In this adaptation of the first book in Philip Pullman's beloved fantasy trilogy, a motley crew of witches, polar bears, and, yes, Texans battle a mysterious force that kidnaps children. It took ten years for Pullman's ambitious story to make it to the screen, with director Weitz (About a Boy) exiting the project once — citing "technical challenges" — only to return two years later. All along, Craig was eyeing the role of the spooky benefactor, Lord Asriel. "It's not just about fantasy," Craig says. "It's about rites of passage and becoming an adult and how tricky that is." Newcomer Richards (selected from among 10,000 girls who turned up for open auditions in England) plays Lyra, the heroine who travels to the arctic north as part of the rescue attempt; Kidman is the malevolent Mrs. Coulter, who stalls her progress.