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Bettany & Kidman = Asriel & Coulter?Posted by on July 14, 2006 at 9:11 amThe Daily Mail is claiming that Paul Bettany is near taking the role of Lord Asriel in the forthcoming His Dark Materials movies. The paper says that he is “facing the last hurdle in negotiations.” Following up on its previous claim that Nicole Kidman has been offered the Mrs Coulter role, it says that “people on the film” have been telling others that the star will be in the movie and that she has “agreed to cut her multi-million-dollar fee.” “[Paul and Nicole] get on, so him being in the film is something Nicole is taking into consideration,” one executive reportedly told the Mail. Read more.The article also says that whilst “principal photography” begins in September, New Line have already “begun shooting discreetly in the UK.” It also mentions that Weitz has officially hired an actress - Claire Higgens, who has won the Olivier Award thrice. This may be her (see photo). Update: The Mail, whilst reporting on Kidman's move to Britain, claim that she is doing so in order to shoot the film. They say, “Nicole's agents and executives from New Line spent over two months at what were described by one source at the studio as 'complex' negotiations to secure the actress's services.” Read more. Note: This story is still highly unconfirmed. The Mail have a history of making up rumours, having insisted for years (even before the film had a director) that Kidman was 'on the verge' of taking the role. That latest article, for example, deceptively states that “author Pullman revealed that he had always visualised Nicole playing the part of the glamorous sable-coated Mrs Coulter,” which in actuality was a remark made over five years ago. A source of ours within New Line was unable to confirm any of this, so take all reports with a grain of salt. 
128 Comments:Post your own!Please keep comments on topic - we have a message board for general discussion.
Tony says:
I've seen some of Paul Bettany's acting and I have not seen any qualities of Asriel in his acting. Although he was very good at acting his part in the moives that I have seen, hopefully he will be able to pull it off. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Tony says:
Did\’nt you just say on the page before that one of your favorite movies was a kinghts Taal. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Gloria says:
Paul Bettany? One of my favourite actors, very good looking. However I pictured Lord Asriel looking different. Bettany has been in A Beautiful Mind, The Da Vinci Code, Wimbledon, and Firewall. To see pictures go to paulbettany.net November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Missy-Me says:
that Paul Bettany is so wrong..! November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
JV says:
Am I the only one who thinks Viggo Mortensen should be Lord Asriel? November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Aeran says:
Bettany? Not bad! (as long as Asriel isn't an albino, haha) JV: my friend and I were discussing casting the other day and thought Viggo Mortensen might make an interesting Scoresby, but a terrible Asriel! November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Willl says:
(Tony - it's only small conversations here, don't bother quoting the person you're replying to, it only clutters things up.) November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
MainMe says:
Yeah! Paul Bettany! He's a brilliant actor, trust me . . he'll be great! November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
ARC says:
:wassat: I don't see Paul Bettany in the role. If Sean Connery was 20 years younger he would be the perfect Asriel. I don't know about Nicole Kidman either. I think Rachel Weisz would be the perfect Coulter provided she can act the part. She might also be a good choice for Serafina although my guess is that's the role Claire Higgens has been offered. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
KittyKat: says:
no, no, no, no, no, no, nooooooo! November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
JV says:
Oh, Higgins as Ma Costa? Great, that would suit her much better than Serafina. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Wytchbabi says:
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NOT PAUL BETTANY OR NICOLE KIDMAN!!! yes, they're brilliant actors, but neither of them are right for the parts! DOESN'T ANYONE ELSE SEE THAT!? :angry: November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Wytchbabi says:
Finally someone who agrees with me! everyone else i pitch that casting idea to says it's a bad choice, but they're WRONG! November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Ali says:
OH MY GOSH YES! Paul Bettany is a BRILLIANT actor, I never even thought of him as Lord Asriel but now that I think about it, he'd be really good. He can be charming but dark as well, which is quite like Lord Asriel. And if his role in the movie helps Nicole Kidman decide to play Mrs Coulter, then all the better. I love Nicole Kidman… November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
jell says:
Oh YAY! Claire Higgens is a great actress! Can't really see her as Serafina or Ma Costa though… and Paul Bettany doesn't seem like much of an Asriel :wassat: November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Wytchbabi says:
Paul Bettany is all WRONG for Asriel, and Nicole Kidman is all WRONG for Coulter!!!! "HAS ANYBODY ELSE NOTICED THAT? I FEEL LIKE I'M TAKING CRAZY PILLS!" Asriel large, dark, ambitious, and just gives off this haughty power like a lamp gives off light. even an actor as good as Bettany can't replicate that. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Rin says:
Claire Higgens would be good as Ma Costa, but NO WAY should Paul Bettany play Lord Asriel. I agree with you about that, Wytchbabi. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
The Bard says:
Heather Graham should be Mrs. Coulter and tbh, I really can't think of anyone who would be right for Asrael…maybe Christian Bale…or Sean Bean…yeah, those two would be quite good. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
The Bard says:
Hahah, How about Jeremy Irons for Asrael?? "I vant to hear nusink about ze germans!" "Simon says zere is a bomb…" Lawl. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Alewyn says:
