On 8 March 2018, it was announced that Dafne Keen had signed on to star in the series to play Lyra, an orphan, with director Tom Hooper also signed on to direct. Lin-Manuel Miranda would also star as adventurer Lee Scoresby.[6] On 8 June 2018, it was reported that James McAvoy, Clarke Peters, and Ruth Wilson had joined the cast.[7][8] On 8 August 2018, Lin-Manuel Miranda reported that he was in his third day of filming.[9]