New Line Cinema will present special sneak previews of its highly anticipated fantasy adventure The Golden Compass this weekend in 800 theaters nationwide prior to the film's worldwide opening on December 7th.

The sneak previews, to be held on Saturday night, will give audiences a special opportunity to get an early look at the film which recently drew four-star reviews in the Guardian, the Daily Mail, and the Sun after its London premiere. The Daily Telegraph also hailed the film as having "momentum and grandeur that's hard to resist."

Based on author Philip Pullman's bestselling novel, The Golden Compass tells the first story in the "His Dark Materials" trilogy. An exciting fantasy adventure, the film is set in an alternative world populated by talking bears who fight wars, witches, Gyptians, and daemons. In the world of The Golden Compass, a person's soul lives on the outside of their body in the form of a daemon, an animal spirit that accompanies them through life. At the center of the story is Lyra (played by newcomer Dakota Blue Richards), a 12-year-old girl who starts out trying to rescue a friend -- and winds up on an epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well. The Golden Compass stars an ensemble cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliott (Ghost Rider), Eva Green (Casino Royale) and the voices of Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings), Ian McShane (Deadwood), Freddie Highmore (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Kathy Bates (Charlotte's Web), and Kristin Scott Thomas (Gosford Park). The film is written and directed by Chris Weitz (About A Boy, Antz) and produced by Deborah Forte and Bill Carraro.

The Golden Compass was released December 7th, 2007 and stars Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards, Ben Walker, Freddie Highmore, Ian McKellen, Eva Green, Jim Carter. The film is directed by Chris Weitz.