The IMDb reports that director-screenwriter Chris Weitz, the man at the helm of the upcoming film adaptation of the Philip Pullman novel "His Dark Materials," has removed some not-so-nice references to God and the Catholic church in the movie - upsetting fans of the original books.

Talking to Bridge to the Stars, Weitz revealed that distributor New Line Cinema has "expressed worry about the possibility of perceived anti-religiosity." Apparently the studio told him that if the references remained, the project would become "unviable financially."

Weitz allegedly then discussed the matter with Pullman, who told him that the role of the Authority (God) could be transformed into "any arbitrary establishment that curtails the freedom of the individual." The religious villains in the film, he said, "may appear in more subtle guises." He added: "you will probably not hear of the 'Church'."

Of course many are seeing this as essentially a bending over to the increasing power of religious lobby groups in the more conservative pro-Republican times of recent years.

Thanks to 'Josh'.