Elliot: 'Church forced Dark Materials axe'

Sam Elliot has claimed that pressure from the Catholic Church was the reason for New Line opting to axe the two sequels for The Golden Compass.

The actor played aeronaut Lee Scoresby in the adaptation of Philip Pullman's Northern Lights, the first part in the author's His Dark Materials trilogy.

On its release in 2007, the movie was boycotted by The Catholic League For Religious and Civil Rights. Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly also attacked the film and reportedly dubbed it a "war on Christmas".

Elliot told the Evening Standard: "The Catholic Church happened to The Golden Compass, as far as I'm concerned.

"It did incredible at the box office, taking $380million (£235 million). Incredible. It took $85million in the States. The Catholic Church... lambasted them, and I think it scared New Line off.

"I would have loved to have gone after them. I would have liked to have sat down with Bill O'Reilly and talked it out. There are two sides to that coin. It's a shame as it's a great trilogy."

Bill Donohue of The Catholic League For Religious and Civil Rights said: "I am delighted the boycott worked. Just as the producers have a right to make the movie, I have a right to protest.

"The reason I protested was the deceitful attempt to introduce Christian children to the wonders of atheism in a backdoor fashion at Christmas time."

He added: "Everyone agrees the film version was not anti-Catholic, but that hardly resolves the issue.

"The fact is that each volume in the trilogy becomes increasingly anti-Catholic. I knew if we could hurt the box office receipts here, it might put the brakes on the next movie."