Andrew French of the Oxford Mail spoke to Golden Compass author Philip Pullman who indicated disappointment in hearing that the sequel had been put on hold but was not surprised: “The longer you leave it, the more difficult it becomes  Dakota Blue Richards, the young actress, is getting older, which makes a sequel less likely.” Actress Eva Green who portrayed the witch queen Serafina Pekkala said of the film’s prospects, “At the moment, it’s quite dead.” French cites IMDb reports that the “bleak outlook” for the film adaptation of the Subtle Knife were further worsened by the current global economic downturn. Read more.
Golden Compass film sequel unlikely
October 27, 2008
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it all bases on the imdb news with no (!) source.
So don’t give up hope.
They screwed up the first film so much I hope they dont make the other two. The only hope is that in a few years someone else will buy the rights and make the trilogy the way it was meant to be made!
Well.. can’t say I’m surprised. I hope we’ll get a Director’s Cut then but somehow I don’t see that happening either..
I have mixed feelings either way……whether the sequels happen, or not. At least there still will be the “Book of Dust” (and the “Eragon” movie didn’t do too well, but the new book in that series did), and there will be something to keep the flame going. If there is no petition for a director’s cut DVD, maybe I should start one…….
No, This is a real let down for the fans who were promised the sequels. How do you start a sequels and only make one film this is very wrong. The Author and the Director Deberah Forte promised us we would see these film. And hey guys the film was not that bad, it was voted within the top 10 films of the year and won two oscars and took millions in revenue including Americans buying the Videos and renting them. The rest of the world loved it. You guys call yourselves fans, well make a noise about it let the film company and Directors Know what you feel.
It won one for the effects and were also nominated for art direction but didn’t get it although the art direction was amazing.
I’m hoping too for at least a director’s cut.
@Eel
Just wondering what Eragon has to do with this… I have never known a movie’s success or failure to have a bad impact on the book sales.
I still reckon that if the studio didn’t interfere so much and the 2 hr runtime wasn’t set in stone the film would have been better and therefore more successful. The end of the book is one of my favourites ever, to remove it means the film ends on a damp squib. no scenes were allowed breathing time, and my brother (who has not read the books) had to ask me what was going on afterwards.
I’ll reserve judgement of the film until I see an unfettered director’s cut.
I will be truly dissapointed if they do not decide to make this film. When i saw the first film i thought ‘wow, I’d really like to become a part of this.’ And with the productions of this film (hopefully) come open auditions for Will Parry, and to me, that’s an opportunity of a lifetime. I’ve been waiting too long for them to say they’re not making it now.
I guess my point in mentioning “Eragon” was just an example to explain that just because the”Compass” movie didn’t do well in the US doesn’t mean it’s all a lost cause. But that might not make sense to some of you, since you might not see the matter the way I do. whatever.
It would have been great to have the two sequels to look forward to, yet, who knows what good stuff would have been axed?
But that’s all speculation. That might be all we’ll have to go on.
Frankly this does not surprise me at all. I expected this would happen, especially in the current economic climate. And who knows what the arrangement was that was made for the foreign rights to any sequels?
If you read about “The Butterfly Tattoo” film, you will see that the Dutch company that filmed it used an interesting method of financing it. Perhaps this could be done for TGC sequel, or even a whole new HDM trilogy.
Harry says:
“I still reckon that if the studio didn’t interfere so much and the 2 hr runtime wasn’t set in stone the film would have been better and therefore more successful.”
The impression I got when I saw the ending they chose is that they had already decided not to make the sequels. That’s the best explanation I can find for supressing the original cliff-hanger ending. As someone else wrote above, let’s just hope someone else will take the idea from a fresh new start in the future.
Grumman, the reason the changed the ending was that test audiences found it confusing (it was unclear where Lyra had gone, some thought she had died and went to heaven, etc.).
also the ending now has also a cliffhanger and is unfinished.
Like the film or not, Dakota Blue Richards did a really good job and for most people she IS Lyra.
But she is growing up very quickly and if filming doesn’t start next year (unlikely) then she will look too old for the part and using another actress would make any sequels quite laughable to see.
All in all I don’t hold out much hope – what a shame.
in the end this news isn’t very reliable because it just bases on he imdb news and thats nothing.
So until this year isn’t over we can keep the hope up.
And just hope we get at least a director’s cut if not that would be very, very bad from new line how already messed up a lot.
and after all.
Where are now the plans and the prepared script Pullman spoke of at the end of july? where he got his news from the producers.
DBR was not that good. I disliked the film, but was hoping for sequels. Dagnabit!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
there can be no redemption! the horror!!
Hi Guys I agree, Dakota Blue Richards Lyra and Ben Walker Roger had a real chemistry on set and the ending of the first film implide that they were off on a venture, ie the sequels. I think the film company owe it to the fans to films the sequals. It cost $180 million Dollars and made $370 Million which in my books is a PROFIT, It was in the top 7 films of 2007/2008 and was awarded Oscars so what more to they want? Had they listened to Chris Weitz it would have made even more, but not is all lost, they could make even more with the next two films. You have to speculate to accumilate
So many negative comments. In my eyes if there’s a single person who wants to see the film or would like to play a role, it should be made.
