His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
#1
DVD Talk Godfather
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Home of 2013 NFL champion Seahawks
Posts: 52,393
Received 980 Likes
on
811 Posts
His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
New TV adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials book series. I enjoyed The Golden Compass movie and was disappointed they never continued the story, but this could be even better. The HBO connection is promising as well.
http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/...hillip-pullman
More from Variety, spoilered for length:
http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/...hillip-pullman
November 3, 2015 11:28 am
The BBC Is Bringing a Beloved Book Series Back from the Dead
by Joanna Robinson
Your mileage may vary when it comes to the 2007 film The Golden Compass. But love it or hate it, fans of His Dark Materials, the Philip Pullman book series it was based on, had to have been disappointed that the underperforming franchise never made it past its first installment. We didn’t even get to Part 2, with Will Parry and his subtle knife! For those thirsty to see the adventures of Lyra, Will, and those armored bears on-screen in a more complete form, rejoice. BBC One has commissioned an eight-part mini-series based on the books, and this time, we hope, Will and Lyra go all the way.
Variety reports that former BBC executives Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner will make the His Dark Materials series the flagship effort of their newly formed production company, Bad Wolf. The company has solid ties to the BBC; Tranter and Gardner produced, among other things, the new Doctor Who, which is where the Bad Wolf name comes from. But the new company is also connected to HBO. Tranter told Variety earlier this summer, “The best way of describing it is we are HBO’s people in the U.K. Our task is to ensure that HBO are across anything and everything that they might want to be in terms of writers, directors, actors, and producers, not limited to Bad Wolf, bringing to HBO’s attention the many exciting things that are happening in the U.K.”
This is great news for those hoping that His Dark Materials will be the highest quality series it can possibly be. The BBC has already shown it’s capable of a top-notch fantasy adaptation with 2015’s stellar Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, but an association with HBO (and a mention of Game of Thrones as an inspiration for His Dark Materials) means that Tranter and Gardner have an even bigger scope in mind for this eight-episode production.
And scope was one of the reasons why The Golden Compass was a disappointment to many back in 2007. The earlier version had some top-notch casting, including the voice of Sir Ian McKellen as the armored bear Iorek Byrnison, Sam Elliott as Texan aeronaut Lee Scoresby, and Eva Green as the witch Serafina Pekkala. The BBC version will be hard-pressed to find anyone more cowboyish than Elliott or witchier than Green. But Pullman’s books are far denser than, say, the Harry Potter series and didn’t fit easily into the limited screen time of a feature film. It’s possible that given more room, the true magic of Pullman’s story will translate to the screen.
“In recent years,” Pullman said, addressing just this concern, “we’ve seen how long stories on television, whether adaptations (Game of Thrones) or original (The Sopranos, The Wire), can reach depths of characterization and heights of suspense by taking the time for events to make their proper impact and for consequences to unravel. And the sheer talent now working in the world of long-form television is formidable. For all those reasons I’m delighted at the prospect of a television version of His Dark Materials. I’m especially pleased at the involvement of Jane Tranter, whose experience, imagination, and drive are second to none. As for the BBC, it has no stronger supporter than me. I couldn’t be more pleased with this news.”
There’s no confirmation yet whether the first eight episodes will just cover the first book (called Northern Lights in the U.K. and The Golden Compass in the U.S.), with subsequent seasons tackling The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. But that approach seems likely, given how much growing up Lyra has to do over the course of the story. His Dark Materials has been published in more than 40 languages, and has sold close to 17.5 million copies worldwide. It’s been a radio play and a stage play. Now, finally, Lyra may be getting the on-screen treatment she deserves.
