CHARACTERS
Lord Asriel
Seeking to create a rift in the structures of his time and place is Lord Asriel, Lyra’s powerful and enigmatic uncle, played by Daniel Craig, whose performance in Casino Royale revitalized the James Bond franchise.
Craig, a longtime fan of the books, leapt at the chance to portray Lord Asriel.
He’s an explorer and scientist,“He has a mission. It’s the most important thing, he thinks, in his life, and probably the most important thing in the history of the world that he lives in. He has discovered this connection between the worlds, and believes that there are millions and millions of worlds running in tandem, and that you can access these worlds if you know the way. And he is hell-bent on going out and finding out what it is, which is against the wishes of the Magisterium.”
From Lord Asriel’s lips, Lyra first hears of the evocative phenomenon that he is traveling north to investigate – Dust. “She doesn’t know what it is because no one has ever told her,” explains Richards. “It’s like the one thing they haven’t tried to teach her. So, of course, she wants to find out everything she can about it. When she mentions it to Mrs. Coulter, she gets a bit scary. And Lyra doesn’t understand because her uncle was speaking quite openly about it but nobody else seems to want to talk about it.”
As all of the forces begin to coalesce around the north, where Lyra’s adventure unfolds, Dust goes from a whispered, forbidden concept to a very real question at the core of her daring adventure. “I pictured it as having some connection with this mysterious substance called dark matter,” Pullman explains. “Scientists don’t quite know what it is, but because it’s such an evocative phrase – dark matter – and because it fit very well with that line from Paradise Lost, I linked the two up.”
Like Mrs. Coulter, Lord Asriel’s relationship with Lyra forms the kernel of who she is and who she becomes. Lyra wants parents like every child does, and the way that Lord Asriel behaves towards her is what forms Lyra and makes her into this wonderful human being that she’s becoming, Craig explains. He is very tough with her, but he feels it’s the only way to be because she’s got to be as tough as he is. She has got no choice but to go out there and do it on her own. By the same token, her friendships and her connections become the most important thing in her life. And that’s why people stick with them because their bravery and their integrity are what always comes through in the end.
Daniel has strength and fearlessness and ruthlessness but it’s a ruthlessness that has a level of emotion to it,†comments executive producer Maisel. He doesn’t treat Lyra particularly well, and yet you understand that there’s something else bigger that’s going on and you appreciate that with him. In fact, because of how resonant the performances of Daniel and Nicole are, you understand why they’re doing what they’re doing, and you don’t hold it against them. That’s an incredible achievement.
41 COMMENTS:
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Caitlin
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Miriam
i think that Lord Asriel is spot on how i imaged him! I can’t wait to see the film!
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Mika
Another perfect choice for the part.
The casting of this movie hasn’t failed to amaze me yet.
Good luck to you, Lord Asriel!
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Mikey W (it IS the northern lights lol)
fantastic choice =P
Craig exudes a power that fits perfectly to Asriel. And his eyes are somewhat demonic, as the Lord’s name suggests haha
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Nicholas
Daniel Craig will fit the role of Lord Asriel so well!!!
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Andrew Pirie
A wonderful actor who’ll take this film by storm
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ashlie
i so can not wate for this i want to see it soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo badly
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Mikkel Christensen
When i imagined Azriel i imagined Daniel Craig with beard.. This is so spooky but still quiet amusing =D
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Nick
loving Daniel Craig after Casino Royale…I had Asriel down as being slightly older but I think he’s a great great choice!
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Anne
I’ve just finished reading the golden compass, and i can’t wait to see the movie, when i first heard about that Daniel should play Lord Asriel, i really couldnt belive it Daniel is the perfect for the part! =)
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Andrea
My Asriel has black hair. As does Lyra. Hope Daniel does a good job, but would still have gone for Christian Bale (sorry Daniel!)
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Bryce
I must say that you are the ideal actor for this role. Your dually rugged and meticulous appearance is unmatched for the role of Lord Asriel. I am certain you will bring depth and cunning to this role, Mr. Craig. I look forward to this film.
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joana
eu já li este livro e achei encantador!!!
estou ansiosa por ver o filme!! deve ser um espectáculo!!
bjhx* =} -
Marina
Translating what Joana said:
ive already read this book and thought of it enchanting (?)
im anxious to see the film, must be espetacular
kissessomething like that, hope you all understood lol
Good luck to you all with the film, there will be the second and third book as movie too, right?!
i hope so cause they are great!
and good luck to daniel craig, that role is YOURSSSSSSSS for the taking!
cya! -
Taylor
Hmm, looks a bit less powerful than I imagined, but appears to be doing good in spite of it!
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Jennifer
I adore Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman will be superb I’m sure. My sister is in a book club and they have read all the books so far. She turned me on to the books on tape and I’m captivated. I am a chimpanzee.
I know I will see this movie over and over again. I’m holding my breath. Please hurry!
