Weitz, Chris

From Srafopedia

Chris Weitz is the writer and director of His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass. He was originally slated to direct, but withdrew in December, 2004 due to the “technical challenges of making such an epic,” while staying on as screenwriter. After his replacement, Anand Tucker, left in May 2006 due to creative differences with New Line Cinema, Weitz returned to direct the films.

Background

Chris Weitz (born 1970 in New York City, New York) is the producer and director (along with brother Paul Weitz) of American Pie, About a Boy, and other movies.

He is also credited with writing Antz and the screenplay for About a Boy.

He's also a sometime actor, playing the lead role of Chuck in the 2000 comedy drama movie Chuck & Buck and a bland suburbanite in Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Weitz was born in New York, New York. He is the son of actress Susan Kohner and novelist/fashion designer John Weitz. Paul Kohner and Lupita Tovar are his grandparents. He graduated with a degree in English Literature from the University of Cambridge (Trinity College) where he was a contemporary of Rachel Weisz.

(From Wikipedia)

On "His Dark Materials"

• Weitz first read "His Dark Materials" while working on "About a Boy" in 2000.

Weitz: "I had heard about a fantastic and life-changing British fantasy series of books. I was absolutely stunned by the imagination, daring, and intelligence of the books. To me it is one of the great works of imagination in the twentieth century. I grew up on Tolkien but this, to be honest, leaves him in the dust as far as ambition and philosophical depth. At least, that is how I feel, and that is how anyone attempting to direct a book should feel - utter commitment.

It offers everything a filmaker would want - a compelling story, fascinating characters, psychological and philosophical depth, and wonder. Although the heroine is a child, there is nothing childish or silly about "His Dark Materials." It is often dark, even somber, though like all great novels it ranges to the ecstatic, the humorous, and the political as well."

• On withdrawing from directing "The Golden Compass":

“Working on The Golden Compass has been an extraordinary high point of my career. It will be an extraordinary film, but at this point in my life I am not the right director to bring it to pass. Though I remain honored to continue serving as caretaker of Philip Pullman's work on the page as this project's screenwriter, the technical challenges of making such an epic are more than I can undertake at this point. I look forward to retaining my place as screenwriter and helping to bring Mr. Pullman's epic vision to cinematic life. I deeply appreciate his support, and the understanding of everyone at New Line in allowing me to step aside.”

• On returning to helm "The Golden Compass":

“I’ve never lost my love of Philip Pullman’s work, and staying on as screenwriter gave me a better understanding of how a great film version can be accomplished. Though I’m disappointed that New Line and Anand didn’t end up seeing eye to eye, when I was told the job of directing The Golden Compass was open, there was just no way that I could pass it up. I feel very confident in the creativity and expertise of the technical crew that is assembling to take on this challenge.”