It depicts the adventures of Lyra Belacqua, an orphan living in a parallel universe on a world that looks much like our own. In Lyra's world, a dogmatic ruling power called the Magisterium is conspiring to end tolerance and free inquiry. Poor, orphan and Gyptian children are disappearing at the hands of a group the children call the Gobblers. Lyra discovers that Mrs. Coulter is running the Gobblers. Rescued by the Gyptians, Lyra joins them on a trip to the far north in search of the missing children. starring Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards, Sam Elliott, Eva Green, Christopher Lee, Tom Courtenay, Derek Jacobi, the voices of Ian McKellen, Ian McShane, Freddie Highmore, Kathy Bates and Kristin Scott Thomas, and Daniel Craig. Chris Weitz directs from his own screenplay; Based on the 1995 Scholastic Point book "Northern Lights" - the first installment of the 'His Dark Materials' trilogy by Philip Pullman. Produced by Deborah Forte and Bill Carraro; Executive Producers: Bob Shaye, Michael Lynne, Toby Emmerich, Mark Ordesky, Ileen Maisel, Andrew Miano and Paul Weitz. a Scholastic/Depth of Field production for New Line Cinema. (TM) New Line Productions, Inc.