Sam Elliot has been cast to play the role of Lee Scoresby in “The Golden Compass,” Philip Pullman’s first film dealing with his literary trilogy “His Dark Materials. Elliot joins a cast that includes Nicole Kidman in the starring role as Marisa Coulter. The film co-stars Eva Green (Serafina Pekkala), new James Bond 007 Daniel Craig as Lord Asriel and Dakota Blue Richards playing the story’s young heroine Lyra Belacqua in a big screen adaptation from director Chris Weitz.
Pullman commented on Elliot’s inclusion to the cast by saying that “Sam’s resemblance to the Lee in my mind is just astonishing. His Lee has all the presence, the experience, the battered integrity, the humour, and the courage of the aeronaut who first walked into my story thirteen years ago.”
“I can’t imagine a better cast,” Pullman continued. “….the sets and costumes are just astounding.”
Pullman’s other two novels in the trilogy, “The Subtle Knife” and “The Amber Spyglass” are under consideration for film adaptation as well, depending on the success of “The Golden Compass,” which will be in theaters December 7, 2007.