Nicole Kidman will play Mrs. Coulter in His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass. Early this morning we received an e-mail from our top New Line source, giving us the green light to confirm the numerous reports today, including ones in the Hollywood Reporter and Variety, that Kidman has officially accepted the role of Mrs. Coulter in Chris Weitz's upcoming movie based on the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman.

The news comes after months of advance reporting by The Daily Mail that Kidman was in negotiations for the role, but that disagreements over her fees had held up the process. Reports started appearing on Friday that Kidman and her new husband, Keith Urban, had moved to London so that she could shoot The Golden Compass. New Line was silent on the reports until today. Official confirmation of this story now gives added weight to the rumors that Paul Bettany, also mentioned in the Daily Mail's articles, will play Lord Asriel. Read More.

Addendum: Philip Pullman told the Oxford Mail, “I always hoped she [Nicole] would play Mrs Coulter because of all the wonderful qualities she has as an actress.”

Nicole Kidman is in final negotiations to star in “The Golden Compass,” New Line Cinema's adaptation of the first installment of author Philip Pullman's best-selling “His Dark Materials” trilogy being directed by Chris Weitz.

Dakota Blue Richards already has been cast as Lyra, a girl who discovers she is at the heart of a hideous conspiracy and that the fate of many children rests with her. She embarks on a journey to the far north to save her best friend and encounters shape-shifting creatures, witches and a variety of otherworldly characters.

Kidman will play Mrs. Coulter, a sinister scholar and socialite with a mysterious past who has a secret link to Lyra.

Also on board the film team are production designer Dennis Gassner (“Road to Perdition”), Oscar-nominated costume designer Ruth Myers (“L.A. Confidential”) and Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Mike Fink (“X2: X-Men United”).

Production on the film, budgeted at $150 million, is scheduled to begin Sept. 4 in the U.K.

Deborah Forte of Scholastic Entertainment is producing the project along with Weitz's Depth of Field production company. Depth of Field's Paul Weitz and Andrew Miano will serve as executive producers. Bill Carraro also will serve as a producer.

The CAA-repped Kidman last was seen on the big screen in 2005's “Bewitched.” Her upcoming films include the Diane Arbus biopic “Fur” and the sci-fi thriller “The Visiting.”