Chris Weitz has found his way back to New Line Cinema's The Golden Compass. The multihyphenate, who penned the screenplay and originally was attached to helm the project before stepping down last year, is back in the director's chair for the adaptation of the first installment of Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Anand Tucker, who had replaced Weitz, recently exited the film because of creative differences. Sources close to the project cited budget constraints.

Weitz, who directed "About a Boy" and "American Pie," jumped at the opportunity to return to the coming-of-age story. "Though I'm disappointed that New Line and Anand didn't end up seeing eye to eye, when I was told the job of directing 'Golden Compass' was open, there was just no way that I could pass it up," said Weitz.