Paul Bettany?…Paul Bettany?…Paul Bettany????? ARE YOU JOKING??? Don't get me wrong, I love him, but…as ASRIEL? Paul Bettany…Lord Asriel…no, just…no. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
trilogyfreak9 says:
Silas the albino monk with problems November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
seanie says:
are you insane Wytchbabi!?!? ok ok i totally agree with you that bettany is not right for asriel, but nicole kidman is perfect for coulter. if the author of the book thinks nicole is good for the part then i think she is good for the part. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Georgia says:
I can't say I'm too thrilled with Paul Bettany as Lord Asriel. He's rather young, he doesn't give off the powerful air..I dunno. But he is a good actor, so perhaps he can pull it off. And… *deep breath* FINALLY! If Ms. Coulter isn't Nicole Kidman, I'd just cry. She'd be brilliant. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Wytchbabi says:
Well, the casting choice if Kidman for Coulter is the ONE and ONLY thing i disagree with Philip Pullman about. Yes, he IS a genius, and Yes, she IS a brilliant actress, but she is…just…so…WRONG! Now, Catherine Zeta-Jones, maybe. Monica Belluchi, maybe. Kate Winslet, maybe. But not, not, not, not, NOT KIDMAN!!! November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Ali says:
Ooh Kate Winslet, I wouldn't say no to her… she's such a good actress (plus, she's really pretty). I dunno about Catherine Zeta-Jones, though, everyone seems to want her ,yet she seems… off. She doesn't seem like she could pull off the bad side of Mrs. Coulter, only the good side. I dunno, I'm still with Philip Pullman on this one. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
JV says:
As I recall Phillip Pullman's idea of Lord Asriel was Sean Connery. I'm not saying I agree with it, it's just if you want to go with Pullman's ideas like they seem to be doing with Kidman. By the way, I think The Bard said Sean Bean or Christian Bale should be Lord Asriel. I had them in mind as Lord Boreal & John Parry respectively. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
MCH says:
Nicole Kidman would be PERFECT for Mrs Coulter, but I somehow can't imagine Paul Bettany as Asriel - he's a great actor, but i think he's a bit too scrawny for it. i imagined Asriel being broader built. then again, i can imagine him playing Lyra's death… November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
JV says:
There is… a significant event involving Lyra in the third book. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
rory says:
i can understand the discrepencies over who's cast for what, but personally, i'm just very glad things finally seem to be getting under way for the movie, and a perspective release date has been set, which is definitely a good sign. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Wytchbabi says:
Amen to that. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
freedomfighter says:
I think people are taking what PP said about Nicole Kidman out of context. He originally said something along the lines of "I see Mrs. Coulter quite like Nicole's character in To Die For". The CHARACTER. Not Nicole herself. So perhaps he had this character in mind when he wrote about Mrs. Coulter, but there's nothing to suggest he wants Nicole to actually play her. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Willl says:
Except for when he also said: "I like the idea of Nicole Kidman as Mrs Coulter, myself." November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
David S says:
I think Jason Isaacs could make a great Lord Asriel. He's a fantastic actor, more than capable of portraying the appropriate air of arrogance, power and confidence, yet he can also portray humanity and warmth. http://imdb.com/name/nm0005042/ November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Shanna says:
Let's see if this works this time. So - I always picture Asriel with long, dark hair and cold calculating eyes. I also always picture Mrs. Coulter with slightly curly, shiny brown hair. Of course, Lyra has blonde hair, right? Anyway, I think Paul Bettany and Nicole Kidman would do well, I would just like to see good wigs or dye jobs if they are in it. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
MCH says:
Rin - yeah Lyra's Death is in the third book - but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the first film will be so amazing and such a success that they'll make all three! November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Ali says:
I agree with David S that Jason Isaacs would be a good choice for Lord Asriel. I really need to stop changing my opinion on this topic haha… Oh well, I'll probably like whoever they pick. I just can't wait to see the movie. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Shanna says:
Jason Isaacs would be quite good. I think we've all seen that he can really play cold and calculating characters very well!! November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Wytchbabi says:
yeah, Jason Issacs would be great. he just needs to adapt his character technique a little bit. has anyone noticed that most of the characters he plays are very similar? like Lucius Malfoy and the guy in The Patriot? but still, that's not a bad choice. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
rory says:
Jason Isaacs…..hmmmmmmm. I never really put a certain actor with Asriel. I usually do that when I'm reading, but Asriel was always a tall, dark, and handsome stranger. He's a difficult character to cast. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link
Dustin says:
The casting of Nicole Kidman is BRILLIANT!!! That was one(out of the few) that I thought of when reading the book. Nicole can do that icy bitch type of role(To Die For is a prime example) and has the beauty to pull it off. Good choice. Paul Bettany on the other hand worries me for the same reasons mentioned above. November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link Leave a comment |
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I had imagend lord. Asriel very different… well, make-up can do allot :tongue:
viggo would be a terrible Asriel
Paul Bettany? That is a very interesting choice, however, I did picture my own Lord Asriel to be older than him. At least it looks as though more people could be signing on which is a good thing! I am starting to get excited.
November 30, 1999 12:00 am | link