A RELIGIOUS leader said he is “positively gloating” today after reports revealed there would be no film sequel to Oxford author Philip Pullman’s novel, The Golden Compass.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue urged his supporters to boycott the 2007 film and campaigned against further adaptations of Mr Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy amid claims the books were”pro-atheist”.

Yesterday actor Sam Elliott, who starred in The Golden Compass, said books two and three would not be filmed after a campaign by America’s religious right.

The film, parts of which were filmed in Oxford, starred Daniel Craig, Sir Ian McKellen and Nicole Kidman, and grossed more than £230m around the world.

Mr Donohue said: “The Catholic League launched a boycott in the hope that Christian parents would keep their children away from the film and thus not be inclined to buy the His Dark Materials, the trilogy of pro-atheist books aimed at young people.

“We also wanted to discourage the possibility that producers would make a movie of The Subtle Knife, the second book in the trilogy.

“We knew we had succeeded in the first goal, and had every reason to believe we were going to win on the second one. Now Pullman has confirmed our victory — there will be no sequel.”

He added: “Pullman has been widely quoted in Britain, taking aim at me for my alleged ‘triumphalism’.

“The accusation is accurate. I am positively gloating. Cheers, everyone.”

Mr Pullman was unavailable for comment this morning.