Narnia Fans » O2 Arena

Film premieres in London have long been the exclusive preserve of studio executives and their guests, the 1,600 chosen few who could cram into the capital’s largest cinema, the Odeon Leicester Square. Now a Hollywood studio is throwing open its doors to the public, enabling as many as 10,000 fans to walk up the red carpet at the biggest movie premiere in Britain.

Walt Disney Pictures is turning the O2 arena in Greenwich into what it describes as “the largest cinema in history” for its latest blockbuster, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Not so long ago the O2 was the much-mocked Millennium Dome, a vast empty shell on a desolate peninsula in East London. Now it has become the nation’s most popular music entertainment venue, attracting artists including the Eagles, Kylie Minogue, Led Zeppelin and Céline Dion.

If Disney’s premiere on June 19 – before the film’s general release on June 26 – is a success, the O2 could become a regular movie venue. The arena has been specially adapted with a delayed surround system to offer an “unparalleled audio-visual experience”, the organisers said.

For £12.50 a ticket, the public will be able to join the film’s cast, including Ben Barnes, the young British actor who plays Prince Caspian, and Liam Neeson, the Oscar-nominated Irish star who voices Aslan the lion, as well as the director Andrew Adamson, who also made the Oscar-winning Shrek.

Proceeds from the ticket sales will go to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, for whose redevelopment appeal Disney is raising millions of pounds.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Will Screen to an Audience of 10,000 at the O2 Arena, London’s Premier Entertainment Venue, on June 19th in Support of Great Ormond Street Hospital

An impressive line-up of stars from the predominately British cast of Prince Caspian will be attending this spectacular red-carpet charity event, including Liam Neeson (the voice of Aslan), Ben Barnes (the eponymous Prince Caspian), Anna Popplewell (Susan Pevensie), William Moseley (Peter Pevensie), Skandar Keynes (Edmund Pevensie), Georgie Henley (Lucy Pevensie) and the film’s acclaimed director Andrew Adamson.

For the first time ever, technicians will install a giant cinema screen into The O2 arena in London. With an incredible seating capacity of 10,000, the event promises to be the biggest single screen, shared audience experience ever. Tickets for this unique and technically ground-breaking premiere will go on sale to the public on Friday May 9th and can be purchased by going to http://www.theo2.co.uk or by calling +44(0)844 -856-0202. A donation will be made to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (Registered Charity no. 235825) as part of Disney’s partnership with the hospital, to raise an invaluable GBP10 million towards their much-needed redevelopment appeal.

“Prince Caspian” is the exciting new tale to follow the 2005 epic film “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.” Based on the beloved and best selling series of books by CS Lewis, the film was the biggest movie of the year, taking a spectacular $750 million dollars worldwide! This new installment of The Chronicles promises to take audiences on an extraordinary journey back to the magical world of Narnia. The film is set to be bigger and more spectacular than ever before, with more action and battle scenes as well as incredible visual effects, mostly created in London by some of the UK’s best effects wizards.

The cast and visionary creative team from the first film have reunited, with Academy Award(R)-nominated director Andrew Adamson taking the helm once again. With all editing, post-production and principal visual effects work completed in London, Prince Caspian returns The Chronicles of Narnia series back to Great Britain, the home of CS Lewis.

The film also sees the introduction of a whole series of new characters including the swashbuckling mouse Reepicheep voiced by Eddie Izzard, the Red Dwarf Trumpkin played by Peter Dinklage, the suspicious Black Dwarf Nikabrik, played by Warwick Davis, the faithful badger Trufflehunter voiced by veteran TV actor Ken Stott and Prince Caspian himself, played by Ben Barnes.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is released in cinemas across the country on June 26th.

For ticket enquiries please contact:
Tel: +44(0)844-856-0202 or go to http://www.theo2.co.uk