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. Amz says:

    :crying:*urgent!VII**
    *very important info!
    Oh, never mind, forget it. :angry:

  2. Boolarby says:

    hi Amz! am i aloud 2 no? is it an audition?

  3. Amz says:

    unfortunately no 🙁 it's only really because i haven't even spoken to Sammy about HER audition etc. yet while she's telling 21 year old Barcelonarians(I know that's not right, sorry!)! :angry: It's mostly stuff between us though, so don't worry. 🙂

  4. Amz says:

    lol sorry it's not interesting is it?
    Where is Sammy!?!? :wassat:

  5. william says:

    Hey!! I'ts 21 years old barcelonian…I don't know, 15 minutes ago she was here…… 😉

  6. Sammy says:

    OK OK CALM DOWN!!!! i am 12 and amy what is wrong??!! :wassat:

  7. Amz says:

    What HAPPENED!!! TELL ME EVERYTHING, FIRST!!! also, are you back home yet? If so, I'll call you.

  8. Amz says:

    ..okay, well, I can't wait, so; I have the Ultimate Acting guide!!!! You need to come over to check it out, and then we can practise scenes using it! it has the most AWESOME tips and theories, but some of them are really weird like, 'there are emotions within emotions, and levels' and stuff. It is SO COOL…you need to see it! So RSPV!

  9. Amz says:

    Come on, Sammy! *moan* 🙁

  10. Dakota's #3 fan says:

    i LOVE inkheart!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you are so lucky you got to audition!!!!!!!!!!!! i read about the auditions but i live in the US :crying: :crying: :crying: so obvoiusly I couldn't audition
    hi c-i'm going to your house today

  11. Calypso says:

    Wait..they're making an Inkheart movie?
    *sighs*

  12. william says:

    Hey,Sammy, it's in good process your web page?? I'm very anxious!! Sorry if i'm a little weighed!! 😉

  13. Sammy says:

    its ok, and amy is a level 9 good in acting?

  14. Amz says:

    I don't know… :wassat: probably?
    :laughing: do you want to come to my house today

  15. Amz says:

    STOP COMING ON THEN GOING OFF!!!!! :angry:

  16. Sammy says:

    cant, rianna is at my house

  17. Amzzzz says:

    oh ryt. wel l8a then?

  18. Amy says:

    h'lo? :wassat:

  19. Amz says:

    oh well*yawn*
    bye.*later sammy!*

  20. pitu says:

    Nobody knows if a picture of Dakota can be found on the web?? I want to see her!!

  21. Amy says:

    next saturday, k?
    amzzzzzzz 🙂

  22. claystar says:

    sammy you suck go to bed little girl your a fake man. pisssssssssss. take it from a real actor whos too busy to post here 15 times a day but just this once, kids dont believe her shes a sham, shes just as pathetic as the rest of yas. anyway love the book, cant wait for the movie xxoo ciao.

  23. william says:

    Hey, have you got the web page finished?

  24. Amz says:

    Claystar whoever you think you are is wrong, cos we all know you are a ~can't say on this site~. some of us know Sammy and you are just a jealous ~as before~, it's only because she has work as an actor, so stop being idiotic cos we know that it's YOU that's in the wrong. Come on, somebody who posts here everyday that we all know, and a random person comes along and starts being rude about them? Nobody's going to like you with that attitude.
    ~KittyKat~

  25. Sammy says:

    oh my god what a b****!! well if you think it's so sad to leave messages on this site then why are you leaving messages!! i am not a shame, i no half the people who come on this site so GET LOST!!!! :angry: (sorry you all had to see me angry there)

  26. Amz says:

    Yeah, anybody who even THINKS about talking to Sammy like that again is going to be subjected to ten hours in an enclosed space with my brother's mental friends and a dozen airzookas.
    In short they will die. :angry:

  27. Sammy says:

    :laughing: thank you amz!

  28. Amz says:

    :smile:*biiiiiiiiiiiiiig smile* my pleasure. Sammy, acting tip from my guide of the day; practise with friends. (even if they are rubbish.) If acting is a part of your life, as well as a part of your work, it becomes more serious than lessons can do for you.
    True Fact.

  29. Sammy says:

    have you noticed that she put 'little girl' maybe she is jealous that i got to audition for Lyra and InkHeart and SHE didn't!

  30. Mischa says:

    OMG! I can't believe somebody thinks you're a fakey-horrible person! That's awful! Anyway, how do we see pics of Dakota? And I think I know about some new auditions! Wait a mo. let me check this out…… nope sorry I was wrong. Oh well. Let us hear anymore about your progress with Inkheart. Oh yeah! Sammy, on your site you say Inkheart is like your fave book- but have you actually finished reading that and the next book? Inkspell is way better!… Also, would you describe yourself as a complete, utter bookworm? That's how I'd describe myself. ANYWAY. Does anyone know when they'll release pics of Dakota? curious.

  31. ???!!!??? says:

    shut up mischa because Sammy seems really nice and i don't want you to be mean to her!

  32. ???!!!??? says:

    your so full of yourself!

  33. anonymous says:

    WOah, what did Mischa do?

  34. Rin says:

    hi people i havn't been 2 this site in a LONG time-i've been so busy! anyway, i can't beleive there are still no pics! and the filmings even started!
    i get a feeling that everyone that posts knows each other exept me. is that true?
    anyway, it's so cool inkheart is being made to a movie. i'm a bookworm, to, but i havn't read inkspell. my freind read it and said it's boring. i'll try to read it sometime.
    by the way, sammy, what's your website?
    bye people. i have 2 go now
    lml,c

  35. Amz says:

    yeah Mishca did nothing! Leave her alone, weirdo!

  36. butterfly says:

    HI C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
    see you sun!!
    sorry people but i'm hyper!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  37. Sammy says:

    ARRRRGGGHH! i am bored! 🙁

  38. Amz says:

    sammy! thought you were going to call me? I've just been at violin.

  39. mogglemoose says:

    has nebodee seen dakota and say wot she looks like?

  40. Dakota's #3444444 fan says:

    do you play the violin, Amz? i do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
    c-email me!

  41. Rin says:

    I'M BORED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙁

  42. jmart239 says:

    does anyone know what the golden compass will be rated? :tongue:

  43. Amz says:

    yeah I play violin, i started to play electric guitar too but I had to give it up 🙁

  44. william says:

    Hey Sammy!! Have you got your web page finished??

  45. Dakota's #3444444 fan says:

    cool, Amz! i also play the flute. my brother started guitar but he quit. i actually kind of learned to using his book but i like the violin WAY better!!!! :laughing:

  46. roxanna says:

    i lov my little dakota shez mi bessie and i lovvvvvvvvv her. u may not believe me but id u dont then dont im not gonna stop u im just saying i lov her and plz dont dis her cuz u didnt get it and she did cuz shez really lovely!!!!!!

  47. roxanna says:

    SAMMY IS A FAKE!!!!!! dakota is not 15%spanish and defantly not 5% swedish!!! i go to skol wif her and shez mi besie sammy y r u doing this??? :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

  48. Amz says:

    oh for ****'s sake! If you're going to read the posts, read them properly! Sammy wasn't even TALKING about Dakota when she said that! Just leave us alone, we're not bothered if you know dakota. Stop boasting.

  49. Amz says:

    WHERE THE F@#% is Sammy!?!?!? Sammy have you been ABDUCTED by ALIENS??

    .. :laughing:

  50. Sammy says:

    no!! :laughing: oh and roxanna i was talking about myself when i said i am part spainish and swedish!! are you sure i am the fake, not you! i mean YOU are the one who is saying that you no dakota……something is suspicious about you….