The Golden Compass doesn’t officially open in theaters until next week on Friday, December 7, but New Line is giving everyone a chance to see it earlier.

This morning they’ve announced that the film will play for special sneak peek engagements around America this Saturday, December 1st. It’s happening in more than 800 theaters, which should give just about everyone, even those of you in the middle of nowhere (or Roanoke) a chance to see it. But you’ll have to be on the ball. The way this usually works is you’ll get a single showing on Saturday to catch it. If you miss buying a ticket, you’ll have to wait till December 7 like all the other schmucks.

Sneak previewing a major movie like this is actually somewhat unprecedented. Saturday sneak previews are nothing new, but they’re rarely for big, blustery, blockbusters like The Golden Compass. They’re usually reserved for movies like August Rush, which played in week early sneak previews early in November. I’m not sure what that says about The Golden Compass. Perhaps New Line is trying to counteract all the noise being made by religious organizations, over anti-God content which isn’t even in the movie.

Either way, we’re the winners. See you all in a theater this Saturday. Bring your daemon.