Philip Pullman 'disappointed' at Dark Materials film scrapping

Author Philip Pullman has expressed his disappointment that the last two books in the His Dark Materials trilogy may not be turned into films.

Earlier this week, actor Sam Elliot, who starred in The Golden Compass - the big screen adaptation of Pullman's Northern Lights - told the Evening Standard that the remaining films have been scrapped because of pressure from Catholic protestors.

Speaking to the Western Mail, Pullman commented: 'If Sam is right then I am very disappointed because it obviously would have been very good to have seen the other two films made.'

The books have been the target of groups such as the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, which claim that they promote atheism.

Pullman told the newspaper that it is 'rubbish' that His Dark Materials trilogy, which is completed by The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, persuade children not to believe in God.

Commenting on the films' shelving in the Guardian, critic Stuart Heritage argued that Catholic protestors may not be responsible for the move. He pointed out that the bad reviews which met The Golden Compass were perhaps more influential.