Comingsoon.net reports that the voices of high-profile actors Kathy Bates and Sir Ian McKellen will be featuring in the The Golden Compass. The article reports on the worldwide debut of the The Golden Compass trailer at the Rockefeller Center in New York City, which will be hosted by Sam Elliot who portrays Texan aeronaut Lee Scoresby in the film and accompanied with similar events in Italy, Japan, Germany and the Netherlands.
If true then it is likely that Kathy Bates will be providing the voice for Hester, Lee Scoresby's hare dæmon, who can be heard in the Redefining Dæmons featurette.
Update
Italian fansite QuesteOscureMaterie.it reports that one of their members has provided them with some interesting information. According to this Italian VFX artist working on The Golden Compass in London, Ian McKellan has replaced Nonso Anozie in voicing Iorek Byrnison.
Furthermore he said that major parts of the final sequences have been re-worked on request of the producers, not director Chris Weitz. Sequences have been removed and others added according to this source. If true this might raise questions about the course the movie is taking.
Lastly the source has said that Christopher Lee – Gandalf from Lord of the Rings – has a cameo as a member of the Magisterium: "a grumpy man dressed in dark colours, whom we see sitting at a table with another character, whose daemon is a panther". Christopher Lee's official fansite reported in July that he would be appearing in The Golden Compass.
Update 2
Cinematical has an interview with Ian McShane, the voice of Ragnar Sturlusson/Iofur Raknison who is quoted as saying: "And The Golden Compass I did, as well. I play the bad bear, the voice of the bad bear, and Ian McKellen plays the voice of the good bear". Thanks to HisDarkMaterials.org member whohash83 for bringing this to our attention.
11 comments - Add yours
#1
Hmmm, I am going to take the new update with a grain of salt. I hope they aren’t changing TOO many things about the end of the film. That sounds a little disheartening. I personally thought that Nonso Anozie had a good bear-ish voice. I do love Ian McKellan, but I don’t see him being Iorek for some reason. Hopefully we’ll get a proper cast list soon and get this sorted out. :)
# October 5, 2007 14:39 by whohash83
#2
A very large pinch of salt is needed here…
But we shall see I suppose.
# October 5, 2007 15:33 by edd8990
#3
I’ll take the salt over most of what’s here.
# October 5, 2007 18:26 by Phit
#4
I am a little worried by everything mentioned here.
Firstly, Nonso Anozie was perfect for the voice; Ian McKellen is too warm and expressive!!
If they have reshot the last bits, it worries me too, as it implies it’s been rushed!
This is an example of a studio thinking it knows best. I hope this information is false, as Ian McKellen as Iorek is allll wrong.
# October 5, 2007 23:02 by jayuk83
#5
I think it’s true that McKellan is now voicing Iokek. There is an interview with Ian McShane (Ragnar/Iofur) with cinematical where he confirmed it.
You can read it below. The question pertaining to the GC is at the end of the interview so you have to scroll down.
http://www.cinematical.com/2007/10/04/interview-ian-mcshane-star-of-the-seeker-the-dark-is-rising/
# October 6, 2007 03:22 by whohash83
#6
Why replace an actor who’s voice was virtually perfect for the role of Iorek, with another actor, merely because the latter is a household name? To me, it’s a way of pulling in more punters and is the wrong reason to make a change. If he was more suited then fair enough, but he clearly isn’t.
I know what the studio will say already; “we wanted Iorek to be more likeable; to have a warm and fatherly voice” - something like that. But fatherly and warm isn’t Iorek and that strips away the very reason that Iorek was my favourite character. He was my favourite precisely because he was emotionless, with little expression or warmth, or compassion in his voice. You’re meant to warm to him over time, you’re meant to be frightened of him before you grow to like him. There is nothing likeable about Iorek’s superficial elements; he’s huge, dirty, vicous, savage, with no emotion… everything we like about him is built over time due to his actions of courage and loyalty.
With McKellen’s voice, people will immediately like Iorek and that is wrong.
I haven’t been disappointed about anything else so far and to many this may seem like a minor change (even a positive change), but to me they have taken the very essence away of my favourite character, and replaced him with someone who will make the film more financially viable. Which, I believe, shows a lack of integrity.
# October 6, 2007 10:58 by jayuk83
#7
I agree as much as I Love Ian McKellen’s work. I think he is wrong for the role of Iorek. I think Nonso Anozie voice was perfect for the role (if that was him voicing in the first Trailer) all of a sudden im very worried.
# October 6, 2007 13:51 by TowerDragon
#8
But how can you be worried for a voice being replaced with a great, great actor like Mckellen??
# October 6, 2007 15:26 by situ
#9
I’d just spit. I was so worried over the casting of Iorek’s voice and really hated the initial Pan’s voice. And me, so very picky regarding voice actors, thought the end choices were brilliant.
Still, Eva Green had us all wondering months ago that she was starring in this movie with Eric Bana, John Hurt, and Kevin Bacon.
The worry, I’d think, is that it is an entirely unncessary change where all fans were satisfied and thrilled to hear Anozie as Iorek and this rumour is claiming he was offed by someone more “comfortable.”
# October 6, 2007 16:17 by Phit
#10
I totally agree with jayuk83. It’s ridiculous that they should change the voice actor for Iorek. He was just perfect in the extended preview. It seems even more as if they are drifting away from the book in making this movie, otherwise they would realize that the armored bears are supposed to be cold and non-human.
I really don’t like how they seem to feel the need to include the big-name actors. I think Nicole Kidman was a very good choice, and Daniel Craig was okay, but really Ian McKellen? Unnecessary!
# October 7, 2007 17:52 by Miss Bear
#11 Uhh
Just to point out, Christopher Lee wasn’t Gandalf in LotR as stated here. He was Saruman.
This is important to note, because Gandalf was played by.. Ian McKellen.
Who is brilliant, so I have no problems with him doing the voice of Iorek.
# October 13, 2007 05:46 by Pryftan