Cinefantastique Online

THE GOLDEN COMPASS - the film adaptation of the first book in the “His Dark Materials” series - will have its ending revised before it is released on December 7. A message from director-writer Chris Weitz on HisDarkMaterials.Org reveals that the final three chapters of the book are being held back for the beginning of the expected sequel, to be based on The Subtle Knife:

I have decided, along with Scholastic and New Line and, most importantly, Philip Pullman, to shift the concluding three chapters of Book I of His Dark Materials to the beginning of the second film of our trilogy, The Subtle Knife.

To me, this provides the most promising conclusion to the first film and the best possible beginning to the second.

It has always been my main concern to portray Lyra’s world and her adventures with integrity. Throughout this process I have been in close contact with Philip Pullman; and I would not be doing this without his approval. As Philip has said, His Dark Materials is not three stories but one story - the story of Lyra. And where we pause to take a breath in the telling of it is a matter of choice and taste. But I hope that when fans see the film they will find their fears put to rest and their hopes fulfilled. For the film to be judged on its own merits is all that I can ask for.

The move is not totally unprecedented. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING did the opposite, borrowing the Boromir’s death from the beginning of The Two Towers in order to provide a more climactic ending for the first film.

Over at Dark Horizons, Garth Franklin speculates that, despite Weitz’s note, New Line chief Robert Shaye was probably behind the decision, because the novel version of The Golden Compass ends on a dark note, which could hurt box office and nip the proposed film franchise in the bud.