Pullman Responds (Re. Dark Materials Films taking "God" out)

[Khephra]

Chris Weitz, New Line, 'The Times', and how to read

A few hours ago, New Line Cinema announced that Chris Weitz, who had been appointed to write and direct the first His Dark Materials film, had withdrawn.

Read the Variety announcement
Read the press release on brigetothestars.net

I thought I should say something about the whole project now, not only because of this development but also because of the story in 'The Times' on 8 December about Chris Weitz and his online interview that was the occasion for it.

First, I'm sorry that Chris is not going to direct the film. In the conversations we had last summer and the many communications since, I came to regard him as a safe pair of hands - someone who knew the story very well indeed, and whose vision of the way it should be told on screen matched my own. However, I'm glad he'll continue to be associated with it; I gather that he's going to write the screenplays for the other two films, so there will be a consistency of vision throughout.

Second, there's the matter of the 'Times' story itself. I haven't responded directly to this before now, because I wanted the other developments to play themselves out and for the dust - not Dust! - to settle. But here goes.


http://www.philip-pullman.com/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=102

I'm afraid the poor man has way too much faith in the studio. I don't know how many times I've read of authors being happy with pre and post-production talks and meetings with the studio/producer/director only to find out later that they were screwing him over while they talked. He needs to have a chat or two with Clive Barker or Stephen King.

[Pithy Cherub]

1. Exactly,

they negotiate everything except creative control or approval. JKR only gets asked her opinion on the HP movies. The authors also need control over final movie scripts.