wanted to act professionally, but I'm sixteen, so I was too old to go to the auditions for Lyra. :crying:
It was so infuriating, too, because they were only about half an hour away from me, and when you live in the middle of nowhere that's annoyingly close.
my situation is almost exactly the same, except i'm american (blah :wassat:) and 15. but i REALLY REALLY REALLY wanna act in these movies!!!!!!!!!!!!
*sigh* depp and bloom, Blepp, the ultimate guy….ANYWAY
does anyone know if they do have other auditions? ok so im irish, but im sure they have extras or something?
My aunty was a witch in Harry Potter last year, but she just said she signed up on some website! damn i want to be in that film…but i suppose everyone who has posted on this does lol
Hola,
I started work with New Line productions only a year ago, so i'm not developed in the business enough yet to be highly involved in this production. However i am doing what you could call "work experience" in this big budgeted film as part of the creative team, I had the opportunity to meet Dakota Richards and, as of date i can not release any photos. However i can assure you that she is a charming girl who has a great attitude and i'm sure she will portray Lyra as to your expectations.
I'll gladly answer any of your questions about the film.
Adam.
Adam a few questions:
1)Can you reveal any actors they are trying to get for the role of Lee or any other unconfirmed roles.
2)Dakota Richards hair/eye color (if you can)
3)The MPAA rating they are going for with this film.
Thanks a lot,
–Arriving Somewhere =)
One more question Adam:
I know weitz has already adressed the religion issue and I assume he will take the same stance he stated in the interview, but it's been a while since then, and between him leaving and coming back I dont know whats going on. So I guess I would just like to know if his stance is still the same or if he going to pull religion from the script entierly.
Thanks again
–Arriving Somewhere
Adam – I'd obviously also be interested in hearing anything you have to say. Drop a line at webmaster@bridgetothestars.net if you're interested.
I can't believe they've already found a Lyra…. 🙁 🙁 :sad:it was my dream to be her 🙁 :sad:oh, well
come on wat u waitin for if uve got de girl show us some pics pweaz coz a lot of gals i no realli wanted 2 be in her shoes ive wanted 2 act since be4 i could walk but i didnt make it in de audtions n neder did me frend
it was well unfair dey didnt look at us all.
-heya u lot im de frend n i just wanna say well done to dakota blue richards if she is de best shes de best i just hope it isnt a bad film like stormbreaker i mean wat were de finkin it was rubbish i mean well alex pettyfer wasn't but the hole film was rubbish sozzy
– i still fink i should have got the part of lyra
-shut up dawn sozzy bout her peeps shes well annying
🙂
stormbreaker was quite hilarious in crapness
ugh i cant type again. that doesnt even make any sense even with the fact it blanked out a word that i didnt even mean to come out as a swearword.
I've nOthing tO say but life is REALLY unfair fOr those whO aren't English…
What are yOu suppOsed tO dO if yOu're just a poOr French girl ?
Why am I French ???
~sOrry, just the sad stOry Of a girl whOse dream was tO play Lyra since the beginnig…~
DakOta…yOu're soO lucky…
Cry with me, poOr unlucky girls…
I love the book and I just can't wait about the movie!!!!! 😉
i want to see a picture of dakota blue richards :crying:
every body seems not to care but i can't wait any longer