HisDarkMaterials.org

Yahoo! Taiwan reports that Ella in Taiwan Pop music group S.H.E was selected through an internet survey as the Chinese Lyra, the heroine in the upcoming movie The Golden Compass.

Marc T. Newman, reviewer/critic of ExileStreet.com has taken yet another religious approach to the upcoming Golden Compass film. He suggests that instead of boycotting and only creating more publicity for the movie, that Christians should try to form a more interactive response, where he states movies are not monologues, they can be dialogues. He also explains that his article was not intended to attack the film or its meanings, but instead bring awareness to Christian parents who may be unwittingly introducing their children to a story that would challenge their current beliefs.

In the series of articles, Newman likens The Golden Compass to The Da Vinci Code in its controversial nature, and compares the reactions generated by both films. He also says that because films like The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe were so popular with children, the books sold phenomenally well around the release of the movie, and Golden Compass will likely be no different; the only real concern is that, though the film will likely have most of its religious affiliations muted or removed, the books will remain the same and children will be more inclined to read them after seeing the movie, therefore more likely to be exposed to the undesirable content.

MTV reports today on the changes made to the Golden Compass movie ending, and how that will determine the fate of any future sequels in the His Dark Materials line.

Many fans disagree with this choice, but director Chris Weitz and even Sam Elliot, the actor who plays Lee Scoresby, agree that this will make the film both more enjoyable and easier to understand for those who have not yet read the books. Weitz himself stated that this new ending would provide a firmer base for the second movie, because there likely will be a second movie, thus inevitably a third.

There were a few other notable last-minute changes to the Golden Compass; Two characters changed voice actors in an act that production believed to prove more passionate for the character and would therefore add more to the script. Ian McKellan is now set to play the Ice Bear Iorek Byrnison, and Kathy Bates is set to voice Hester, Lee Scoresby's Daemon.

Chris Weitz has agreed to answer questions from fans on MTV.com's Movie Blog and addresses concerns such as the controversy over religious references in the films and in producing a more faithful adaptation of the sequels to The Golden Compass. Chris also addresses the reasons behind shifting the ending of the first book to the second movie and the status of the sequels. There is still opportunity for fans to ask more questions as a second round of questions will be addressed next week.

TheMovieBox.net has made available seven of the TV spots currently airing on US television. The short advertisements, which have been running for the past week, contain small snippets of never-before-seen scenes and some confirm that the film has been rated PG-13 by MPAA.

Corgi International has announced their range of toys and collectibles to coincide with the release of The Golden Compass. This includes 3 3/4 inch scale action figures and battling panserbjorne. Also available are interactive electronic 'Digi-Dæmons' and an alethiometer with moving needles and a carry pouch. Additional products including Die-Cast vehicles, Lee Scoresby’s Balloon Playset and High End Prop Replicas from Corgi International’s Master Replicas brand. Retailers of the products include Toys R Us, Tesco, Play.com and Harrods & Hamleys.

The official blog reports that acclaimed English singer Kate Bush will pen an original song entitled "Lyra" for the end credits of The Golden Compass. The song which was produced in Kate's studio and features the Magdalen College Choir from Oxford will be available as part of the official The Golden Compass soundtrack to be released December 11th.

The Christian lobby which was set in motion by the Catholic League's boycott has now been joined by various other parties each trying to warn for The Golden Compass, and its author Philip Pullman. In this article we look at four recent publications.

Update: Also read about the Pied Piper of Atheism publication.

In an interview with Donna Freitas, the author of both the book and film Killing the Imposter God, Philip Pullman discussed his own take on the His Dark Materials trilogy and his intentions with the story. He explained that Dust was to be seen as an intelligence that was almost divine in its presence, and that everything in the world had a consciousness as a result of Dust.

Pullman's strong support of free-thinking becomes apparent as he goes on to urge parents not to be skeptical about about what their children want to believe. He also agrees with Freitas that the story conveys a message that is more in line with "saving the divine" and not killing it. He wants his audience to understand his perspective, and explains that although the trilogy is under heavy criticism from various religious groups, he was merely trying to tell "the story of an ordinary boy and ordinary girl in an extraordinary situation."

IGN.com has posted some concept art from The Golden Compass. Be sure to check out the image gallery with newly-added storyboards including the development of Lyra at Mrs. Coulter's flat and Lyra speaking with Serafina Pekkala on board the Nooderlicht.

Variety magazine reports on the extensive marketing campaign being undertaken by New Line in promotion of The Golden Compass. The total value of brand-backed marketing is estimated to be $120 million and includes brand partners Coca-Cola Co., Burger King, Wal-Mart, Target, Sega, the World Wildlife Fund, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Best Buy, Emusic, FAO Schwarz, Corgi Intl., Toys R Us, Trans World Entertainment, Circuit City, Marie Claire and Scholastic.

Costume designer for The Golden Compass, Ruth Myers, who is slated to win a Career Achievement Award from the Costume Designers Guild next year was interviewed by the LA Times:

Philip Pullman visited the Barnes & Noble Union Square in New York City, which HDM.org staff member JParry was lucky enough to attend. His write-up of the event, including photos, follows below. The event was filmed by Barnes & Noble, and is available for viewing at Barnes & Noble media.

The LA Times' Gina Piccalo wrote the following insightful article about The Golden compass and Chris Weitz quest to bring the novel to the silver screen.

"The Golden Compass," the first book in British author Philip Pullman's award-winning young adult trilogy, sets in motion a story that so smartly merges theology with quantum physics and Nietzschean pondering with fairy tale characters that it has inspired scores of scholarly essays, serious academic study, blockbuster book sales, a National Theatre play, a radio show and an international society of die-hard fans. Now -- Dec. 7, to be exact -- comes New Line Cinema's long-awaited $180-million movie "The Golden Compass," a fantasy-adventure directed by "About a Boy's" Chris Weitz, starring Nicole Kidman as the malevolent beauty Marisa Coulter, Daniel Craig as the mysterious Lord Asriel, Sam Elliott as cowboy adventurer Lee Scoresby and 12-year-old newcomer Dakota Blue Richards as the film's young protagonist, the wily urchin Lyra Belacqua. It is an epic story set in a parallel universe similar to Oxford, England, populated by flying witches, talking animals and warrior polar bears -- all locked in a battle with the authoritarian governing body the Magisterium over mystical particles known as Dust.

Philip Pullman addressed several issues, including claims that the His Dark Material books are anti-Catholic and promote atheism, raised by readers of Al's Book Club on MSNBC. He also answers questions on how he imagined such an epic world and how he came up with the concept of dæmons. Thanks to IMDb.com user downinnewyork for bringing this to our attention.