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December 25, 2008
Disney Dumps Narnia
Studio bails out before Dawn Treader begins filming; Walden left holding the bag
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has decided, for "budgetary and logistical reasons," not to co-produce and co-finance The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the next film in the Chronicles of Narnia series.
Disney had partnered with Walden Media for the first two films, 2005's The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and this year's Prince Caspian.
As recently as a few weeks ago, two Walden Media employees had told CT Movies that plans for Dawn Treader were moving forward, with filming to start in the spring. Neither employee hinted that the plug might be pulled.
Walden, which owns the film rights to the Narnia stories, can still move forward with the films, but with production budgets approaching $200 million per film, it will be a difficult task. If Dawn Treader is to happen, Walden will likely have to partner with a studio willing to put up some hefty cash. They'll probably first look to Fox, its production and distribution partner on every other Walden film.
Talent for Dawn Treader--including director Michael Apted and star Ben Barnes, who plays Caspian--were already in place and ready to roll. It is too early to speculate what might, or might not, happen with the film, or if the rest of the series is to be scrapped altogether.
Walden Media has had a hit-and-miss record at the box office, with its latest release, City of Ember, bombing, prompting industry observers to wonder if Walden might be in trouble. Some have speculated that Fox might end its partnership with Walden, which would surely put the studio in a difficult position.
For more details, read the whole story in The Hollywood Reporter. CT Movies will stay on top of the story as it develops.
Comments
No-o-o-o! That's too, too, bad...about Narnia movies in trouble.
Personally, I feel that if the makers would've stuck more completely and closely with Lewis' text, they coulda/woulda been blockbusters with everybody wanting "in!"
Posted By: lori | December 29, 2008 7:07 PM
This actually make me kind of happy!
Prince Caspian got *way* off the true storyline and lost most of the meaning that I think Lewis intended to communicate. Maybe without Disney in the picture, the producers will get back to the heart of the stories.
Posted By: Zack | December 30, 2008 10:30 AM
Too bad for the cast and crew that were rightly hoping for another gig. Perhaps Walden will find another production company.
But to me it would be better for Walden to scrap future installments. If Walden can't do a better job of brining these stories I love to the big screen, I'd just as soon they quit; the first two were progressively sorry shadows of what Lewis wrote and I couldn't bear to watch another one.
Posted By: Robert | December 30, 2008 12:13 PM
When I think of the last chapter of the last book (The Last Battle - "Further up and further in !"), I hope and pray that it is done by someone who knows his C. S. Lewis. That chapter is the fantastic culmination of the series and it is about our home-haven,Heaven!
Posted By: Alan Westcott | January 2, 2009 10:00 AM
I enjoyed The LIon, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I did not care much for Prince Caspian. But....that was how I felt about the books also. LWW was by far the best of the books. I do wonder, given Disney's other track record, if this might also have something to do with political correctness and not wanting to be paired too closely with a Christian author and his work.
Posted By: Bill | January 2, 2009 1:40 PM
Just like Disney to dump something positive and educational as well as intellectual. I agree with the writer on 12/20 that the stories need to be more inline with the books - Hollywood has a way of doing their own thing with novels and books - however, I still enjoyed the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe and Prince Caspian. However, more strict adherence to Lewis's original would be good for all concerned.I sincerely hope that Walden can find someone to work on other series of the Narnia Chronicles.
Posted By: Gene | January 2, 2009 3:06 PM
LWW was the only well written book of the four. CS Lewis is more than over rated. Not a big loss here that I can see!
Posted By: Terry Stabb | January 3, 2009 9:16 PM
Very disappointing move by Disney. "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" is a great book.
I do hope Walden finds another company!!!
Posted By: Elisabeth | January 17, 2009 1:01 PM