Philip Pullman cast fresh doubt on the big screen future of the trilogy, revealing he has yet to receive any contact regarding filming for The Subtle Knife. Talking to The Independent, he explained:
“I know everyone would like to see a sequel and I know I’d like to see it. When the first film was in production, I was talking to the studio and to Chris Weitz and producers quite frequently. I’m sure I would be now if the sequel was in production.”
Director Chris Weitz declined to comment, stating he did not want to talk about the project while the studio responsible for the first film was refusing to discuss the future of the trilogy.
In a separate interview with The Telegraph Mr Pullman lamented the role of religious protesters on the U.S. box office figures. Although he thought the attacks were misdirected, he had “no doubt to say it did influence a number of people not to go to see it.”
In spite of this, he played down fears that the sequels had been scrapped, insisting it was quite normal for potential films to remain in limbo for some time before a final decision is made. He remains “hopeful” that the sequels will be made.
Michael Gubbins, the editor of Screen International, said it was unlikely that the film could be brought out by next year, especially in a tough box office environment with “trilogy congestion” in following months, but that the franchise was likely to be revisited in the future.
The full stories can be read at The Telegraph and The Independent.
Update (5 Aug 2008): After speaking to the producers, Mr Pullman has revealed the film’s recent developments to the Oxford Mail:
“They are getting a script together and they have plans to get things going – in time all things are possible and I feel quite positive about it.”
Philip Pullman last night presented the Branford Boase Award to author Jenny Downham at a glitzy ceremony in London. Downham’s prize for writing her debut novel for children Before I Die was a £1000 cheque and a hand-crafted silver inlaid box. Amongst the guests was a fellow Carnegie winner, Meg Rosoff. Mr Pullman had been invited to present the award due to the illness of well-known writer Dame Jacqueline Wilson. As he took to the podium he was heard to joke that he wasn’t wearing Jacqueline Wilson’s renowned rings. He was however wearing an unusual tie!
Pullman said of winner Downham:
“Before I Die is a truly remarkable books, and one that shows that as well as being able to pick authors of startling and undeniable talent, David Fickling has lost none of the enormous tact and skill that makes him such a fine editor. I very much look forward to seeing what Jenny Downham goes on to write next – as well, of course, as seeing what David Flickling discovers!”
Winner Jenny Downham and Mr. Pullman both share the same editor, David Fickling. He picked up his own award for being Downham’s editor. He has now won the editor’s award two years running.
Mr. Pullman also presented awards and prizes to the six winners of the Henrietta Branford children’s writing competition.
Blogger Bookwitch was at the event and you can read her account of the evening here. You can also read more on the Branford Boase’s website here.
Philip Pullman writes in the latest Children’s Digest email that his identity has been stolen on popular social networking site Facebook.
“I now learn that there is an entry on Facebook in my name. Someone has lifted some photos out of various publicly accessible sources, copied some of the material from my website, and added a lot of comments in his or her own clumsy and facetious words. I have asked the Facebook controllers to withdraw this entry at once, but if anyone (and I believe this liar has been corresponding with some bookshops) is under the delusion that they’re talking to me, please be disabused.
“I would personally like to go and strangle the wretch who has wasted my time and possibly other people’s like this, but I shall have to make do with sending out this warning.”
So for anybody who thought they had found Mr Pullman himself, you now know otherwise!
As we reported last week, Philip Pullman was to represent the Society of Authors at a meeting with the Publishers Association.
In an email to supporters and subscribers of notoagebanding.org, Mr Pullman has written an account of his meeting with the Publishers Association. There was unfortunately little in the way of positive outcomes for writers and readers alike, other than the assertion from the PA that authors will continue to have the right to consultation as to whether their work is classified. On the whole Mr Pullman seemed disappointed by the outcome of the meeting but urges all authors to ‘insist on this right of full consultation and exert it to the utmost.’
Mr Pullman concludes ‘This is a fight worth having, even though it’s taking up so much of our time. In the end we shall win.’ Sorry we can’t offer any more of the email but Mr Pullman kindly requested that we not publish his email in full. He suggests that for all those who are interested in further news and information from the age banding battle sign up to its mailing list at notoagebanding.org.
According to The Fidra Blog, Philip Pullman along with Mark le Fanu and Celia Rees, will be representing the Society of Authors at a meeting with the Publishers Association, which is set to take place tomorrow. Pullman says: “There isn’t an agenda yet, but the purpose of the meeting is to clarify and reiterate our objections to the age-ranging proposal and see if we can help the PA see what a blunder they’ve made.” He does also mention that if anybody wishes to make suggestions for specific issues to be raised that they should let him know via email. You can read all about this here.
