James Bond star Daniel Craig has landed a role in the Golden Compass, an adaptation of the first book in Philip Pullman's successful trilogy.
Craig, who will be seen as Bond for the first time in Casino Royale later this year, will play one of the main characters, Lord Asriel.
The cast also includes Nicole Kidman and newcomer Dakota Blue Richards.
The film is due out in December 2007. The Golden Compass is the US title of the original book, Northern Lights.
Filming is due to start in the UK on 4 September.
Mysterious adventures
Craig's Bond co-star Eva Green is also starring in The Golden Compass.
Twelve-year-old Dakota Blue Richards was selected to play the film's heroine Lyra from thousands of hopefuls who attended open auditions earlier this year.
The film's director is Chris Weitz, who was nominated for a screenplay Oscar for About a Boy in 2003.
The trilogy comprises The Northern Lights/The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.
It revolves around a young girl, Lyra, who travels to the far north to save her best friend.
Along the way, she encounters shape-shifting creatures, witches and a variety of other-worldly characters in parallel universes.
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