While in Toronto to discuss his upcoming film "Shopgirl", written by and starring Steve Martin based on his own novella, director Anand Tucker reluctantly answered a few questions from Coming Soon about his next high profile project, The Golden Compass, the first part of "His Dark Materials," a trilogy of fantasy novels by Phillip Pullman.

Many people are wondering how the director of smaller projects like "Hilary and Jackie" was able to score himself such a huge and long awaited project like this one. "I loved that project for ten years, and I tried to option the book when it first came out. I've been passionate about it forever, and I was the bottom of a very long list of people when the chance came in February to try to get the job...

I put together a pitch and I hustled and lobbied, and I met everybody at New Line and told them what I felt what the movie should be. To their credit, they decided they would want to go with that. I hope I don't let them down."

Thanks to 'Ed'.