Craig in The Golden Compass

jetsetwilly

The Guardian are reporting that Daniel Craig will take a major part in the coming His Dark Materials movies. Leaving aside my involuntary shudder that Northern Lights is now The Golden Compass, I suspect the adaptation of Phillip Pullman's superb novels could be great. It's interesting to note that (a) Lord Asriel is the part that Timothy Dalton, of all people, played onstage at the National Theatre and (b) that it will reunite Daniel Craig with both Eva Green and Nicole Kidman.

Full story:

http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1853555,00.html

emtiem

Indeed, came up yesterday: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5263658.stm

Hes very brave taking on two franchises- I think he's got the heavyweight feel for Asriel, although I preferred Asriel being slightly older.

www.CraigNotAsriel.com anyone?

emtiem

jetsetwilly wrote:

Leaving aside my involuntary shudder that Northern Lights is now The Golden Compass,

I know what you mean; I heard it's down to the same guy who was responsible for 'Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone'; although I suppose it does mean that the title matches the other books now.
And we Brits can hardly feel superior in the 'Madness of King George'; 'Licence Renewed' title changing business- I give you: 'The New Adventures of Superman'; 'Smallville: Superman; the Early Years'; 'Batman of the Future'; 'Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles' etc

Funny how American kids apparently couldn't cope with 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' but could cope with this:
http://www.theindyexperience.com/interviews/img/mccoy_interview_philosophers_stone.jpg

Golrush007

I didn't even know that His Dark Materials was going to be filmed. (I tend to be very slow when it comes to news in the world of film ) I read Northern Lights/The Golden Compass a few years ago and rather enjoyed it. I don't remember a great deal about the characters so I can't really comment on whether Craig seems a good choice for Lord Asriel or not. I look forward to the film though.

EDIT: I see that on imdb Paul Bettany is listed as playing Lord Asriel. ?:)

MBE_

The casting is mind boggling for me. I might have to start a CraigNotLordAsriel site. But then I'm not thrilled with Kidman as Ms Coulter either. Bah. Too bad, I loved the books. Yes, the little girl is the main character but still....

Paul Bettany didn't get the $ he wanted from New Line so his casting fell through. Kidman is their big ticket item and they felt they needed just that one. They decided to go cheaper on most of the main talent to keep the costs down. (though I'm wondering exactly how much Bettany wanted that they couldn't give) I wasn't all that thrilled with Bettany either though he at least had the height. But the build, coloring, age etc were all wrong as well.

MBE

emtiem

MBE_ wrote:

The casting is mind boggling for me. I might have to start a CraigNotLordAsriel site.

Where have I read that joke before?

I can see Craig over Bettany- he does have a bit more gravitas than Paul, but I still would have gone a little older. Still, I suppose they have to match Kidman's age. I think someone like Dalton was about right- especially with Patricia Hodge, although I wasn't sure about the Terence Stamp version- I didn't think he was right either.

MBE_

emtiem wrote:

MBE_ wrote:

The casting is mind boggling for me. I might have to start a CraigNotLordAsriel site.

Where have I read that joke before?

LOL! I just saw that.

I can see Craig over Bettany- he does have a bit more gravitas than Paul, but I still would have gone a little older. Still, I suppose they have to match Kidman's age. I think someone like Dalton was about right- especially with Patricia Hodge, although I wasn't sure about the Terence Stamp version- I didn't think he was right either.

Lord Asriel is older than Coulter in the book, in the book I believe she's actually younger than Kidman or at least supposed to look younger than she is, so there was no need to match ages. Dalton is far more fitting for the role, so is Cairan Hinds, Stamp and a myriad of other actors. Supposedly Pullman wanted Jason Isaacs, not that tall or phsyically powerful but he does have the gravitas and Asriel's dark looks.

MBE

emtiem

Yes, I can see Issacs doing that quite nicely. Perhaps they thought it a bit similar to his Harry Potter role? Or just that Craig is a bit hotter/higher profile. Either way I don't think he's entirely wrong for it, but he's not who I would have chosen.

highhopes

emtiem wrote:

Indeed, came up yesterday: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5263658.stm

Hes very brave taking on two franchises- I think he's got the heavyweight feel for Asriel, although I preferred Asriel being slightly older.

www.CraigNotAsriel.com anyone?

) ) ) ) {[]

Two words, emtiem: Pierce Brosnan. That is if he isn't too busy re-remaking Thunderball

emtiem

Not sure- I think Asriel has to be a bit gruffer than Brosnan. Connery would have been great; I even find myself thikinng of Patrick Stewart. Sean Bean could have been good too. I think Craig will be fine.