The BBC Is Bringing a Beloved Book Series Back from the Dead
by Joanna Robinson
Your mileage may vary when it comes to the 2007 film The Golden Compass. But love it or hate it, fans of His Dark Materials, the Philip Pullman book series it was based on, had to have been disappointed that the underperforming franchise never made it past its first installment. We didn’t even get to Part 2, with Will Parry and his subtle knife! For those thirsty to see the adventures of Lyra, Will, and those armored bears on-screen in a more complete form, rejoice. BBC One has commissioned an eight-part mini-series based on the books, and this time, we hope, Will and Lyra go all the way.
Variety reports that former BBC executives Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner will make the His Dark Materials series the flagship effort of their newly formed production company, Bad Wolf. The company has solid ties to the BBC; Tranter and Gardner produced, among other things, the new Doctor Who, which is where the Bad Wolf name comes from. But the new company is also connected to HBO. Tranter told Variety earlier this summer, “The best way of describing it is we are HBO’s people in the U.K. Our task is to ensure that HBO are across anything and everything that they might want to be in terms of writers, directors, actors, and producers, not limited to Bad Wolf, bringing to HBO’s attention the many exciting things that are happening in the U.K.”
This is great news for those hoping that His Dark Materials will be the highest quality series it can possibly be. The BBC has already shown it’s capable of a top-notch fantasy adaptation with 2015’s stellar Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, but an association with HBO (and a mention of Game of Thrones as an inspiration for His Dark Materials) means that Tranter and Gardner have an even bigger scope in mind for this eight-episode production.
And scope was one of the reasons why The Golden Compass was a disappointment to many back in 2007. The earlier version had some top-notch casting, including the voice of Sir Ian McKellen as the armored bear Iorek Byrnison, Sam Elliott as Texan aeronaut Lee Scoresby, and Eva Green as the witch Serafina Pekkala. The BBC version will be hard-pressed to find anyone more cowboyish than Elliott or witchier than Green. But Pullman’s books are far denser than, say, the Harry Potter series and didn’t fit easily into the limited screen time of a feature film. It’s possible that given more room, the true magic of Pullman’s story will translate to the screen.
“In recent years,” Pullman said, addressing just this concern, “we’ve seen how long stories on television, whether adaptations (Game of Thrones) or original (The Sopranos, The Wire), can reach depths of characterization and heights of suspense by taking the time for events to make their proper impact and for consequences to unravel. And the sheer talent now working in the world of long-form television is formidable. For all those reasons I’m delighted at the prospect of a television version of His Dark Materials. I’m especially pleased at the involvement of Jane Tranter, whose experience, imagination, and drive are second to none. As for the BBC, it has no stronger supporter than me. I couldn’t be more pleased with this news.”
There’s no confirmation yet whether the first eight episodes will just cover the first book (called Northern Lights in the U.K. and The Golden Compass in the U.S.), with subsequent seasons tackling The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. But that approach seems likely, given how much growing up Lyra has to do over the course of the story. His Dark Materials has been published in more than 40 languages, and has sold close to 17.5 million copies worldwide. It’s been a radio play and a stage play. Now, finally, Lyra may be getting the on-screen treatment she deserves.
Spoiler:
#4
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
I actually was one of the few that liked the movie. To do this well requires a TON of CGI and practical effects. They had better have a GOT like budget.
#8
DVD Talk Legend
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
The pre-release backlash the movie received from religious groups certainly didn't help. If people gave it a chance they might have actually liked it. I thought it was really well done.
Didn't much of the Narnia series get made a similar way back in the day (BBC TV)? How were the production values on those?
Didn't much of the Narnia series get made a similar way back in the day (BBC TV)? How were the production values on those?
#9
DVD Talk Hero
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
The pre-release backlash the movie received from religious groups certainly didn't help. If people gave it a chance they might have actually liked it. I thought it was really well done.
Didn't much of the Narnia series get made a similar way back in the day (BBC TV)? How were the production values on those?
Didn't much of the Narnia series get made a similar way back in the day (BBC TV)? How were the production values on those?
Last edited by RichC2; 11-06-15 at 03:32 PM.
