New Line announced today that the official website for His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass is now online at www.goldencompassmovie.com. The site features never-before-seen images from the set, concept art, an alethiometer feature (certain symbol combinations will unlock extra concept art–see the solution), and more information about the upcoming film. Read the Full Press Release
Update: Photos of Eva Green as Serafina Pekkala–without blonde hair–have been added to the site. (Thanks to J for the tip)
A few things we've learnt about the film from the site:
- Armored bears to be called 'ice bears'; although still panserbjorne.
- Daemon to be pronounced 'day-mon' instead of 'dee-mon'.
- Concept art gives Lyra's world a curious mix of high- and old-technology.
- Magisterium increasingly looking like plain political fascists.
- Fra Pavel, instead of the Master, apparently to poison Lord Asriel.
- Serafina not blonde after all!
NEW LINE CINEMA LAUNCHES OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR
UPCOMING FANTASY EPIC THE GOLDEN COMPASS
Site Debuts Exactly One Year Before Film’s Worldwide Release
LOS ANGELES (Dec. 7, 2006) – New Line Cinema will launch the official website for its upcoming fantasy epic The Golden Compass (www.goldencompassmovie.com) on December 7th, a year to the date of the film’s scheduled worldwide release, it was announced today by New Line’s President and COO of Worldwide Distribution and Marketing Rolf Mittweg.
“The Golden Compass already has a remarkable following thanks to the success of the books and there’s a great deal of anticipation for this film,†says Mittweg. “We’re excited to share some of these first images from the production with fans all over the world, and to introduce this story to people who may not be familiar with the books.â€Â
Producer Deborah Forte adds, “Philip Pullman created an amazing world in his books, and this website gives fans the opportunity to explore that world in an interactive way.â€Â
At launch, The Golden Compass website will feature exclusive content about the film’s production including more than a dozen first-look images from the set as well as striking concept art. The content will be available in 11 languages and will include:
– The Alethiometer: Derived from the Greek words for “truth†and “measure,†the Alethiometer is a virtual re-creation of the device used in the film to decipher the truth. Users are able to select and examine its arcane symbols – and to unlock hidden website content if they choose the right ones.
– The World of The Golden Compass: A unique look at the characters and locations in the film including photos of the acclaimed cast (which includes Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliot, Ian McShane and newcomer Dakota Blue Richards) in character as well as production concept art which offers a sneak peek at some scenes in the film.
Based on author Philip Pullman’s bestselling and award-winning novel, The Golden Compass tells the first story in Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. The Golden Compass is an exciting fantasy adventure, set in an alternative world where people’s souls manifest themselves as animals, talking bears fight wars, and Gyptians and witches co-exist. At the center of the story is Lyra (played by newcomer Dakota Blue Richards), a 12-year-old girl who starts out trying to rescue a friend who’s been kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as the Gobblers – and winds up on an epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well. The Golden Compass stars an ensemble cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliott, and Ian McShane. The film is written and directed by Chris Weitz (About A Boy, Antz) and produced by Deborah Forte and Bill Carraro (Frequency). It is executive produced by Andrew Miano and Paul Weitz (In Good Company). The Golden Compass is scheduled for a Dec. 7, 2007 release.
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).
For the solution to the alethiometer puzzle to unlock hidden concept art, highlight the following white text: “Symbols: Cauldron, Thunderbolt, Horse “
:crying: why do they call them 'ice bears'?!?! i'm very upset over this…iorek is my fav character 🙁 anyway the website is pretty good, but i wish it had more interactive stuff…but i guess thats what fansites are for 😉
ICE BEAR??? HOW DARE THEY?? that is horrible. :angry: :angry: that will just be the first of many things they will RUIN, AND DESTROY! god, why do they have to make movies of almost every good book? harry potter, eragon, lord of the rings, and now this? grrrrrrrrrrrrr. :angry:
the fact is, if you dont like the idea of there being a movie, just ignore it. simple as. STOP COMPLAINING, IT IS MERELY AN ADAPTATION. Stop wasting your time complaining. Read more books.
What the heck are you getting upset about? They're called panserbjorne, and that hasn't changed.
:laughing:
What a lovely website, with such aswesome stills, ya'll! :tongue: I only wish that I could see a good picture of one or two of the witches!
I hate that Lyra is like L-eye-ra. I always thought of it as L-ee-ra.
