Golden Compass casting call

If you happen to know a British girl or two who happens to want to be the next Harry Potter (fame-wise anyway), check out this posting I found from the Chil_Lit listserv:

BBC has posted details of a UK casting call for the role of Lyra Belacqua in director Anand Tucker's The Golden Compass at New Line Cinema. The film is based on the first book in the "His Dark Materials" trilogy and will be titled "Northern Lights" in the UK.

Auditions for the role will take place in Cambridge, Oxford, Kendal and Exeter during the first two weeks of April.

The film's casting directors are said to be looking for a girl aged between nine and 13 who need not have any previous acting experience.

Applicants are being asked to come accompanied by a parent or guardian, dressed warmly - without costumes or make-up - and be prepared for a lengthy wait.

Film-makers have said they are looking for a girl "who embodies Lyra's loyalty, bravery and mischievous nature".

The casting calls will have open queues from 1000-1200GMT and will end at 1700GMT.

The exact locations are Cambridge's Corn Exchange (4 April), Kendal's Castle Green Hotel (6 April), Oxford's Examination Schools (11 April), and Exeter's Great Hall at the University of Exeter (13 April).

The Golden Compass revolves around a Lyra Belacqua who travels to the far north to save her best friend. Along the way she encounters shape-shifting creatures, witches, and a variety of otherworldly characters in parallel universes.

So I guess they have a script. Those of us who remember that Tom Stoppard was fired off the project will remember that the new script-boy Chris Weitz is currently best known for the American Pie films.
Yeah.
I know.