FANS of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials could get the chance to appear in the TV adaptation of the popular trilogy.

Last week it was announced that Scottish movie star James McAvoy has joined the cast of the Bad Wolf production as Lord Asriel, alongside Logan star Dafne Keen, who will play Lyra Belacqua.

The new eight-part series is starting production in Wales but some scenes will be shot in Oxford and now Pinewood Studios Uni-versalExtras are looking for people to take part in scenes expected to be shot next month.

A casting session is taking place on Saturday at New Road Baptist Church in Oxford, from 10am to 4pm.

Uni-versalExtras events co-ordinator Amy Leyshon said: “We work on the biggest and best feature films and have provided supporting artists for numerous projects including Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Justice League, Kingsman: The Golden Circle and Paddington 2.

“We have some exciting projects coming up in and around Oxford so are looking for people to come and register to work as a supporting artist with us.

“We look forward to meeting everyone.”

The casting session costs nothing and any roles are paid. The only requirement is that any person attending must be over 16.5 years of age with the right to work in the UK.

Bad Wolf bosses have notified the county council that they will be filming in New College Lane from July 2 to July 4.

Nigel Heath, 63, from Witney, urged would-be professional actors to try out being an extra for the day.

He said: “They never tell you beforehand what you are going to be in - they just tell you the address and you have to turn up - sometimes very early in the morning. I was one of the extras in the recent BBC drama, A Very English Scandal, about the suspected murder plot involving Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe, played by Hugh Grant.

“One of the scenes featured an election count and I shook Hugh Grant’s hand.

He gave us lots of encouragement - it was like he was helping to direct the scene.”

Mr Heath warned there could be lots of waiting around between takes, with little pay.

He added: “You might get £100 but you could end up working a 13-hour day.

“It’s hit and miss when you get called - earlier this year I was a race goer in a Netflix cold war drama so I got to have a day at the races.”