#10
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
I wasn't particularly thrilled with Pullman stopping the story just to unpleasantly blast my religion when I read the books, but I think that the backlash wasn't the biggest issue. I think it was a more the fact that the property is much more well-known in the U.K. than the U.S., and that it came out trying to cash in on the big Harry Potter wave. I just don't think that the books have enough of a following in the U.S. to support a blockbuster-budget movie. It'd be more at home on the BBC, more aimed at an audience familiar with it and probably be more budget-appropriate.
#11
Banned
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
I really love these books, I read them a couple of times.
If you liked them you should try giving the BBC audiobook series a try. It's really quite good.
If you liked them you should try giving the BBC audiobook series a try. It's really quite good.
#13
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
‘The King’s Speech’ Director Tom Hooper & ‘Logan’ Star Dafne Keen Sign Up For ‘His Dark Materials’ Adaptation
EXCLUSIVE: The King’s Speech director Tom Hooper and Dafne Keen, the breakout star of Marvel’s Logan, have signed for the big-budget adaptation of Philip Pullman’s fantasy epic His Dark Materials. I hear that the in-demand director has just closed a deal to helm the eight-part series following lengthy negotiations, while Keen will play main character Lyra, an orphan, who lives in a parallel universe. Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda is also joining as adventurer Lee Scoresby.
I understand that Hooper has been keen for some time to oversee the series, which is produced by Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner’s Bad Wolf in association with New Line Cinema for BBC One, but that he has been trying to make the dates align so that he can do both this as well as the live-action adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats for Universal and Working Title.
Keen, meanwhile, is coming off the back of Logan with Hugh Jackman, where she played Laura, Wolverine’s daughter, otherwise known as X-23. She also starred in Spanish drama The Refugees, which is produced by BBC Worldwide and Atresmedia for La Sexta. Miranda’s star is also exceptionally high off the back of his hit stage musical Hamilton and Disney’s Moana. The multi-hyphenate acts in upcoming musical fantasy Mary Poppins Returns and is a producer on Lionsgate’s fantasy The Kingkiller Chronicle.
BBC One ordered the series, which is written by National Treasure and Wonder writer Jack Thorne, in 2015. Pullman’s work, which featured three books: Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, is a complex tale of physics, philosophy and theology featuring witches and armored polar bears. It tells the story of the coming of age of two children, Lyra and Will, who wander through a series of parallel universes.
Bad Wolf and distributor BBC Worldwide have also been talking to a number of international broadcasters and streaming services about the project, which is thought to be one of the most expensive British dramas to date. I hear that Apple and Netflix are among the suitors for the U.S. and global rights.
Northern Lights introduces Lyra whose search for a kidnapped friend uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children and turns into a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon called Dust. In the second book, The Subtle Knife, she is joined on her journey by Will, a boy who possesses a knife that can cut windows between worlds. As Lyra learns the truth about her parents and her prophesied destiny, the two young people are caught up in a war against celestial powers that ranges across many worlds and leads to a thrilling conclusion in The Amber Spyglass.
Northern Lights was previously turned into a feature titled The Golden Compass in 2007 starring Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman. The series is set to start production in Wales soon and the producers are expected to announce casting in the coming weeks. It will be exec produced by Pullman, Tranter, Gardner, Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for New Line; Piers Wenger and Chris Irving for BBC One and Deborah Forte for Scholastic.
Keen is represented by Independent Talent, Let’s Work Together and Rick Genow at Stone Genow, while Hooper is also represented by Independent Talent and ICM.
EXCLUSIVE: The King’s Speech director Tom Hooper and Dafne Keen, the breakout star of Marvel’s Logan, have signed for the big-budget adaptation of Philip Pullman’s fantasy epic His Dark Materials. I hear that the in-demand director has just closed a deal to helm the eight-part series following lengthy negotiations, while Keen will play main character Lyra, an orphan, who lives in a parallel universe. Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda is also joining as adventurer Lee Scoresby.
