Narnia's 'Voyage' Will Continue

I have some great news for everyone who is a fan of "The Chronicles of Narnia" franchise that Disney suddenly (and unwisely) dumped last Christmas: 20th Century Fox has picked up "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" and filming should start as early as this summer. Some details are still being worked out like budget and script details, but it looks like all the cast and the director are still on board for this. Here's the full article from Variety:

One month after Disney decided to pull the plug on co-financing the third movie in Walden Media's "Chronicles of Narnia" series, Walden has found a new partner in 20th Century Fox.

Fox, which was entitled to first crack at "The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader" after Disney dropped out because of the shared Fox Walden marketing and distribution label, has made a commitment to develop the project. The two sides are still working out budget and script issues, but the hope is to shoot the film at the end of summer for a holiday 2010 release through the Fox Walden label.

Fox 2000 will spearhead development and production matters from the Fox front. Topper Elizabeth Gabler had pursued the "Narnia" franchise but was beaten out by Walden. The Century City studio seems to be an ideal fit for the "Narnia" books given that it's been looking for a family-friendly, lit-based franchise for years -- Fox 2000's "Eragon" failed to catch on with audiences and died after one installment.

Fox and Walden will split production and P&A costs for "Dawn Treader," which is projected to go into production at a $140 million budget. That's considerably less than the $215 million or so spent on last year's "Prince Caspian," which was considered something of a box office disappointment as compared with the first "Narnia" pic, 2005's "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" ($419 million vs. $745 million worldwide, respectively).

Still, "Caspian," which is considered the least commercially appealing of the seven C.S. Lewis "Narnia" novels, ranked No. 10 in global box office performance last year. "Dawn Treader" is considered to be a more family film-friendly book, and the goal is to get back to the magical aspects present in the first "Narnia" pic but mostly absent from "Prince Caspian."

Ultimately, Fox's commitment to the summer start date is contingent upon Walden's selection of a writer. Richard LaGravanese penned the most recent draft that both Walden and Fox were happy with, but there's a question about his availability because he has been adapting Sara Gruen's bestseller "Water for Elephants" for Fox 2000.

After budget and script concerns are settled, Fox and Walden are expected to greenlight the film. The intention is to move the production away from Mexico, where, ironically, it was going to be shot at the Fox-owned Baja facility called Rosarito used for "Titanic" and "Master and Commander." "Dawn Treader" will instead likely shoot in Australia because of concerns for the drug violence and kidnappings that are taking place near Baja.

Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley are reprising their roles as Caspian, Edmund and Lucy, respectively. New to the production is Will Poulter ("Son of Rambo"), who will portray Eustace Clarence Scrubb. Pic is being directed by Michael Apted, with Mark Johnson and Andrew Adamson producing.

Mother-of-Three To Disney: "You're Crazy"

For those who are still disappointed that Disney passed on the third Narnia film, "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" (and are doubly disappointed to see Narnia pretty much shut out of the Oscars), Mary McNamara of the L.A. Times gives Disney a good public beating in an open letter she printed in the paper:

Dear Disney:

I don't pretend to understand the vagaries of filmmaking or the pressures of corporate America in an economically challenged year, but I do know a few things about your target audience since, as the credit-card-wielding, annual-Disneyland-pass-holding mother of a 10-, an 8-, and a 2-year-old, I pretty much am she.

I discovered, belatedly, that you've decided to pull out of the third part of "The Chronicles of Narnia," "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" -- you made the announcement on, what, Christmas Eve? -- because of "budget considerations," leaving Walden Media to find a new studio partner.

And I'm here to tell you, though it is probably too late, that you are crazy.

So, part two, "Prince Caspian," didn't make a gazillion dollars. What a surprise. "Prince Caspian" was always the dud, relatively speaking, of the series. For fans who read and reread "The Chronicles of Narnia," it was the one you could skip. The fact that "Prince Caspian" the movie did as well as it did was a miracle, and a testament to the filmmakers. It certainly did not have the built-in, can't-wait draw of the first Narnia film, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

Or, more important, of "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," which is, hands down, the best book of the series, the one inevitably most dog-eared or lost entirely from the boxed set because in reading it for the 98th time, you left it in the backyard right before it rained or lent it to your cousin who lives in Virginia. If you don't believe me, consult the truly excellent BBC audio version and you will find that the narrator for "Dawn Treader" is Derek Jacobi. Derek Jacobi! If those CDs don't keep you and your kids rapt and silent during the five-hour ride to Yosemite and back, nothing will.

Cinematically, "Dawn Treader" is a no-brainer. It's a sea voyage, for Pete's sake. There's a dragon and missing knights and a wizard and all manner of magic involved. The moral ambiguity of slavery, the deleterious effect of great wealth, the meaning of the afterlife are all dealt with in entertaining and thrilling ways. Aslan barely makes an appearance, so you don't even need to worry about Liam's schedule.

Peter and Susan are gone, and in their place is the irritating cousin, Eustace Scrubb, one of the more inspired and believable rotten kids in English literature -- a career maker for some lucky young actor. Imagine the big-screen possibilities of the trip to the Island of Dreams or the battle with the sea serpent. Not to mention all the subsequent merchandising opportunities. Reepicheep is back, in a big way, and if you can't earn your investment back in Reepicheep plushies and pajamas, then, honestly, you aren't really trying.

And what happened to momentum? What happened to artistic commitment? Imagine if New Line had decided that, because the critics were lukewarm on "The Two Towers," it would pull out of "The Return of the King"? (Not that this could have happened, because New Line had the foresight and the guts to put up for all three at once.)

Meanwhile, you put money in "Race to Witch Mountain" and took a pass on "Dawn Treader"? Disney, Disney, now is not the time to lose your heads. In tough times, what are parents going to do -- shell out to renew those park passes or take their kids to another matinee? Now pick up the phone and make nice. Maybe Aslan will relent and let you back into Narnia after all.

Sincerely,

Mary McNamara

Amen to that sister. Oh yeah, I'd like to mention one more thing: "Prince Caspian" was one of the top selling DVD's of 2008. In less then two weeks. How's that for short-sightedness?

Voyage To Set Sail?

I was going to post my review of "Slumdog Millionaire," but I read something to today that pretty much soured my mood to write it. THR.com is reporting that Disney has opted not to make the third Narnia movie "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." They state this is because of "budgetary and logical reasons," but that's only half the explanation. I know this is an expensive film to make, and I know that the last film didn't do as well, but they should have given it one more shot. For starters, I'm pretty sure they could have shaved the budget down to $140 if they filmed a majority of it without CGI (would not have been that difficult this time around). Then, if they released the movie during Christmas as opposed to Spring, they'd have gotten more families to see it. Thanks a lot Disney, this is THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER!!! Oh well, here's hoping Fox or some other company picks up the franchise. I'd hate to see it die before we got to the seventh film in the series. I will say though, if someone else DOES pick up the rest of the movies, then maybe they'll treat the series with respect, something Disney did not (they picked it up basically because they missed the boat on Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings).