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.
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791 Responses to Lyra Cast and Movie to Begin Production

  1. Mischa says:

    Hey Sam! Lets not tell anyone about the adns (u know) then we have more chance. Hi!

  2. Mischa says:

    I didn't know you'd met Dakota as well?
    Do you want to switch to our shoutbox? More private.

  3. Sammy says:

    ok 😉

  4. KittyKat: says:

    Sammy, you'd better tell me RIGHT NOW or I will NOT be happy. :angry:Also I told you about Lyra auditions and then you got to the final forty. TELL.
    (heehee, the code is fukkk)

  5. orange says:

    i'm from the us. my friend is also, who posts, but she keeps changing her name, so you wouldn't know who she is.
    you must be from england if you got to go to the auditions. LUCKY! i really wish i could have gone.
    i also really want to visit england.
    i love the accents! 🙂 :laughing:

  6. KittyKat: says:

    yeah, our accents are the BEST. >*< I'm not even English, well not fully but I live in England I was born here and English is my mother tongue, although I am only 1/4 us-anian. (that's us not U.S.)

  7. Sammy says:

    i am english but i am 15% spanish and 5% swedish 🙂

  8. KittyKat: says:

    :laughing:Hi sammy I am 50% Scottish, 25% English and 25% Greek Cypriot 🙂 How was your first day back, did you get homework too?

  9. Sammy says:

    :laughing: ha ha!! i didn't get homework! sorry that is mean…. my day was good how was yours?

  10. KittyKat: says:

    good-ish but I need to talk to you to tell you why, I have some small theories about 1.4(the other one :tongue:)but him and HJ compared timetables today 🙁 don't know the results of that meeting, all she said to me all day was; 'Hiiiiiiiiiii :smile:!'-in that slightly anynogni way… 🙁

  11. Sammy says:

    :crying: well i am sure it will all be ok, everything will blow over. anyway you have got more chance of 1.4 likeing you then i have of Daniel Radcliffe ever fancying me lol! :laughing:

  12. Rin says:

    hey c! when is your 1st day of school!? email me!!!!!!!!!!!!!lml!!!!!!!!!! i have tons of HW :laughing: :laughing:
    yeah, i love english accents to! i wish i were english!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

  13. orange says:

    :smile:hi n! no, my first day is thurs. too bad you have so much hw!
    check your email!
    i know, i really wish i were english! all the good authors are from there! 🙂

  14. butterfly says:

    i know! i wish i were english to!
    also-i'm going to your house sun, c!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

  15. orange says:

    :smile:yea, i know!! i cant wait!
    so, your mom said that you were going to look at cathrin mcually and shevrus?…

  16. KittyKat: says:

    yeah but SJV (soapy V) sits next to him in like EVERYTHING what with the W-V thing. 🙁 + he already has a girlfriend. Plus D.R. WILL like you on account of the fact you are going to ace your Saturday audition and be a movie star! 🙂

  17. Sammy says:

    if it helps then being english isn't everything that everyone says it is but i supose we do have good authors…..anyway remember that London is probably the worst part of england 🙂

  18. Sammy says:

    🙂 thank you kittykat you rock!! XOXOX

  19. Amz(KittyKat) says:

    Ah, London…the streets are paved with gold there, you know! (that's cos the bond street shops can afford it! :laughing:) Anyway ultra-good luck Sammy!

  20. Amz says:

    thanks! Sorry i didn't know you posted again I was writing (below)

  21. Sammy says:

    its ok! but just so you lot know, london is crowded and busy there is litter evrywhere!!!!! but some places are nice in london, if you ever do go go to the queens palace!! 🙂

  22. Amz says:

    where's the auditi-OOOOH!!!!! Can I go with you for support???Pleeeeease!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 :smile:Then I can coach you and prepare you and tell you stuff about the character!please? It's not like there's anything else for me to do, and andy's going to laserquest with soapy h's little brother.
    Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease? 🙂 🙂 🙂
    :crying:*puppydog eyes*

  23. Amz says:

    PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE? :crying:

  24. ? says:

    Sammy say no! I told you about them! PLEASE! It's not fair on me and it might lessen your chance of getting the part! You're lucky you can actually go anyway- I have to send a video.

