Tom Hooper to direct His Dark Materials series starring Logan’s Dafne Keen

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

There are quite a number of fantasy franchises out there which made the leap to the big-screen only to find themselves stalled after just one film, but occasionally, the material is resurrected and given a second chance. THE GOLDEN COMPASS, which was based on Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy, had the potential to become the next LORD OF THE RINGS or HARRY POTTER, but not even the star-studded cast of Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman, Ian McKellen, and Eva Green could save it and the planned sequels were soon cancelled.

An eight-part series based upon "His Dark Materials" was commissioned by BBC One several years ago, and now Deadline reports that Tom Hooper (THE KING'S SPEECH) has closed a deal to helm the series which is to star Dafne Keen (LOGAN) as Lyra, a young orphan who lives in a parallel universe in which science, theology and magic are entwined. Consisting of "Northern Lights," "The Subtle Knife," and "The Amber Spyglass," the series begins when "Lyra’s search for a kidnapped friend uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children and turns into a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon called Dust. In 'The Subtle Knife' she is joined on her journey by Will, a boy who possesses a knife that can cut windows between worlds. As Lyra learns the truth about her parents and her prophesied destiny, the two young people are caught up in a war against celestial powers that ranges across many worlds and leads to a thrilling conclusion in 'The Amber Spyglass.'" The project is already looking to be one of the most expensive British dramas to date, and Deadline hears that both Netflix and Apple are in the running to pick up the U.S. and global rights.

When the project was first announced, Philip Pullman released a statement:

It’s been a constant source of pleasure to me to see this story adapted to different forms and presented in different media. It’s been a radio play, a stage play, a film, an audiobook, a graphic novel—and now comes this version for television. In recent years we’ve seen how long stories on television, whether adaptations (Game of Thrones) or original (The Sopranos, The Wire), can reach depths of characterisation and heights of suspense by taking the time for events to make their proper impact and for consequences to unravel.  And the sheer talent now working in the world of long-form television is formidable. For all those reasons I’m delighted at the prospect of a television version of His Dark Materials. I’m especially pleased at the involvement of Jane Tranter, whose experience, imagination, and drive are second to none.

Will "His Dark Materials" prove to be a better fit for television? And what do you think of Dafne Keen playing Lyra?