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The Voyage of the Dawn Treader begins filming

Liam — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:09:31 +0000

Today filming on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader began in Australia, which I am sure fans will be pleased to hear. Disney ditched the Narnia franchise last year and 20th Century Fox stepped in to fund the film and swiftly set a release date of December 10th 2010. They had to act quickly otherwise the child actors would undertake the natural process of ‘ageing’, which would royally screw things up if they left it too late.

From ComingSoon:

This time around – Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their pesky cousin Eustace Scrubb – find themselves swallowed into a painting and on to a fantastic Narnian ship headed for the very edges of the world.
Joining forces once again with their royal friend Prince Caspian and the warrior mouse Reepicheep, they are whisked away on a mysterious mission to the Lone Islands, and beyond. On this bewitching voyage that will test their hearts and spirits, the trio will face magical Dufflepuds, sinister slave traders, roaring dragons and enchanted merfolk. Only an entirely uncharted journey to Aslan’s Country – a voyage of destiny and transformation for each of those aboard the Dawn Treader – can save Narnia, and all the astonishing creatures in it, from an unfathomable fate.

Michael Apted (The World Is Not Enough) will be taking over directing duties from Andrew Adamson, who will be producing.

Disney made a mistake by releasing Prince Caspian in the summer amidst competition from the likes of Iron Man and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. At the moment The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’s only competition is The Smurfs, which shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader release date

Liam — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:29:54 +0000

The Narnia franchise has recovered from being ditched by Disney, and 20th Century Fox have announced that The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader will be released on December 10th 2010, which is where the Narnia franchise belongs in my opinion. Disney made a big mistake by releasing Prince Caspian in the summer.

Michael Petroni (Possession) was recently hired to re-write the script and Fox aim to start production by the end of summer this year.

Fox pick up Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Liam — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:26:08 +0000

It has been one month since Disney decided to ditch the Narnia franchise, however it has now found a new home at 20th Century Fox. If all goes to plan the film will start shooting at the end of summer this year, with a release date of December 2010.

From Variety:

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.
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.

This is good news. Fox have been looking for a fantasy franchise for a while so this seems like the perfect match for them. With most of the creative team returning it will be hard to screw this up. Even if Fox are making it.

Things looking positive for Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Liam — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:33:19 +0000

Over the Christmas period Disney decided to bail on the Narnia franchise and decided not to make the third film, Voyage of the Dawn Treader. However, that doesn’t mean the film won’t be getting made, as it appears other studios are keen to throw money at it.

From Variety:

Disney’s snub hasn’t ended Walden Media’s quest to mount a third “Narnia” installment. Fox has first crack at the series, but every other major studio is waiting for a shot at co-financing the movie if Fox doesn’t.
The film will also be at least $50 million cheaper than the $200 million “Prince Caspian,” even factoring in a move to Australia from Baja to avoid being in the crosshairs of the drug-related violence that has beset Mexico.

I’d never thought i’d read the title of a Narnia film in the same sentence as ‘drug-related violence’ but there you go. Voyage of the Dawn Treader should get made in my opinion. Whichever studio does end up getting it should release it in December and they will easily make their money back. That it where Disney went wrong with Prince Caspian.

Disney drops Narnia like it’s hot

Liam — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:20:18 +0000

Disney must have been rather pleased after The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe earned nearly $750 million worldwide when it was released back in December 2005. Looking at the numbers now, it earned more than Transformers, the first Pirates movie and was around $30 million short of Spider-Man 2.

However, when The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was released earlier this year it made $300 million less than The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. That’s not how things are supposed to work! Sequels usually make more than the first film. Disney must have been doing a lot of thinking because the third film, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, was not given the swift greenlight, and now it has been announced that Disney will no longer co-produce or co-finance the next Narnia film.

From THR:

Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media have confirmed that for budgetary and logistical reasons the Burbank-based studio is not exercising its option to co-produce and co-finance The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader with Walden.
The Hollywood Reporter says the third installment was in preproduction and set for a spring shoot for a planned May 2010 release. The development puts the participation of the talent attached in doubt, adds the trade. Michael Apted was on board to direct a script by Steven Knight. The key players of the second installment, “Prince Caspian” — Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell — were to return for the third film.
Walden has a strong relationship with the C.S. Lewis estate and will shop “Treader” in hopes of finding a new partner. The most likely candidate at this stage is Fox, which markets and distributes Walden fare under the Fox Walden banner.
Any partnership on a “Narnia” movie will require a substantial investment, however. “Caspian,” which filmed in the Czech Republic, Mexico and New Zealand, cost $200 million. The first film, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” was shot mostly in New Zealand for $180 million.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Will Get The Green Light Soon

Liam — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:06:13 +0000

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was released earlier this year and made a nice profit. However the only problem was it made $300 million less than The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. That’s not how things are supposed to work! Sequels usually make more than the first film, so it’s not surprising that Walden Media have taken their time green lighting the third film, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

In a statement announcing some changes at the top, Walden Media revealed that work on the next film will begin soon:

Cary Granat, Co-CEO and co-founder of Walden Media, will transition from his Walden position to a consultant for the company effective December 1. Granat will be Walden’s creative consultant on the third installment in “The Chronicles of Narnia” franchise – “Voyage of the Dawn Treader”- which the company hopes to greenlight soon.

In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.

Eustance Cast!

Liam — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:29:30 +0000

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian has been underperforming at the box office. I don’t know WHY, because it was an amazing movie, but I guess that’s irrelevant at this point. Disney seems determined to keep the franchise going (thank GOD!) and has even gone ahead and begun casting for the next installment…!

Will Poulter, most recently seen in the little indie flick Son of Rambow (check out my review of that adorable movie here), has been cast as Eustance Clarence Scrubb in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader…!

Will Poulter, who has been cast as pain-in-the-butt Eustace Scrubb, the Pevensie children’s cousin, in the next Narnia adventure to go before the cameras – The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader – which Michael Apted will direct.
Awful things happen to Eustace in this tale, but he learns.
In Voyage Of The Dawn Treader he’ll join Ben Barnes, as Prince Caspian, and Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley, as Edmund and Lucy. Peter and Susan don’t feature in this story – at least not in the one C.S Lewis wrote.

I THINK HE’S PERFECT FOR THE ROLE!

His character in Rambow was a little smartass who learns the meaning of friendship, so I know he will be able to showcase Eustance’s character journey with ease.

Dawn Treader hits theaters in two years, on May 7, 2010.