HisDarkMaterials.org
HisDarkMaterials.org is one of the leading His Dark Materials websites, including information about The Golden Compass movie, the book trilogy, extensive fan art galleries, photographs of Philip Pullman, and related visual resources. It also contains a dæmon name generator, an active chatroom, a His Dark Materials role playing game, and an interactive encyclopedia. News is updated daily, with members being able to discuss news items. The website is also home to Cittàgazze.net, the world's largest His Dark Materials forum.
Movies
The Golden Compass
Books
Overview
The Golden Compass / Northern Lights
The Subtle Knife
The Amber Spyglass
Lyra’s Oxford
The Book of Dust
Features
The Golden Compass World Premiere
Cannes Filmfestival 2007
Alethiometer
Cartography
Last updated on 31 August 2007
Chris Weitz
Timeline
- 5th February 2002
New Line buys film rights to the His Dark Materials trilogy from Philip Pullman’s publisher, Scholastic. [1]
- 16th May 2002
Acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Sir Tom Stoppard reportedly hired by New Line to write a draft screenplay of the film. [2]
- 24th May 2004
Chris Weitz is hired as director after impressing New Line with an impassioned report detailing his vision for the movies and his feelings for the books. Weitz is to write the screenplay, dropping Stoppard's draft script. [3]
- 14th December 2004
Chris Weitz steps down as director citing the “technical challenges” of making the film as a reason but remains on the project as screenwriter. [4]
- 5th August 2005
Anand Tucker chosen as the new director by New Line from a large pool of candidates, thanks largely to a comprehensive presentation. [5]
- 5th May 2006
Anand Tucker withdraws from the project due to creative differences with New Line and Chris Weitz returns as director. [6]
Chris Weitz
Academy Award nominated Chris Weitz is the director and screenwriter of His Dark Materials: the Golden Compass. His prior credits include the teen comedy American Pie and the critically acclaimed British comedy-drama About a Boy, for which he was nominated for the best adapted screenplay Academy Award in 2003.
A graduate of the University of Cambridge with a degree in English Literature, he regards His Dark Materials as being one of the few books to have changed his life. New Line Cinema chose Chris Weitz over potentially more acclaimed directors in May 2004 partly due to his obvious passion and affinity to the books. He made this apparent through a lengthy dissertation given to New Line executives detailing his vision for the movie and a personal statement regarding his feelings about the books.
He withdrew as director in December 2004 citing the “technical challenges” of making the movie but stepped back to the role in May 2006 following the resignation of replacement director, Anand Tucker.