His Dark Materials.

TheIrishGrover

Trailer out for His Dark Materials BBC TV series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eudsYr0iER0

Have read the books (And they are fantastic) but will not spoiler.

For those not familiar with it: It's set in an alternate universe similar in ways to Victorian period (With some differences in technology). Everyone has a daemon which is, basically, a person's soul. The main character is a girl called Lyra who goes on an adventure to rescue a friend.

Meanwhile Lord Azriel (McEvoy) is investigating something called "Dust" and Mrs Coulter has her own mission which may or may not involve "Dust".

They are planning on making a season per book (of three). Season 2 is already greenlit. The first season will be pretty straightforward but season 2 and 3 may be a difficult sell for some. Especially as the BBC have stated that they are not changing the more controversial elements of the story. (You cannot as it would gut the entire premise of the story).

Regarding the trailer:

Wasn't sure about James MacEvoy as Lord Azriel when announced. I didn't think he was imposing enough but from the (admitadly, very brief) image of him, he does look good.

Rush Wilson was always a GREAT choice as Mrs Coulter. Charming and seductive and at the same time, totally ruthless.

Wasn't sure about Dafne Keen as Lyra. I mean she was great in Logan but just not what I had in mind. We'll see.

Lin Manuel Miranda looks great as Aeronaut (Love that word), Lee Scoresby. A bit young (Thought Sam Elliot was perfect in the toothless movie version).

Doesn't show much. No footage of daemons or Iorek (An armoured polar bear!!!!!) but obviously they are still working on these effects.

Thought this wasn't due until 2020..... Fingers crossed they show it after Game of Thrones finishes (HBO are distributing it in the US)

CastorTroy

Haven't read the books but I remember liking The Golden Compass in the cinema. Disappointed it didn't get a sequel.

Dial Hard

TheIrishGrover wrote:

Doesn't show much.

30 seconds of nothing, tbh. Not sure why they bothered. And I say that as a huge HDM fan and someone who is looking forward to this adaptation. Although I think both McAvoy and Miranda are too young for their parts.

NIMAN

I thought books were just ok.

The 1st film wasn't bad, but always wondered why they didn't make No2 and No3? No1 must have flopped?

Sleepy

Fear of fundamentalist Christians basically...

CastorTroy

From what I remember at the time, apparently the books are anti Christian or something so you had that crowd protesting the movie. But I think the film had all that stuff removed, which I'm guessing is similar to what the OP said about controversial elements, so then some fans of the book were against the film.

So basically controversy but not the same kind of helpful controversy that helped promote the likes of DaVinci Code.

I saw it knowing none of this and enjoyed it for what it was.

NIMAN

NIMAN wrote: »

I thought books were just ok.

The 1st film wasn't bad, but always wondered why they didn't make No2 and No3? No1 must have flopped?

pretty much a flop yes.

budget of $180mn, US take $70mn

international rights sold to finance film so didn't get that money.

TheIrishGrover

Sleepy wrote: »

Fear of fundamentalist Christians basically...

The film was a commercial flop. however, even if it wasn't, it would have had to make record-breaking numbers in order to make book 2 & 3 without gutting its central messages.

Without giving spoilers, it's not as obvious in the first book but the overall story would (will) cause serious offense to religious groups (Not only fundamental christians).

pixelburp

I watched The Golden Compass, having not read the books; I was completely lost and while obviously I can't speak to the closeness to the novel, the film felt like brainless conveyor belt of terms, places, and concepts without any organic narrative or attempt to bring in newbies like myself. In other words, I'm not surprised it flopped.

To compare with the Harry Potter franchise, which I also went into having not read the books & while the first film was pretty turgid, it did a much better job of bringing the viewer into this new, fantastical world.

S.M.B.

Love the books, possibly my favourite series.

Worried about the VFX though. No matter how good the cast is their quality will have a big impact on whether the series works for me or not.

think that this would work way better as a series imo and even though it shows pretty much nothing in the clips there the scene and colour palette of sets and costumes shown seems truer and more fitting to the books that what the golden compass did.

obviously it being the bbc the budget is not going to be HBO game of thrones level unless the world rights are huge money but it could work...

could definitely do well in a post game of thrones starved world

saying that it could be released in 2019. season 2 already a go.

