Nicole and Paul's dark materials

by BAZ BAMIGBOYE, Daily Mail

Last updated at 10:50 14 July 2006


Paul Bettany, who was one of the best things about the Da Vinci Code movie, has been asked to keep Nicole Kidman company on a film version of the first part of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.

Bettany is facing the last hurdle in negotiations that would see him take the part of the dynamic and powerful Lord Asriel in the movie, which has already begun shooting discreetly in the UK, although principal photography starts in September.

Nicole hasn't officially said yes to playing sable coat-wearing schemer Mrs Coulter — but that hasn't stopped people on the film telling others that the Oscar-winning star will be in the movie. Not only that, she's agreed to cut her multi-million-dollar fee.

Bettany and Nicole are old friends, having worked for maverick director Lars von Trier on the film Dogville. Nicole once told me that Bettany was one of the people who helped cheer her up when they were making the film in Scandinavia.

'They get on, so him being in the film is something Nicole is taking into consideration,' one executive told me.

The film features schoolgirl actress Dakota Blue Richards as precocious orphan Lyra Belacqua.

Director Chris Weitz has met practically every actor in the country to find his cast. Deals are still being finalised, but he has agreed to the casting of Olivier Award-winning actress Claire Higgins.

Filming continues until January at Shepperton and around England.

New Line Cinema, the studio behind the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, hopes to shoot all three of Pullman's His Dark Materials books: The Golden Compass (the U.S. title of Northern Lights), The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

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