Aug 18, 2006 - Daniel Craig will be going from playing Bond, James Bond in Casino Royale to tackling the role of Lord Asriel in New Line Cinema's screen adaptation of The Golden Compass, the first installment of His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman.
Nicole Kidman, Eva Green, and film newcomer Dakota Blue Richards, who landed the coveted role of Lyra Belacqua following a casting search in which the filmmakers saw more than 10,000 young actresses, have all committed to roles in The Golden Compass. Craig joins the cast of The Golden Compass where he'll be working alongside actresses he's very familiar with. Craig and Kidman co-star in the upcoming sci-fi thriller, The Visiting and Craig shares the screen with Green in Casino Royale.
In a press release announcing Craig's casting, The Golden Compass writer/director Chris Weitz said, "Daniel is an extremely versatile actor who is a tremendous addition to the cast of The Golden Compass. We are looking forward to seeing how he will breathe life into the fascinating character of Lord Asriel.”
Filming is expected to begin on September 4, 2006 in the UK. New Line is targeting a November 16, 2007 release.
The Golden Compass Official Synopsis
Based on author Philip Pullman’s bestselling and award-winning novel, The Golden Compass tells the first story in Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. It revolves around a young girl who travels to the far north to save her best friend. Along the way she encounters shape-shifting creatures, witches, and a variety of otherworldly characters in parallel universes.
Source: New Line Cinema