8 episodes per book - seems about right.

It's Ruth Wilson from Luther as Mrs. Coulter.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5607976/?ref_=ttep_ep_tt

Franz Von Peppercorn

pixelburp wrote: »

I watched The Golden Compass, having not read the books; I was completely lost and while obviously I can't speak to the closeness to the novel, the film felt like brainless conveyor belt of terms, places, and concepts without any organic narrative or attempt to bring in newbies like myself. In other words, I'm not surprised it flopped.

To compare with the Harry Potter franchise, which I also went into having not read the books & while the first film was pretty turgid, it did a much better job of bringing the viewer into this new, fantastical world.

The books were worse, although book 1 was ok. They couldn’t have been that popular either as you never see people dressing up as the characters at Halloween etc.

Akrasia

I bought the books for my 11 year old Nephew for his birthday present last week. I'm his godfather.

Feck it they knew i was an Atheist when they asked me to be his Godfather and the books are extremely well written and the world is so well imagined.....

TheIrishGrover

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

The books were worse, although book 1 was ok. They couldn’t have been that popular either as you never see people dressing up as the characters at Halloween etc.

They're not those types of books. They were aimed at an older audience (Would now be classified as YA I suppose).

As for their popularity, they are extremely popular in the UK: The last book won the whitbread prize and was nonimated for the booker prize.

There is an element of world-building/character introductions in the first book and, IMHO, is the weakest of the three (But still fantastic).

Recommended.

I read them pretty quickly but remember enjoying the first 2 books much more than the last one which was a bit of struggle to finish off.

Franz Von Peppercorn

TheIrishGrover wrote: »

They're not those types of books. They were aimed at an older audience (Would now be classified as YA I suppose).

As for their popularity, they are extremely popular in the UK: The last book won the whitbread prize and was nonimated for the booker prize.

There is an element of world-building/character introductions in the first book and, IMHO, is the weakest of the three (But still fantastic).

Recommended.

The first book is the best, as it sticks to its imaginary world. The second opens up to this world which is mundane. Third book needs editing. The entire series has very few sympathetic characters.

Not “these kind of books”? If they are for young adults then young adults and people who read them when young would be dressing up nowadays their fav characters.

Franz Von Peppercorn

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

The first book is the best, as it sticks to its imaginary world. The second opens up to this world which is mundane. Third book needs editing.

would agree.

Pretzill

I really enjoyed the books. I was looking forward to the 1st movie but it was a let down.

Pretzill

Pretzill wrote: »

I really enjoyed the books. I was looking forward to the 1st movie but it was a let down.

yes they got the whole tone totally wrong - sort of made a movie for very young kids and bowed under the pressure to tone out anything that could be construed as atheist and it didn't work at all.

at the least this series will be better than that.

JP Liz V1

I hope BBC air it first this year

TheIrishGrover

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

I hope BBC air it first this year

I wasn't expecting it this year but HBO also announced it (During an Oscars commercial I believe) as coming this year. I would imagine it will be later in year: September/October or something. Not during the Summer and not too close to Christmas (I'd say their Victorian adaptation of War Of The Worlds will be their Christmas prestige show).

So, this, more faithful adaptation of War Of The Worlds and Good Omens (On C4 with Amazon money and a cast to die for) all coming this year? Fantastic!

NIMAN

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

The books were worse, although book 1 was ok. They couldn’t have been that popular either as you never see people dressing up as the characters at Halloween etc.

They came 3rd in the BBC Top 100 books of All Time.:eek:

NIMAN

NIMAN wrote: »

They came 3rd in the BBC Top 100 books of All Time.:eek:

They give him a lot of love in the BBC.

Books are a tad over-rated.

He is English of course also.

TheIrishGrover

NIMAN wrote: »

They came 3rd in the BBC Top 100 books of All Time.:eek:

Not to mention the third winning the Whitbread prize (The only "Children"'s book to do so) and was long-listed for the booker prize. So.... reasonably popular

Wasn't there a boards poster who interviewed Sam Elliot and his role in the Golden Compass came up and how he was so disappointed it didn't take off?

The most offputting thing, for me, was the accent that Dakota Richards threw as Lyra. Feck me but it grated balls!

