Bestselling fantasy novel? Check. Comes in a trilogy? Check.

Comingsoon.net reports that New Line Cinema is in final negotiations with British filmmaker Anand Tucker to direct The Golden Compass, the feature film adaptation of the first book of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials.

The Golden Compass, published in the U.K. as Northern Lights, is followed by The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. The three books tell the story of a young girl who travels through parallel universes to the far north to save her best friend, meeting shapeshifters, witches, and a world of other magical creatures along the way.

“The opportunity to turn Philip Pullman’s extraordinary story into a film is literally a dream come true,” Tucker enthused about his high-profile project. “I instantly fell in love with His Dark Materials when it was first published, and have been a huge fan ever since. I was entranced by the way the books reminded me of those first magical experiences of reading books when I was a kid. Phillip has created an incredibly universal story about a reluctant hero whose destiny is nothing less than to save mankind.”

A reluctant hero saving the world? Now we’re talking. Every Internet fandom in existence rejoices.

New Line executives chose Tucker from more than 50 interested filmmakers. They were allegedly won over by a comprehensive presentation the director gave that included conceptual art, visual effects demos and a 20-page director’s manifesto. Can you say overachiever?

Tucker takes over from Chris Weitz, who said he resigned from the film because of its huge “technical challenges.” Weitz will continue working on the film as a scriptwriter.

“Anand Tucker was the first person to call me when I began my quest to produce His Dark Materials,” said producer Deborah Forte. “He is the right director for the right project, paired with the right studio.”

Tucker’s latest film Shopgirl, starring Steve Martin and Claire Danes, is scheduled for an Oct. 21 release. He is a two-time BAFTA nominee and a British Independent Film Award best director for his 1998 film Hilary and Jackie.

“I warmly welcome Anand Tucker as director of the first His Dark Materials film,” Pullman said. “His ideas are exciting and well thought out, and I greatly look forward to seeing the project go forward in his hands.”

BBC News reports that the production is already stirring controversy because Weitz removed references to God and the church from the script, although religion is a dominant theme of the story. The books have been attacked for being blasphemous and New Line was concerned that the films could become “financially unviable” in the States.

Hmm, causes controversy among conservatives, check.

Pullman denies that his books are anti-religious.






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