In my opinion, if it’s to make a film like the first one, it’s better that they don’t make a sequence. The first one was so lousy that making a second one the same way would just dissapoint the fans even more. After seeing the movie, my friends that did not read the book couldn’t believe that that was my favourite book ever.
There is very little reason why this film would be made. The Golden Compass was a failure in a great many respects, and failed to mark itself onto the minds of movie-goers. As such there is very little anticipation for a sequel (from the general public at least). The film garnered bad reviews and a disapointing box office, so that with the economy as it is, a sequel seems unprofitable. Plus a The Subtle Knife would need to be involved with religion, something the studio would not be willing to risk.
I’m still all for Miyazaki picking this one up. 🙂
Although it is a shame that live-action versions of ‘The Subtle Knife’ and ‘The Amber Spyglass’ will not be made, there may still be hope. The entire ‘His Dark Materials’ series could be done well as an animated project. (One advantage would be that Dakota Blue Richards could sill do the voice-over for Lyra.) As for how Will and Lyra would be depicted, the people in charge of the project need look no further than the fanart section of this site. My vote would be for Fulyasi or Chelsea Cleavland-Hurley. If HDM were done anime style; I would suggest Reedie Belacqua.
They would never make animated versions of these books, thank God. If they did I think I’d kill myself. Especially if it were anime.
Skye says:
“Grumman, the reason the changed the ending was that test audiences found it confusing (it was unclear where Lyra had gone, some thought she had died and went to heaven, etc.).”
Yes, I know. That’s what the official story says, doesn’t it? I don’t always trust “official stories.”
…well that sucks
Goddamn it. I’d expect at least a director’s cut for Compass still. They couldn’t simply waste the wonderful ending sequence.
And I would really like an animated version by Hayao Miyazaki too :]
The film ended poorly but they should still continue with the sequels. They should have filmed all three at once like LOTR. We are so shocked we have all decided to read the books!
Mr D’s Media Class says:
“… We are so shocked we have all decided to read the books! ”
Actually THAT’S good news. *thumbup*
well that’s dissappointing, but now there’s more reason than ever to have a directors cut dvd. Come on, if Dakota’s too old for sequels then they would have to make them with different acrtess so they can’t use they footage that was shot of TGC ending. So, give us the footage now as a dvd extra so at least we can get to see it!!
Lyra, Roger and the other kids are not to old to make the sequals, why dont the film makers just get on with it. They made a profit on the film so whats the problem. The next two films will make even more money for them.
Lets Please not leave it any longer, you own it to the true fans. I have not met anyone that has said that they hated the film, yes, I agree it should have been longer and a litle closer to the book but they were trying to remove the religous part which they acheived really well.
COME ON NEW LINE!!!!!
The books are among my favourite of all time, and I liked the film. Obviosuly the ending is all wrong and should have ended where the book ends. However, I can see that a major Christmas holiday family film couldn’t very well end with the death of a little boy.
I am gutted that they’re not making the sequels, but hold out hope that sense will prevail eventually, or with another studio. Dakota Richards is good – but ultimately replaceable…
Well, I canot call myself a fan for I have not read the books; however, when I first saw “The Golden Compass” I loved it. So, I am really disappointed to hear that the sequel might not continue. If the sequel’s of “the golden compass” are canceled then it would have been an awful waste of time of everyone (the cast, production, director, “everyone”) inculding the fans and me, not to mention money.
Hope this does’t happen for everyones sake.
I would like the next 2 films to be made. But I don’t see it happening. It looks like to me they are finding excuses not to make them, because they probabley think they won’t make much money with the next two.
I have been waiting for more news on The Subtle Knife. But I don’t see it happening anymore.
Come on New Line, the film Narnia made another film a year later I sure you could do it, the sequels with be a great success, the fans want it. Phillip Pulman should put pressure on the film company as he is letting his fans down.
I wouldn’t say Pulman’s letting his fans down by not pressing New Line to make the sequels. After all, he sold the rights, and it’s only New Line’s, and now WB’s responsability. However, I think us fans would like to see another book by him. I mean a real book, not just a novella, although I enjoyed “Once upon a time in the North” thoroughly.
And now Chris Weitz is engaged with the sequel for “Twilight”.
More unlikeliness for Knife.
I have not lost hope. Maybe a fan group can help push it along? Like the “Firefly” fan base that got “Serenity” put into production. Maybe we the fans need to be more proactive?
There _is_ a petition going, at least. I signed it, at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/the-subtle-knife-and-the-amber-spyglass.html . Granted, I don’t know if it’ll do much, but it’s better than nothing. I mean, I’d love to stand outisde with signs and sends tens of thousands of letters to whomever, but I’m only willing to put forth so much effort 😉
Juliet the problem is “serenity” tanked at box office, not a good comparison! TGC is expensive too make and the economy isnt doing well now.
still dont see why we can not have a director-cut TGC tho…..
Uh, I’ve been thinking on write an essay, like “Why should The Golden Compass have a director’s cut”. Someday I’ll do it, hehe.
Not having read the books i did enjoy the movie, until i got to the end and now with the prospect of the other two movies looking bleak i am very disappointed. I really hope that at some point they do complete the trilogy.
I loved the movie and I hope that the trilogy will continue.
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If they are gona make the sequels they are gonna have to be quick… Dakota is 17 now and the whole trilogy lasts about 2 months, so for Lyra to have aged so much in 2 months won’t look right at all :/