:wassat:
Hello, 'ice bear' isn't just some name they made up for the movie. It is what polar bears are called in some parts of Europe. Let's not be ethnocentric here 😀 Why does it even matter if they are called ice bears or armoured bears? Both terms just state the obvious.
come ON guys! give them a break. daymons deemons leyera leera the producers can't please everyone. and what does it really matter if they're ice bears or armoured bears.its not like they're changing the plot or anything.
compas, candle, globe. :laughing:
Oh, come on guys! It's just a few names and pronunciations. Ice bears, L-eye-ra, day-mons, Ragnar…little details in a complex book. The spirit, I'm sure, will be the same, and the story will be respected. I mean, if even Pullman isn't complaining about the movie, should we?
The Alethiometer is great, even better than everything I was expecting. Just wonderful. And I like the Magisterium having more political power.
I am getting closer and closer to not seeing the movie at all – they are mucking up EVERYTHING in my opinion because I really care about small like pronunciations and looks because those are the smaller details that really bring a book to life, so I find it important that they translate those small things onto the big screen.
Only I am pleased that it is L eye ra because that is how I always thought of her name because it sounds more like liar, which is of course important in the world of the dead in the third book.
I want a picture of the golden monkey now!!!!! I'ts one of my fabourites daemons…..
And I have to say that I think that this is processing very well… And that Nicole is Mrs. Coulter….You don't see Nicole Kidman in thoso photos, you see Marisa Coulter.Imagine the photo with the golden dress and with the golden monkey, it will be awsome (if they pull a good golden monkey of course) The same with the other caracthers, they are all alive!!
Can't wait…An also really happy because they seen to not changing the plot, more, they put the magisteriun in a nazi like.
Sorry for my english…
Seriously, whose english is that bad that they pronounce Lyra as L"ee"ra. i mean come on, its a film, what we say will have no bearing on them making it, there spending millions to make what is going to be a very good film. It all looks great, even the pic of scoresby. i think people need to lighten up a little.
We all have an idea in our heads as to what the film should be like but the only person who knows best on this film is mr pullman himself, and you should count your lucky stars that hes taking part in the making.
Anyway thats my rant overwith.
I have a question: Is the "younger fellow" the boy that Marisa Coulter kidnap at the begining of the book in the front of a church??
Thanks, I'm looking specially to see this scene…
It's funny how people are getting fundamentalist over hair color and names. It's like the real world Magisterium! (Heck, am I the only one GLAD that they are still calling it the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magisterium">Magisterium</a>?)
this really is SO exciting and SO awesome… been waiting 5 years… 1 more isn't so bad! anyway… cant wait
ooo, the magisterium… i like the nazi approach
Not that this counts for much, but, being Norwegian, I checked the Norwegian version of the site in addition to the English one, and the Magisterium is referred to as the Church. It's probably just sloppy translating, but who knows?
Here are the codes to the Alethiometer. If you think it would be more fun finding them yourselves, then don't look below.
SPOILER ALERT
—————————————
candlestick, compass, globe
cauldron, thunderbolt, horse
walled garden, griffen, baby
chameleon, beehive, angel
bull, globe, cornucopia
dolphin, griffin, horse
horse, compass, beehive
—————————————
Enjoy! 🙂
I think it's fair enough to pronounce "daemon" as "daymon". "Daemon" or "dæmon" is fine on the printed page, but just sounds like "demon" when spoken, which has other connotations.
That concept art has me wetting myself with excitement. 🙂 🙂 🙂
🙂 Thanks for the alethiometer solutions, tellthemstories – the pictures are great.
I find it funny that so many people are complaining about the "dae-mon" pronunciation. Assuming Lyra's world is more old-fashioned, as it appears to be, and as they use alternate spellings and pronunciations of words/names we know, then it's not surprising that they would opt for the original Greek pronunciation of the word "demon"/"daemon"/"daimon".
Also, Lyra is a real name, and it's pronounced like "lyre", which is where it comes from, not "leer".
It's interesting how fascist the Magisterium is looking. I wonder if they'll make it appear to be a fascist government, then spring the Church connection on us in the final film, which is when it becomes most prominent?
The costumes are looking gorgeous, and I love how steampunk it all looks. Great casting so far. I'm excited!
melliu, the "younger fellow" seen in one of the photos (the one that accompanies the text about Gobblers) is Roger. Don't know if it's in front of a church or not, but I don't think it is. It was more of a back alley. It could be adjacent to a church… =)
Pana, I think what's bugging people about the "dae-mon" pronunciation is that it's a change from how Pullman pronounces it in the audiobooks.
For those who want a refresher on some of the other pronunciations as heard in the audiobooks, go to http://www.bridgetothestars.net/index.php?p=pronunciations
I am wondering if Nicole Kidman's platinum blonde hair is in any way connected to the Nazi look of the Magisterium. It has never bugged me that she is blonde in the film, but in looking at the Magisterium pic I instantly thought there was a Nazi look, and when you add that to Coulter's hair, it just makes you think. See I wonder if those who haven't read the books won't "understand" the whole idea behind the Church structure and the evil Magisterium unless they make it out to be "like" something they do understand, like Nazi/Aryan nation ideology.
susan, that is an interesting thought. Looking at the beautiful pic of Nicole in the gold dress her hair is actually more blonde then it usually is and add that to the fact that she has piercing blue eyes, it makes you wonder.