I understand that Hooper has been keen for some time to oversee the series, which is produced by Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner’s Bad Wolf in association with New Line Cinema for BBC One, but that he has been trying to make the dates align so that he can do both this as well as the live-action adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats for Universal and Working Title.
Keen, meanwhile, is coming off the back of Logan with Hugh Jackman, where she played Laura, Wolverine’s daughter, otherwise known as X-23. She also starred in Spanish drama The Refugees, which is produced by BBC Worldwide and Atresmedia for La Sexta. Miranda’s star is also exceptionally high off the back of his hit stage musical Hamilton and Disney’s Moana. The multi-hyphenate acts in upcoming musical fantasy Mary Poppins Returns and is a producer on Lionsgate’s fantasy The Kingkiller Chronicle.
BBC One ordered the series, which is written by National Treasure and Wonder writer Jack Thorne, in 2015. Pullman’s work, which featured three books: Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, is a complex tale of physics, philosophy and theology featuring witches and armored polar bears. It tells the story of the coming of age of two children, Lyra and Will, who wander through a series of parallel universes.
Bad Wolf and distributor BBC Worldwide have also been talking to a number of international broadcasters and streaming services about the project, which is thought to be one of the most expensive British dramas to date. I hear that Apple and Netflix are among the suitors for the U.S. and global rights.
Northern Lights introduces Lyra whose search for a kidnapped friend uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children and turns into a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon called Dust. In the second book, The Subtle Knife, she is joined on her journey by Will, a boy who possesses a knife that can cut windows between worlds. As Lyra learns the truth about her parents and her prophesied destiny, the two young people are caught up in a war against celestial powers that ranges across many worlds and leads to a thrilling conclusion in The Amber Spyglass.
Northern Lights was previously turned into a feature titled The Golden Compass in 2007 starring Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman. The series is set to start production in Wales soon and the producers are expected to announce casting in the coming weeks. It will be exec produced by Pullman, Tranter, Gardner, Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for New Line; Piers Wenger and Chris Irving for BBC One and Deborah Forte for Scholastic.
Keen is represented by Independent Talent, Let’s Work Together and Rick Genow at Stone Genow, while Hooper is also represented by Independent Talent and ICM.
#14
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
X-Men and Atomic Blonde star James McAvoy and The Wire’s Clarke Peters have signed up to star in the BBC’s adaptation of Philip Pullman’s fantasy epic His Dark Materials.
The pair will start work on the eight-part series, which is produced by Bad Wolf, later this month. McAvoy plays Lord Asriel, the ruthless adventurer who was played by Daniel Craig in 2007 feature The Golden Compass. Asriel is the father of main character Lyra, an orphan, who lives in a parallel universe, who is played by Logan star Dafne Keen. Meanwhile Peters, who recently starred in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, plays the master who raises Lyra.
His Dark Materials, which will air on BBC One, is written by National Treasure and Wonder writer Jack Thorne. It is based on Pullman’s trilogy of books: Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, a complex tale of physics, philosophy and theology featuring witches and armored polar bears. It tells the story of two children, Lyra and Will, who wander through a series of parallel universes.
Earlier this year, Deadline revealed that The King’s Speech director Tom Hooper is to direct the series, which will also star Lin-Manuel Miranda as adventurer Lee Scoresby. It will be exec produced by Pullman, Tranter, Gardner, Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for New Line; Piers Wenger and Chris Irving for BBC One and Deborah Forte for Scholastic.
Bad Wolf and distributor BBC Worldwide have also been talking to a number of international broadcasters and streaming services about the project, which is thought to be one of the most expensive British dramas to date. Apple and Netflix are among the suitors for the U.S. and global rights. Endeavor Content co-reps North American rights with BBC Worldwide.
The pair will start work on the eight-part series, which is produced by Bad Wolf, later this month. McAvoy plays Lord Asriel, the ruthless adventurer who was played by Daniel Craig in 2007 feature The Golden Compass. Asriel is the father of main character Lyra, an orphan, who lives in a parallel universe, who is played by Logan star Dafne Keen. Meanwhile Peters, who recently starred in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, plays the master who raises Lyra.
