Writer/Director Chris Weitz has returned to the director’s chair to helm New Line Cinema’s The Golden Compass, the movie adaptation of the first installment of author Philip Pullman’s popular His Dark Materials trilogy, it was announced today by Toby Emmerich, New Line Cinema’s President of Production.
Weitz, who penned the movie's screenplay, was originally attached to direct the project in 2005 before stepping down and being replaced by Anand Tucker. Tucker has exited the movie due to differences in creative direction with New Line. Read the full press release.
You can also read our (once again relevant) interview with Mr. Weitz here.
Update: The Hollywood Reporter has also finally picked up on the story, and adds that “sources close to the project cited budget constraints” as a reason for the change in director. Continue reading →
Dan emails in to direct us to the fan film trailer he has created for The Golden Compass. In a similar vein to the previous two teaser trailers we've featured here, the video is a mock trailer for the forthcoming film – directed by and starring fans. You can still download the previous two fan trailers on our His Dark Materials movie page. Head over to the Green Sky Pictures site to view this newest trailer.
Philip Pullman is to head the bill at a new literary festival to celebrate Capital of Culture year in Liverpool, according to icLiverpool. The festival is expected to take place over several days in November 2008 and will include local and national names taking part in readings, discussions and debates. Read more.
The Sunday Times reports on the forthcoming “flood of Christian films” showing that “Hollywood, long accused of promoting Godless amorality, has found religion.” Naturally, His Dark Materials gets a mention, alongside the likes of The Passion of the Christ, The Da Vinci Code and the upcoming remake of The Wicker Man. Read more.
Update: The National Secular Society has made the educational DVD Why Atheism? (which we reported the release of in December) available to buy exclusively from the NSS shop. The DVD features six films, including an extended interview with Philip Pullman in which “the best-selling novelist and honorary associate of the National Secular Society talks to Michael Rosen about morality, fundamentalism, his atheist heroes and fears for the future of atheism.”
You can find out about the rest of the DVD's contents and buy a copy for yourself here.