"Leer-ah"? It's Lie-ra. Lyra doesn't leer, she lies! Mrs Coulter leers. And the hellenic (Ancient Greek) pronounciation of daemon sounds almost like day-mon anyway. Unless the narrator is Jamaican and it's all a misunderstanding, yeah mon. You say tom-eh-toe, I say tom-ah-toe, let's call the whole thing off! PS That's _exactly_ how I imagined the Magisterium. Creepily accurate.
I think it all looks fantastic – can't wait! I'm sure we'll all get used to the different pronounciations, and you have to admit that given the connotations of the word 'demon', changing the pronounciation of 'daemon' is perhaps not a bad idea.
Oh, and BTW, the new pics of DBR definitely confirm she was the girl I 'got a Lyra feeling about' in Bella Pasta in Oxford a couple of months ago. Just call me psychic, eh? 😉
Claire
This movie looks like it is going to be gorgeous in every single way! ^_^ I can't wait for 12/07/07. :laughing:
The magesterium HAVE to be portrayed as nazi-type fascists in the film because otherwise some (minority) fundamentalist christian group will take fiction literally again and have a massive boo about slander to the church, blasphemy etc. Like the sort of people who burn harry potter because it contains "witchcraft" xD
To make the magesterium something people can relate to but also something really evil, pick the one thing that practically EVERYONE hates- Nazi type rule, far-right regiemes etc.
They're going to leave all the religious stuff out and replace it with fascism. Makes sense I suppose, though of course it's a disapointment for fans of the book like myself. I bet they don't use the word "church" once in the film.
If I may say, I think there will be some influence of the Church remaining in Lyra's world. For one, the word 'Magisterium' refers to the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church (thank you, Merriam-Webster, 1977). You can't get rid of that strain entirely. Plus, that picture that was on the site of Fra Paval appeared to have caught him breaking the bread for the Eucharist, therefore he's still a priest. (But would the Magisterium even support the Eucharist, because they follow Calvin? Oh, the humanity!)
That said, Ms. Blue Richards looks amazing. This film looks like it'll be different from how I pictured the books, and that's *wonderful*
vifetoile, I'm pretty sure that the picture of Fra Pavel is of him poisoning the tokay in the retiring room.
I agree with Libby. They've changed the poisoning scene, which I am not too happy about. I can live with the semantics and name changes.
Oooh Claire, you are psychic, that's a good sign if a fan can spot Lyra before she even knows about it.
Everything looks pretty great. Think how lucky we are! The film is being made! And not only that, it is gorgeously crafted and magnificently cast. A year is hard to wait through…but it means we'll see more pictures, articles, attention, action figures (Yes. And I'll buy them.) and everyone will wonder what daemon one would have.
The Master and the Librarian are still going to be in the movie though. Somehow I still think the Master will try to poison Asriel…there wouldn't be much for the Master or Librarian to do otherwise.
looks like the information about serafina is up on the golden compass official site. and she does not have blonde hair *gasp*
if Fra Pavel is the one who tries to poison L.A., how can Lyra save him?! i can't imagine those three together :wassat:
Why do they have to change stupid things?
They know that it's going to upset/annoy the fans.
For the sake of having the right characters doing the right things, and having them look how they're described in the book isn't much to ask.
dear richard,
is it too much to ask to just deal with those tiny changes?
Thanks Mockingbird! You're right – it's a good sign that she just had that Lyra 'vibe' to me. She has a smile that just lights up her whole face. She did look very young, but then she was in a pink tracksuit at the time!
can someone tell me where the photo's of eva green as serafina are? i cant find them
She was in a pink tracksuit? Oh dear, Dakota was a Chav! :tongue:
All right, Seraphina appears to be dark haired in the movie, whereas she was blond in the book.
Let the moaning commence.
daymon. Day-Mon. DAY-MON?!?!
Mel –
To find Serafina on the site, go to the Lyra's World section, it should be the section you're on when you first enter the site. Scroll through the characters by pressing the arrow at the bottom right of the little circle that shows pictures. Serafina is between Fra Pavel and John Faa.
I didn't dare to hope that she wouldn't be blonde, but somebody appears to be on my wavelength!
Eva looks crazy, I cant decide if I like it or not though :wassat:
i always prnounced it day-mon anyway. =\
Sean, I also pronounced it day-mon. I don't why everyone else is in an uproar about it.