I've been rereading His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman's superb 3 novel series, and intend to open a Facebook campaign to force the stoopid film studios to make Episodes Two and Three into movies (The Golden Compass did less well in America than expected - I loved it - and the money people got nervous - wrongly). I'll be posting here and asking for help in due course (I'm still on The Amber Spyglass - will write longer and in detail when I've finished).

JK2006 wrote:
I've been rereading His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman's superb 3 novel series, and intend to open a Facebook campaign to force the stoopid film studios to make Episodes Two and Three into movies (The Golden Compass did less well in America than expected - I loved it - and the money people got nervous - wrongly). I'll be posting here and asking for help in due course (I'm still on The Amber Spyglass - will write longer and in detail when I've finished).

It was worse than cold feet, I'm afraid. The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights campaigned for a boycott of the first movie on the grounds that Pullman’s books 'introduced children to atheism'. The studio had tenuous but still influential connections with the League and Bill Donahue and thus (even though about 30 minutes of footage for the sequel had already been filmed) dropped the project like a stone. The best chance of the series being revived is if a UK producer takes control.

Good point Pru; one of the great moments in literature is the fate of the Almighty - won't say more. Beat the Bigots - even more reason for my future Facebook campaign to succeed!

I think they should try for some kind of US/UK co-production for TV. Maybe HBO/BBC. Seeing how Game of Thrones has been so phenomenally successful there might be a US TV producer, without so much commercial pressure, interested in getting a slice of that market, and the Beeb might like the idea of something high profile that would also fly off the shelves when moved to DVD/Blu Ray.

Well I've now finished The Amber Spyglass; it really is the most magnificent trilogy; should be as big as Harry Potter. Far more adult and metaphysical. Milton would be proud to have been an influence. If you haven't read all three books, this is my tip to you for your summer holidays (along with my work, obviously). Now - onto Facebook to start that crusade.

Your opinions on The Golden Compass? I loved it (expected not to; how on earth do you make Armoured Bears work in a movie?) and thought they did it dead right. Some casting was brilliant - McKellen as Iorek and Tom Courtney as Father Coram were spot on. Kidman and Craig were perfect. Can I be Balthamos in the next films please?

We're going to be taking on the churches. Someone make me a Subtle Knife!