Despite making nearly $375 million worldwide, a sequel to The Golden Compass may not be on the way anytime soon. In an article from The Independant author Phillip Pullman says that following the disappointing box office returns for The Golden Compass in the US, no one has talked to him about adapting The Subtle Knife.

“I know everyone would like to see a sequel and I know I’d like to see it. When the first film was in production, I was talking to the studio and to Chris Weitz and producers quite frequently. I’m sure I would be now if the sequel was in production,” he said.

Weitz said yesterday he did not want talk about the project while the studio responsible for the first film was refusing to discuss the future of the trilogy.

The Golden Compass only made $70 million in the US, which has been blamed on the marketing and religious protests. New Line made the mistake of selling overseas rights so they did not get a penny from the $300 million made in other countries. Since then New Line folded and has become part of Warner Bros.

Back in March producer Deborah Forte said she was determined to carry the franchise forward,

“I will make ‘The Subtle Knife’ and ‘The Amber Spyglass,’” she vows. “I believe there are enough people who see what a viable and successful franchise we have.”

However, there are concerns that Dakota Blue Richards, who is now 12, will be too old if the sequels do not come within the next few years. This is a similar problem to what the Narnia franchise faced, although they are firing them out like bullets so the child to teenager transformations are less obvious.

• Could The Golden Compass Be Joined By The Subtle Knife?