The Golden Compass | Director speaks up for the Japanese release | His Dark Materials

Director speaks up for the Japanese release

Posted by jessia on February 29, 2008 at 4:19 am

Tom Baker of the Daily Yomiuri speaks to Chris Weitz in Japan after the the Tokyo premiere of The Golden Compass. While there is little new information for existing His Dark Materials fans, this is Weitz’s first interview since the media buzz around The Golden Compass’ English-language release to theatres. Asked if there will be a sequel, he answers: “I hope so. It’s interesting. At first it looked like we were down for the count because in the U.S. [the film] underperformed. But then internationally it performed really well. It went better than expectations. So, a lot depends on Japan, frankly. I certainly would be sad to not see a second or third film. I think if it does well enough here we’ll be in good shape for that.” Read more.

The Golden Compass opens in Japan this weekend to 700 screens.

mark scoresby says:

I hope there is sequals,but with the news about New Line and Warner…….

February 29, 2008 10:10 pm | link

Daviddatsme says:

I hope it does brilliant in Japan, cause I badly wanna see the two sequels made! And I’m determined to play Will Parry in the sequels!

March 1, 2008 12:01 am | link

Witch-girl says:

I’d like to see two sequels made, I guess…

March 1, 2008 4:27 am | link

Elvenstar says:

Wonderful interview as usual with Chris. I really hope it will perform rather well in Jap.

March 1, 2008 2:55 pm | link

Rococoed says:

Hopefully Warner Brothers, having now acquired New Line, will recognize the potential this franchise holds internationally and decide to pursue it. Hopefully! ^_^

March 1, 2008 11:56 pm | link

grumman says:

That was a nice interview. As to whether the sequels will be made, I doubt WB would buy NL just to make the same mistakes it did.

March 2, 2008 12:44 am | link

jammer says:

But the mistake lied in the execution of the film, not the funding of the film.

March 2, 2008 4:26 am | link

Karine says:

I like this interview, he speaks well.

March 2, 2008 7:49 pm | link

grumman says:

It’s naïve to believe the movie failed at the boxoffice just because of execution mistakes. The story is much too controversial for the ordinary moviegoers.

March 2, 2008 10:18 pm | link

tim says:

It’s also naive to assume it was because of the story.

March 3, 2008 1:13 am | link

pineapple says:

it’d be nice to have the sequels made well, but i cant help but think “the golden compass 2″ will somehow sneak it’s way in as the title. how will all the little kiddies know what it is?? >:(

ps: northern lights 2 wouldn’t be so bad. they should have called it that.

March 3, 2008 7:19 am | link

Johanne says:

But it won’t exactly be repeating NL’s mistakes to fund the sequels, since they did very well internationally. Repeating NL’s mistakes would be to rely solely on US sales, and market it like a generic Eragon adventure.

March 3, 2008 12:31 pm | link

Kincuri says:

it sounds like TGC has done reasonably well over the weekend in Japan. It’s topped the Japanese Box Office with an opening weekend gross of around $10 million;

http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/8005

Some of the best news I’ve had all morning…

March 4, 2008 5:24 am | link

namster says:

> I like this interview, he speaks well.

Sure was a nice interview, Karine. He’s very eloquent. He reasons his points well.

March 14, 2008 9:24 pm | link