Lady Rose

emtiem wrote:

I even find myself thikinng of Patrick Stewart. Sean Bean could have been good too. I think Craig will be fine.

I think Sean Bean would have been a good choice for Asriel, as would Gerard Butler ( I haven't mentioned him in a long time!). I'm sure Craig will be ok. I'm more concerned about Nicole Kidmans casting.

Tim Dalton was great on stage but I think he's too old now. He worked well with Patricia Hodge. One major difference though is that the actress who played Lyra was actually 22 at the time.

To appeal to the youngters I think they need a younger cast.

Monique

Did anyone see the February issue of W Magazine? I guess "The Golden Compass" is one of their two collaborations this year, the other being the movie "The Invasion".

Great pic...of her.


Article here: http://www.style.com/w/feat_story/010307

s96024

What is his tattoo of?

emtiem

Monique wrote:

Great pic...of her.

My goodness that's catty!

Dan Same

Monique, I agree that it is a great picture of her. I actually don't think that Nicole Kidman is all that attractive, but in that picture she comes across as IMO very good-looking.

Hardyboy

Based on the position of his arm in that shot, looks like Craig managed to get tit AND tat!

Sir Hillary Bray

Hardyboy wrote:

Based on the position of his arm in that shot, looks like Craig managed to get tit AND tat!

) ) )
"Here he comes...here comes Hardy...he looks confident, he looks relaxed...very much the man in form."

emtiem

Actually, looking at that shot it seems that it's a photograph of Daniel Craig holding a painting of Nicole Kidman! I sense a little photoshop work going on...

Loeffelholz

Monique wrote:

Did anyone see the February issue of W Magazine? I guess "The Golden Compass" is one of their two collaborations this year, the other being the movie "The Invasion".

Great pic...of her.


Article here: http://www.style.com/w/feat_story/010307

That's a great shot...period

Monique

emtiem wrote:

My goodness that's catty!

Oh, here we go. No, it wasn't. Relax emtiem, she does look lovely in that picture.

jetsetwilly

Nicole looks very nice but either someone has been overenthusiastic with the "brush" tool on Photoshop, or she has a lifetime pass to her local Botox clinic. I have seen newborn babes with more lines on their face.

emtiem

Monique wrote:

emtiem wrote:

My goodness that's catty!

Oh, here we go. No, it wasn't. Relax emtiem, she does look lovely in that picture.

No; I'm talking about the cattiness that implies he wasn't looking good in the pic. Now that's catty!

emtiem

jetsetwilly wrote:

Nicole looks very nice but either someone has been overenthusiastic with the "brush" tool on Photoshop, or she has a lifetime pass to her local Botox clinic. I have seen newborn babes with more lines on their face.

Indeed- she's a painting in that picture!

Moore Not Less

Here is a Corgi action-figure of Daniel Craig in The Golden Compass. Pretty good likeness, not sure about the hair colour though.

http://74.52.193.82/events/main.php?g2_itemld=10120

Some more figures here.

http://74.52.193.82/events/main.php?g2_itemld=10096

jetsetwilly

Moore Not Less wrote:

...not sure about the hair colour though.

Dear God no, not again!

Moore Not Less

jetsetwilly wrote:

Moore Not Less wrote:

...not sure about the hair colour though.

Dear God no, not again!

) Yes, we have had more than enough hair raising debates around here already.

Napoleon Plural

That reputable site Popb*tch has some rumours:

www.popbitch.com/board.html

Not looking good it says...

emtiem

Moore Not Less wrote:

Here is a Corgi action-figure of Daniel Craig in The Golden Compass. Pretty good likeness, not sure about the hair colour though.

http://74.52.193.82/events/main.php?g2_itemld=10120

Not bad- could be better, but not bad at all. I can see that being used to make some custom Bond figures!

emtiem

Some footage here of Craig and Eva Green here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZA1omvS3MI

John Drake

Well here's a teaser trailer and it looks promising. Daniel Craig, Nicole BMX Bandits Kidman, Sam Elliot in cowboy mode, and a seriously cool talking polar bear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK6MDIEQjMg

Barry Nelson

Golden Compass is officially a bomb in The US, although it appears to have done slightly better overseas. The picture nosedived taking in only 9 million overall at the box office this weekend, in only its second week of release. It appears the promoted combination of Craig and Kidmon is death at the box office as their other vehicle The Invasion also bombed.