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Wasn't there a boards poster who interviewed Sam Elliot and his role in the Golden Compass came up and how he was so disappointed it didn't take off?

probably mostly due to the fact that it could give him big recognition and mullah!

decent actor but never made the big leagues.

glasso

glasso wrote: »

probably mostly due to the fact that it could give him big recognition and mullah!

decent actor but never made the big leagues.

I think that it was but that voice and moustache deserved more

Mickeroo

Deleted User wrote: »

I think that it was but that voice and moustache deserved more

He was never going to top "Beef, it's what's for dinner." anyway.

Mickeroo

Mickeroo wrote: »

He was never going to top "Beef, it's what's for dinner." anyway.

Which reminds me...

MayoForSam

Deleted User wrote: »

I think that it was but that voice and moustache deserved more

Check out his latest 'The Man Who Killed Hitler and then The Bigfoot', much more interesting movie than the title suggests.

As regards The Golden Compass, the two adult leads are very decent, not so sure about Lyra and the ability of the BBC to really deliver on the overall story.

Is this BBC flying solo or do they also have HBO onboard?

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Is this BBC flying solo or do they also have HBO onboard?

at the least they pre-sold US distribution to HBO to get the money in for production.

It's being made for the BBC, not by the BBC.

. It is being produced by New Line Cinema and Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner of Bad Wolf for BBC One and HBO, with the latter handling international distribution. Before airing, the show was renewed for a second series of eight episodes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Dark_Materials_(TV_series)

TheIrishGrover

Deleted User wrote: »

Is this BBC flying solo or do they also have HBO onboard?

HBO have US distribution rights. As far as I know, they were really brought in as the budget was spiraling out of control like a children's hospital. But they were not involved originally. I suppose they are looking for their next, more family-friendly, fantasy series.

Edit: Ah, OK, I stand corrected.

MayoForSam

MayoForSam wrote: »

As regards The Golden Compass, the two adult leads are very decent, not so sure about Lyra and the ability of the BBC to really deliver on the overall story.

always risky doing something with a child in a key role - can turn off adults from watching it.

The Black Oil

HBO teaser with some dialogue this time, no air date yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qz8L4KaTss

S.M.B.

That looks a whole lot better than I expected, certainly more HBO than BBC when it comes to production values.

Genuinely looking forward to it now.

Slydice

X-23!!

How come no-one said anything about this show!?!?!?

How come you didn't make a thread!!!

Oh you did, did you?

How come you didn't take over boards and change it to have a big red arrow with big red text saying X-23 in a TV show?!

NIMAN

Looks better than the feature film, thats for sure.

Pretzill

NIMAN wrote: »

Looks better than the feature film, thats for sure.

In fairness that wouldn't be hard. The movie of the first book wasn't good (excepting Iorek V Ragnar perhaps?)

TheIrishGrover

Well, in fairness to the movie, I thought it looked great. The effects were great for the time (Apart from the golden monkey). I thought the casting was great (Especially Asriel, Mrs. Coulter and of course Lee). But the first book was very fast paced and introduced so many characters. I mean, in book 2 & 3 there are a lot fewer new characters introduced: Will, of course, Mary, the Galivespians, Will's companions, Mary's friends (Trying to be as vague as possible for non-readers). Plus they had to water down the central elements of the story to appease the US market so it came across as quite anemic.

So book one (And the first movie) had to introduce a large pool of characters which is difficult to do in a regular-length movie. Much more suited to a TV series. They can certainly move around some character appearances. Will and Mary's back stories can be introduced in season 1 so they are not brand new in season 2. They will probably do this.

Assuming they are going to do one season per book (Season 2 already greenlit) each series if going to have some serious issues to overcome:

Season 1 will need to engage people pretty quickly and, as I said, there are a lot of characters and a whole universe to explain. HBO need to be sure that they don't advertise this as the next fantasy series for people looking to sate their Game of Thrones appetite. Its' not that kind of series . It looks like they aren't though, which is good.

Season 2 the overall storyline becomes more apparent (Again, trying to be vague). This will potentially cause a bit of a stink in the US but HBO and BBC have enough integrity/money/power to not give a sh*t about who kicks up. They cannot change this without gutting the entire point of the books.

Season 3 is likewise going to have issues with certain groups in the US and also Mary's friends will be difficult to get across.

