02.22.07
Posted in Narnia Films, Voyage of the Dawn Treader
at 2:10 am
by Paul Martin
Will it be more than a year between Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader? It looks like it might be. Jim Hill Media is reporting that Disney is ramping up the lookout for possible franchise opportunities, and in the middle of the article, has this to say about the Narnia series:
[...] signing British actor Ben Barnes to a three picture deal so that he can then be locked in to play Prince Caspian in the next three “Narnia” films. With “Caspian” being released to theaters in May of 2008 and the film version of “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” already being penciled as Disney’s big holiday season release for 2009.
So it’s looking as though it may not be only a year between the releases of the next two films in the Narnia series, but more like the Harry Potter series with releases set about a year and a half apart. Let’s hope that the release window is officially announced soon so that any rumors can be laid to rest. However, this is a very interesting development.
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02.05.07
Posted in Narnia Films, Voyage of the Dawn Treader
at 1:16 am
by Paul Martin
We’ve just received word that Andrew Adamson expects to still be working on Prince Caspian when shooting starts on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. We expect that he’ll be heavy into post-production on that film, and will be acting as a producer on Dawn Treader. This is much like the role of Chris Columbus on the Harry Potter series of films. After directing the first two, he’s been acting as a producer, ensuring that the sequels maintain the overall look of the first films. The capable directing hands of director Alfonso Cuarón took the reigns and delivered what I feel is the best film in the series thus far: Prisoner of Azkaban. It was the first time that I felt the “magic” of the Harry Potter world as I watched it. Also, having never read a single Harry Potter novel, I didn’t know what I was missing, and while others complained, I admired. I look at all of the artistic shots, the fluid camera movements and the editing. The story is entertaining and dark, and the world seemed more real, more alive.
When it comes to other directors shooting the other Narnia films, it isn’t quite the same thing. Sure, the other Narnia books follow a lot of the same characters, but each book is almost mutually exclusive. They simply take place in the same world, on the same timeline. The one thread that connects them all is Aslan. This makes it very easy for another director to shoot a film in the Narnia series and get away with being a bit different from the style that Andrew Adamson has set in place. Each book even calls for a different style, as the stories are so varied.
The biggest question is not whether or not another director should fill Andrew Adamson’s shoes. We know that it’s going to happen now. The biggest question is: Who will it be?
I am sure that Walden Media and Disney are looking at prospects to direct Dawn Treader, and am really curious as to who they will select. Because it takes place mostly on the sea, and is being produced by Disney, would Gore Verbinski be open to shooting another film with a lot of water? Or would he be waterlogged from directing the Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy? What about Peter Jackson? Well, he’s working hard on adapting The Lovely Bones, at the moment. Perhaps director Jay Russell. He’s directed Tuck Everlasting, Ladder 49, and the a very good film called My Dog Skip (a film that I’d recommend to anyone). He’s also the director of Walden Media’s The WaterHorse. He seems to work well with young actors, and after this film would have the experience to tackle an epic that takes place mostly at sea.
Who do you think would make a good director for Voyage of the Dawn Treader?
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