His Dark Materials, which will air on BBC One, is written by National Treasure and Wonder writer Jack Thorne. It is based on Pullman’s trilogy of books: Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, a complex tale of physics, philosophy and theology featuring witches and armored polar bears. It tells the story of two children, Lyra and Will, who wander through a series of parallel universes.
Earlier this year, Deadline revealed that The King’s Speech director Tom Hooper is to direct the series, which will also star Lin-Manuel Miranda as adventurer Lee Scoresby. It will be exec produced by Pullman, Tranter, Gardner, Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for New Line; Piers Wenger and Chris Irving for BBC One and Deborah Forte for Scholastic.
Bad Wolf and distributor BBC Worldwide have also been talking to a number of international broadcasters and streaming services about the project, which is thought to be one of the most expensive British dramas to date. Apple and Netflix are among the suitors for the U.S. and global rights. Endeavor Content co-reps North American rights with BBC Worldwide.
#16
Banned
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
Neverwhere? That was mediocre. Anything else?
Last edited by Eric F; 06-08-18 at 10:23 AM.
#17
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
I never understood why the movie got trashed, it was enjoyable and I don’t recall it denigrating anybody’s religion.
#18
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
Damn, this cast is turning out nice.
EXCLUSIVE: The Affair star Ruth Wilson is the latest A-list star to sign up to BBC drama His Dark Materials.
The actor is signing up to play Marisa Coulter, one of the main protagonists of the eight-part drama and the former lover of Lord Asriel, played by James McAvoy. The character is one of the main characters in the trilogy of novels written by Phillip Pullman, particularly The Amber Spyglass, the third novel, where the character is described as a beautiful 35-year old.
She is thought to be the mother of Lyra, played by Dafne Keen, who has a golden monkey demon.
The actor is signing up to play Marisa Coulter, one of the main protagonists of the eight-part drama and the former lover of Lord Asriel, played by James McAvoy. The character is one of the main characters in the trilogy of novels written by Phillip Pullman, particularly The Amber Spyglass, the third novel, where the character is described as a beautiful 35-year old.
She is thought to be the mother of Lyra, played by Dafne Keen, who has a golden monkey demon.
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: NYC
Posts: 17,015
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
Can confirm. They're actually like an audio play instead of just a single narrator. Really looking forward to this series.
#21
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
Love the audiobooks, and love the cast and production design of the movie.
The director and the choices they made in telling the story however....
I realize you can only show so much in a 2 hour film but these books should have been done on the scale of The Lord of Rings films!
I really hated the way they decided to end Golden Compass too which was not where the book ended.
I don't remember the religious protests being that much of a factor when this film came out. But I don't understand why they would have protested either. I found the story to be thought-provoking and philosophical in ways that made me think MORE about my spirituality. It certainly doesn't make you feel 'anti-religious'. If anything I felt a deeper connection to my faith after reading the trilogy.
It makes you think about a lot of spiritual things in a good way.
The director and the choices they made in telling the story however....
I realize you can only show so much in a 2 hour film but these books should have been done on the scale of The Lord of Rings films!
I really hated the way they decided to end Golden Compass too which was not where the book ended.
I don't remember the religious protests being that much of a factor when this film came out. But I don't understand why they would have protested either. I found the story to be thought-provoking and philosophical in ways that made me think MORE about my spirituality. It certainly doesn't make you feel 'anti-religious'. If anything I felt a deeper connection to my faith after reading the trilogy.
It makes you think about a lot of spiritual things in a good way.
#22
DVD Talk Limited Edition
#23
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
Have they ever said if the 8 episodes confirmed so far are just gonna cover the first book or are they planning to do all the books within the 8 episodes?
#24
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
re: His Dark Materials (BBC / HBO) -- premieres 11/4/19
#25
Banned