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Pantalaimon
I always imagined Lord Asriel as looking more powerful, not so weak, as he is pictured here. He’s a Lord and his name is Asriel, but in the bottom picture it looks exactly like I imagined him!
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Lauren
I loved the book sosoosososos much I can’t wait until the movie comes out I am currently almost done the 2nd book I’M SOSOSOSOS EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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Lindsey
OMG!!!!!! this movie is gonna be GREAT!!! I love lord Asriel’s daemon!!!
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salster
i have read the book and i did not realise intill know that this was the film the golden compass is the best book i have read and soon i am staring reading the subtle knife which is the second of phillip pullmans great books the golden compass is also known as northen lights that s what the book i read was called
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kaylee
i imagined that lee scoresby would look like him
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DARRELL
he’s cool
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Lauren
Hey I sooooooooooooooooooo can’t wait til this is out!
I’ve read all the Dark Materials and can’t wait til the film is out!
My birthday is five days after it comes out so I’m even more excited about it coming out.
I wish that I had a daemon like Lyra one that changes it’s shape and animal type because as a teenager mine would have settled now. I would have to have the daemon called Eamon.
I’M SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOS EXCITED!!!!! -
Alex
I sure hope this movie is as enchanting as the books are. I also hope it does not become a stage for stars because the story is so much more important than they are. Philip Pullman is a beautiful story teller and it seems like this might all be to put a bunch of pompous designers who worked on overimaginations like happy potter back to work and to make up for a writers strike for studios who cannot come up with any ideas anymore. People forget that this world is like ours not just all fantasy it is a parallel not just a glittery green screened spectacle.
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Charlotte MK
I’m really looking forward to this film, i read the book years ago, (my edition has a front cover i havent seen on any other for ages), i was hoping they’d be true to the story and keep the metaphysical philosophy and science intact as they are what make the books so intriguing. love the actors that have been chosen (although only dakota lives up to how i imagined them), kidman and craig are going to be amazing, cult heroes from now on in!
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katelyn
I agree with Caitlin,I would love to have a snow leopard as a daemon!!!!!!!
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Robyn
Daniel craig is such a spectacular actor, i cant wait to see how well he portrays Lord Asriel in the film.
I am looking foward to seeing the film, i hope it lives up to the book would be a terrible thing if the film did not do the book justice. Pullman is a fantastic writer and i cant wait to see how the cast live up to his characters.
On a last note: How lucky is Dakota? It would be simply spectacular to star in a film with a cast such as this! -
Kis
Despite of the fact that I can´t understand why in America they changed the title of the book ‘Northem Light’ and they call the novel ‘The golden compass’, I´m looking foward to see this movie!!!
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Eve Eisemann
Very well casted movie! Almost all of the characters are as I imagined them in the books.It seems like a child’s story at first, but really it is dealing with very deep matters. “His Dark Materials” is such a gripping trilogy, I do hope that the other two books will be made into movies as well!
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samantha
wow he is almost how I imagined him but I always thought he grayish hair if you know what I mean but anyway I am so exited about the movie
and I can’t wait to see it! -
Amy
OMG he looks awesome! Just as I pictured him in the book! Man he did such a good job in the movie!
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Bella Newman
I love this series of books! And I think Daniel Craig is the perfect Lord Asriel. Good Luck!
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Mary Elisabeth
I have not read the books yet but I saw the first movie. It was very good. I thought Daniel Craig did a good job at showing that he cares for Lyra but being stern in a way that she needs in order to be raised strong. I can’t wait to see the next two and read the books.
I enjoyed him very much in James Bond as well. I like to notice the difference in the two characters and how he portrays it.
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sarah
hi can anyone tell me the name of the name of the bear king. Thanks S.
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Chloe
Daniel Craig, WHAT A ROLE YOU PLAYED!
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james
iorek is the name of the bear kingor were you talking about the one that iorek beat in a fight to the death?
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james
can someone please tell me if they know if there is going to be a sequal to golden compass?
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coco
Translating what Joana said:
ive already read this book and thought of it enchanting (?)
im anxious to see the film, must be espetacular
kissessomething like that, hope you all understood lol
Good luck to you all with the film, there will be the second and third book as movie too, right?!
i hope so cause they are great!
and good luck to daniel craig, that role is YOURSSSSSSSS for the taking!
cya! -
valfen
I like his performance .
He is a very good actor…CONTINUE
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andrew galpin
This film is absolutely brilliant and everyone would love to have a spot in this film daniel is an amazing actor and very good at what he does, me being 18 and no acting experience apart from lying to my mum for 6 months had a job would love to have a part in this film and learn from this great man, seen the film about 6-7 times now and omg was he great great work and keep it going for the next films. cnt wait to see it cmon lets have some fun cnt wait for the nxt one
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Cody
Daniel Craig is perfect for this part. He is a great actor and i can’t wait to the last part of the book
I can’t wait to see this movie, I like Daniel Craig. I am reading Northern Lights at the moment, and I wish I had a snow leopard daemon like Lord Asriel!