Obviously the books were HUGE in the UK/Europe. I don't think they were all that big in the US simply because I never heard any backlash about them there. I mean they were burning Harry Potter books so I can only imagine what some groups would have done with these books there.

When BBC make their "prestige" shows they do them right: "Screw what people think. They don't like it? tough". They also have HBO money and quality behind them. HBO/BBC gave us Band of Brothers..... 18 years ago And it's still considered a benchmark in TV drama.

To those who have NOT read the books: The show has GREAT potential. The world is fantastic, the storyline is interesting and thought-provoking. The cast seems to be very good (I was on the fence about McEvoy but he looks good in the (brief) shots of him). And the behind the scenes people are VERY good.

It's just NOT the next Game of Thrones.

Outkast_IRE

Looks good, will keep a close eye on this.

ricero

Was reading about this today as I never read the books but one of the ciricitism was that it's anti-religious and in particular anti-catholic. Can see it causing a bit of a stir so if true.

Lady Spangles

I absolutely loved these books; read them as they were published years ago. It was very disappointing that the people behind the movie buckled to pressure from religious groups and removed the source material's central themes. As a consequence, it felt hollowed out and devoid of any real meaning. Hopefully, that won't be a problem this time around and the various religious types have got off the censorship bandwagon and left well alone.

Capt'n Midnight

glasso wrote: »

pretty much a flop yes.

budget of $180mn, US take $70mn

international rights sold to finance film so didn't get that money.

Only a flop in the US. The studio sold it and went bust.

It then made lots of money overseas. Studio could have survived



First book was good. Didn't like the next two and the films would have gone a very different way from the first.

Slydice

San Diego Comic Con Trailer:

Slydice

The name checking of the Professor X actor and the X-23 actress and I'm for some reason Dafne Keen made way more of an impact for me.

I mean, usually a newish kid gets named and I'm all like.. yeah just because it's the kid. Not this time!

Mr E

That's a stunning trailer. Really looking forward to this.

Dafne Keen can actually act too, which helps.

TheIrishGrover

Was just coming here to post this.

I am a HUGE fan of the books. Have bought then numerous times only to give them to friends (I never loan books. If I like a book and think someone else will, I give it to them). Now I have an autographed set that ain't going nowhere

I was initially a little concerned about McEvoy. I thought he was too slight for the role. However he does look great here. A little bit too emotional at the start but that may be down to editing the trailer - I always imagined him as being even more stern with Lyra.

I always imagines Lyra as more blonde. Physically quite like the girl who played her in the (toothless) movie. But I'm really liking the look of her now as we see more. (I didn't even realise she was half English in Logan). She looks great here. Nice fire to her.

Ruth Wilson: Again, I always thought of Catherine Zeta Jones when I was reading the books: Beautiful but cold and ruthless. Ruth Wilson? Perfect! In the words of Stan Lee: 'nuff said.

Lee:....... Ohhhhh.... I always imagined Lee as older and weathered. I thought Sam Elliot was perfect as Lee. It's my only concern. (But he is a very versatile actor so I'm hoping for the best)

Iorek. Looks great. Will be interesting to see how he emotes.

Good the see the central premise is front and center (Trying to be vague here for non-readers).

Have seen pic of Will. Looks spot on too. Not what I was expecting but real good choice. At least physically. Know nothing about the actor. I would imagine that, given his arc, they will probably introduce him towards the end of this season. Just 20 mins over last two episodes would do. End with him

Discovering you-know-what to you-know-where

Season 2 already greenlit. I suppose they are waiting for the viewer numbers for Season 1 before they greenlight Season 3 given how astronomical those costs will be

Will and Lyra where they go, Asriel's battle, Spies, Will's friends, Mary's friends. Again trying to be vague for the tempted non-readers

Some could be cut I suppose. As much as it would pain us to see them go

The spies, Will's friends will probably go but Mary's friends would have to stay and will be difficult

Fingers crossed. I was underwhelmed by Amazon's Good Omens as I was probably expecting too much from that because I also loved that book. Trying to dial back but I trust BBC/HBO partnership.....

Pretzill

Ooh that trailer looks excellent, looking forward to this. Casting looks much closer to how I imagined from the books.

Brief_Lives

San Diego Comic Con Panel.....