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BBC's His Dark Materials series to 'sound every note' in Philip Pullman’s novels BBC's His Dark Materials series to 'sound every note' in Philip Pullman’s novels
(about 1 hour later)
The BBC TV adaption of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy will “sound every note” in the much-loved novels, according to its producers. The BBC is to turn Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy into a TV series, giving both existing fans and a new generation the chance to experience the tale of parallel universes, Daemons and armoured polar bears.
Bad Wolf and New Line Cinema, along with Pullman, have begun searching for a writer to create the scripts for the series, which will enter pre-production next year with filming set to take place in Wales. It will be shown on BBC1 but there is currently no broadcast date. Pullman has given his blessing to the project, and is helping recruit a writer to produce a faithful adaptation of the novels, which centre on a girl called Lyra living in a parallel version of Oxford.
Jane Tranter – who will lead the project with fellow Bad Wolf founder and former Doctor Who producer Julie Gardner – said bringing the trilogy to TV provided an opportunity to give it the treatment it deserved. Producers have promised to sound “every note” in the much-loved trilogy and stay true to the source material.
She told the Guardian: “There are some pieces of literature that are wonderfully suited to film. There are some pieces of literate which are better suited to television. To my mind what is great about these trilogy of novels is we can adapt them as Philip wrote them.” Pullman said the many adaptations of the books on screen, radio and stage had been a “constant source of pleasure” but shows such as Game of Thrones and the Wire had shown that TV had the capacity to reach “depths of characterisation and heights of suspense by taking the time for events to make their proper impact and for consequences to unravel”.
“We can go at episode pace, tell the entirely of the story, take our time and sound every note that Philip sounds in his novels.” The books are set in a series of parallel worlds, and the first instalment, Northern Lights, follows Lyra and her animal Daemon companion Pantalaimon as she discovers a plot to kidnap children that eventually leads her to the North Pole. She goes on to meet a cast of characters including witches, an armoured talking polar bear and a boy from our own version of Oxford called Will who can open connections between worlds.
The team is working with producers from New Line - Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood - who had helped create the 2007 film version of the first book, The Golden Compass, who Tranter said provided experience of what would and wouldn’t work on screen. It is loosely based on Milton’s Paradise Lost, but flips the story by casting original sin in a positive light and including a corrupt and decaying creator figure.
The three instalments – Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and the Amber Spyglass – have won multiple awards and sold more than 17m copies worldwide. The first of the three instalments, Northern Lights was published in 1995, with the sequels The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass released over the next six years. Each book has won multiple awards and the series as a whole has sold more than 17m copies worldwide.
The books are set in a series of parallel worlds, starting in a fictional version of Oxford with the character of Lyra, a young girl with an animal companion spirit who uncovers a plot to kidnap children. She goes on to meet a cast of characters including witches, a talking polar bear and a boy from a more familiar version of Oxford called Will who can open connections between worlds. It is loosely based on Milton’s Paradise Lost, but flips the story by casting original sin in a positive light and including a corrupt and decaying creator figure. The last attempt to create a live action version of His Dark Materials was 2007 film The Golden Compass, starring Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman and Eva Green. It was a success, taking £230m around the world, but some fans were upset about departures from the original storyline and planned sequels never materialised.
Pullman said the many adaptations of the books had been a “constant source of pleasure” but said shows such as Game of Thrones and the Wire had shown that TV had the capacity to reach “depths of characterisation and heights of suspense by taking the time for events to make their proper impact and for consequences to unravel”.
Asked whether the production would seek to match recent big budget fantasy epics, Tranter said: “Philip has joyously written some magnificent pieces of fantasy. But at its heart this is a piece about Lyra and Will and Lyra’s parents and their character journey.” Expectant fans are in for a wait, however, as pre-production and casting will not begin until next year and there is currently no date set for its debut on BBC1.
“But needless to say in a world where we are going to be bringing in armoured polar bears there will be some grand effects.”
Polly Hill, the BBC drama commissioning controller, said it was an honour to be able to bring the series to TV: “ His Dark Materials is a stunning trilogy, and a drama event for young and old – a real family treat, that shows our commitment to original and ambitious storytelling.”Polly Hill, the BBC drama commissioning controller, said it was an honour to be able to bring the series to TV: “ His Dark Materials is a stunning trilogy, and a drama event for young and old – a real family treat, that shows our commitment to original and ambitious storytelling.”
The Golden Compass film starred Nicole Kidman, Eva Green and Daniel Craig, taking £230m around the world, but did less well in the US where it was subject to protests and calls for boycotts from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights angry at its depiction of Christian themes and the fact it introduced children to atheism. Jane Tranter – who will lead the project with fellow Bad Wolf founder and former Doctor Who producer Julie Gardner – said bringing the trilogy to TV provided an opportunity to give it the treatment it deserved.
Planned sequels were never made, with one cast member, actor Sam Elliot, suggesting opposition from the Catholic church had persuaded producers to pull the plug. She told the Guardian: “There are some pieces of literature that are wonderfully suited to film. There are some pieces of literature which are better suited to television. To my mind what is great about these trilogy of novels is we can adapt them as Philip wrote them.”
Pullman has previously expressed his disappointment that the rest of the series never made it on to the big screen. “We can go at episode pace, tell the entirety of the story, take our time and sound every note that Philip sounds in his novels.”
A Christmas production of the first book at the National Theatre in London also attracted criticism from Christian groups. However the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, defended the production and said the series should be taught in religious education lessons to promote debate around Christianity. Tranter said working with New Line’s Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood, who had helped create the 2007 film would help provide experience of what would and wouldn’t work on screen.
Though the books regularly appear at the top of best-loved children’s novels and have won widespread acclaim, they have been criticised by religious groups for their depictions of Christianity.
The film was subject to protests and calls for a boycott in the US from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, who were angry that it introduced children to atheism.
Cast member Sam Elliot has suggested that opposition from the Catholic church had persuaded producers to pull the plug on sequels, and Pullman has expressed his disappointment that the rest of the series never made it on to the big screen.
A Christmas production of the trilogy at the National Theatre in London also attracted criticism from Christian groups. However, the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, defended the production and said the series should be taught in religious education lessons to promote debate around Christianity.
Tranter dismissed concerns that religious groups might object to the production, adding that it would be based on “what Philip wrote, not what people who haven’t read the books think is in them”.Tranter dismissed concerns that religious groups might object to the production, adding that it would be based on “what Philip wrote, not what people who haven’t read the books think is in them”.
“What I know, is that the novels contain a really strong moral centre, the novels show that there are choices to be made. The novels show people living a life on behalf of other people unselfishly.”“What I know, is that the novels contain a really strong moral centre, the novels show that there are choices to be made. The novels show people living a life on behalf of other people unselfishly.”
“Perhaps sometimes those questions are uncomfortable and sometimes it’s the job of TV to make people feel uncomfortable.”“Perhaps sometimes those questions are uncomfortable and sometimes it’s the job of TV to make people feel uncomfortable.”