Tom Baker of the Daily Yomiuri speaks to Chris Weitz in Japan after the the Tokyo premiere of The Golden Compass. While there is little new information for existing His Dark Materials fans, this is Weitz’s first interview since the media buzz around The Golden Compass’ English-language release to theatres. Asked if there will be a sequel, he answers: “I hope so. It’s interesting. At first it looked like we were down for the count because in the U.S. [the film] underperformed. But then internationally it performed really well. It went better than expectations. So, a lot depends on Japan, frankly. I certainly would be sad to not see a second or third film. I think if it does well enough here we’ll be in good shape for that.” Read more.
The Golden Compass opens in Japan this weekend to 700 screens.
I hope there is sequals,but with the news about New Line and Warner…….
I hope it does brilliant in Japan, cause I badly wanna see the two sequels made! And I’m determined to play Will Parry in the sequels!
I’d like to see two sequels made, I guess…
Wonderful interview as usual with Chris. I really hope it will perform rather well in Jap.
Hopefully Warner Brothers, having now acquired New Line, will recognize the potential this franchise holds internationally and decide to pursue it. Hopefully! ^_^
That was a nice interview. As to whether the sequels will be made, I doubt WB would buy NL just to make the same mistakes it did.
But the mistake lied in the execution of the film, not the funding of the film.
I like this interview, he speaks well.
It’s naïve to believe the movie failed at the boxoffice just because of execution mistakes. The story is much too controversial for the ordinary moviegoers.
It’s also naive to assume it was because of the story.
it’d be nice to have the sequels made well, but i cant help but think “the golden compass 2” will somehow sneak it’s way in as the title. how will all the little kiddies know what it is?? >:(
ps: northern lights 2 wouldn’t be so bad. they should have called it that.
But it won’t exactly be repeating NL’s mistakes to fund the sequels, since they did very well internationally. Repeating NL’s mistakes would be to rely solely on US sales, and market it like a generic Eragon adventure.
it sounds like TGC has done reasonably well over the weekend in Japan. It’s topped the Japanese Box Office with an opening weekend gross of around $10 million;
http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/8005
Some of the best news I’ve had all morning…
> I like this interview, he speaks well.
Sure was a nice interview, Karine. He’s very eloquent. He reasons his points well.