Here’s a first look at the teaser poster for The Golden Compass, the New Line Cinema film based on the first book in Philip Pullman‘s His Dark Materials trilogy.

Set in an alternative world where people’s souls manifest themselves as animals, talking bears fight wars, and Gyptians and witches co-exist, the movie centers around 12-year-old Lyra, who starts out trying to rescue a friend who’s been kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as the Gobblers – and winds up on an epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well.

The Golden Compass, which stars Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Ian McShane, and Dakota Blue Richards, hits theaters December 7, 2007.

Visit ComingSoon.net to view the high-resolution image.