If you are a fan of fantasy novels, you may have heard of His Dark Materials, a trilogy by Philip Pullman that has been adapted into a TV series by BBC and HBO. But you may also be wondering: is His Dark Materials related to The Golden Compass, a movie that came out in 2007 and starred Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig? The answer is yes and no. Here is what you need to know.
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His Dark Materials and The Golden Compass are based on the same book trilogy
His Dark Materials is the name of the book trilogy that consists of Northern Lights (1995), The Subtle Knife (1997), and The Amber Spyglass (2000). The trilogy follows the adventures of two children, Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry, as they travel across different worlds and encounter witches, armoured bears, angels, and a mysterious substance called Dust.
The Golden Compass is the alternative name for the first book of the trilogy, Northern Lights, in North America. It is also the title of the movie adaptation that was released in 2007 by New Line Cinema. The movie tried to condense the plot of the first book into less than two hours, but it received mixed reviews from critics and fans, and no sequels were made.
The TV series, His Dark Materials, is not a sequel to the movie, but a new adaptation of the entire book trilogy. It aims to be more faithful to the source material and to explore the themes and characters in more depth. The first season of the TV series covers the events of Northern Lights/The Golden Compass, while the second season covers The Subtle Knife, and the third season covers The Amber Spyglass.
His Dark Materials and The Golden Compass have different tones and interpretations
His Dark Materials is a complex and ambitious work of fantasy that deals with topics such as religion, philosophy, science, and morality. Pullman has said that he was inspired by John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost, which tells the story of the fall of Adam and Eve from Eden. Pullman wanted to challenge the traditional view of original sin and celebrate human curiosity and freedom.
The Golden Compass movie, on the other hand, toned down some of the controversial aspects of the book, such as its criticism of organized religion and its depiction of violence and death. The movie also changed some of the characters’ motivations and personalities, such as making Lord Asriel more heroic and Mrs. Coulter more sympathetic. Some fans felt that the movie lost some of the depth and nuance of the book.
The TV series, His Dark Materials, tries to balance both aspects of the book: its thrilling adventure and its thought-provoking ideas. The showrunners have said that they want to respect Pullman’s vision and not shy away from the darker or more challenging elements of his story. They have also consulted with Pullman himself, who serves as an executive producer for the show.
His Dark Materials and The Golden Compass have different casts and visuals
His Dark Materials features a stellar cast of actors who bring Pullman’s characters to life. Some of them are:
– Dafne Keen as Lyra Belacqua, a brave and clever girl who possesses a rare device called an alethiometer that can answer any question.
– James McAvoy as Lord Asriel, Lyra’s uncle who is a powerful explorer and scholar who seeks to uncover the secrets of Dust.
– Ruth Wilson as Mrs. Coulter, a beautiful and charismatic woman who works for a mysterious organization called the Magisterium that wants to control Dust.
– Lin-Manuel Miranda as Lee Scoresby, a Texan aeronaut who befriends Lyra and helps her on her quest.
– Amir Wilson as Will Parry, a boy from our world who has a special knife that can cut through dimensions.
The Golden Compass movie had a different cast of actors for some of the same roles. Some of them are:
– Dakota Blue Richards as Lyra Belacqua
– Daniel Craig as Lord Asriel
– Nicole Kidman as Mrs. Coulter
– Sam Elliott as Lee Scoresby
– Freddie Highmore as Pantalaimon (voice), Lyra’s daemon
The TV series also has a different visual style from the movie. The TV series uses more practical effects and locations to create a realistic and immersive look for each world. The movie relied more on CGI and green screens to create a fantastical and stylized look for each world.
Conclusion
His Dark Materials and The Golden Compass are both adaptations of Philip Pullman’s book trilogy, but they have different approaches and results. If you want to enjoy a faithful and rich adaptation of Pullman’s story, you should watch His Dark Materials on BBC or HBO. If you want to see a different interpretation of Pullman’s story, you can watch The Golden Compass movie on DVD or streaming platforms. Either way, you will be introduced to a fascinating and captivating world of fantasy and wonder.