  25. butterfly says:

    yeah, we might i think cause if you try to get in ( i don't remember what the word 4 that is) of yeah, if you apply or something u do it in the beg. of 8th. can't wait til sun!!!!!!!!!!! check your email!!!!!!! lml :laughing:
    WE NEED A PIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    also, i don't care if london is dirty, I STILL WANT TO GO THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

  26. Calypso says:

    So, do any of you have any idea as to when they'll be releasing pictures of miss Dakota??

  27. orange says:

    that's cool! i hope you go to shevrus, because it is right down the street from my house!! 🙂 yea, i cant wait for sun! you can finally see my new house!
    i know! i dont' care if it is dirty! it sounds awsome!! my cousins are getting to go there on a sabatical, and it isn't fair!!! 🙁 oh well. engiland is awsome! oh, and n, have you heard from a??

  28. Amz says:

    Sammy, who is '?'?cos whoever it is is deluded. I've never got to go to an actual audition before, and it would be cool to go along. So '?' stop being a cow when you don't even know me, why would I bother even auditioning when I know Sammy is!
    PS: If you're really, really thick that means that Sammy is going to completely get the part, she rules. She is the best actress like ever.
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

  29. Sammy says:

    awwwww thanx!! i really hope i get the part to (well duh lol) :laughing:

  30. Amz says:

    i know! just posting this so you don't go off the net I wanna chat!

  31. Amzzzzzzzzzzz says:

    helloo? :crying:

  32. Amz says:

    :angry:

  33. hazel says:

    Would everyone please be patient.. i want photographs of Dakota just as much as you do, but us persisting about wanting to see them wont make New Line release them any faster..

    I know its been like, months since she's been casted.. but you never know- the photos might be released tomorrow. Who knows xD

  34. Sammy says:

    ok whatever. swiftly moving on, i will try and get some pictures of london for you guys!

  35. Amz says:

    I like London.

  36. Sammy says:

    i know you do! :laughing: :laughing:

  37. Amz says:

    hi1 stay on plz!

  38. Amz says:

    you know what would be cool? If we rented Sainsbury's for a party. :laughing: :tongue: they could leave up the food shelves and play the music really loudly. :laughing:
    Although you'd have to pay several tens of thousand pounds. 🙁

  39. Amz says:

    llm ":laughing:"

  40. sammy says:

    lol! :laughing: i have to go to manchester next week! 🙁

  41. Amz says:

    why?
    okay, come on here at exactly 8 and we can talk then.

  42. Amz says:

    well, I waited half an hour…see you 2moz sammy, i hope 🙂

  43. orange says:

    :smile:pictures of london for us?? :laughing:

  44. Sammy says:

    yes I have a website and i will put them on that. i will give you my website address at the time, ok? (by the way sorry amz i just got on and itz 9:00, soz) 🙁 :crying:

  45. orange says:

    :laughing:wow! thanx!!! that is really nice of you! :laughing: :laughing:

  46. Dakota's #3444444 fan says:

    c-can you guess who i am? i bet you know! so anyway, i can't wait 2 c you new house! 1 more day of school. and avery gota call from anna sun! i was away, but i'm hoping i can talk to her this weekend!
    and thanx, sammy
    your cousins are SSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOO lucky, orange!!!!!!!!!!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:sorry that was weird

  47. Sammy says:

    its no problem 🙂

  48. orange says:

    :laughing:wow n! that was dramatic!!
    thats cool that a got a call from a. what did she say?? a is still ignoiring me. did she email you back yet?
    anyways, so, yea, my cousins are really lucky!! they're probably going to come back with e. accents, and that will not be fair! like colin and gemma did.
    i have to go to school now.

  49. georgia says:

    has anyone actually seen a photo of her ???????????????? :wassat:

  50. Amz says:

    Uh…yes! But not the public. (Work it OUT, people!)
    🙂 🙂 GOOD LUCK SAMMY!!!!! 🙂 🙂