Disney Dumps Narnia

[crazy4wdw]

From E! Online:

Disney Dumps Narnia

osh Grossberg – Wed Dec 24, 12:39 pm ET E! Online – Disney Dumps Narnia(E! Online) Los Angeles – The lion, the witch and the wardrobe crew is getting the boot from the Magic Kingdom.

Proving that not even Mickey is immune to the downturn, Disney has decided against coproducing and distributing the third film in the Chronicles of Narnia series, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. And that means Walden Media, the production company behind the C.S. Lewis adaptations, will have to find a new partner for the big-screen franchise to continue.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Disney's departure is based on "budgetary and logistical reasons," though reps for both declined to comment beyond that.

Dawn Treader was staring at a budget in the $200 million range but was an uncertain prospect at the box office.

The first film in the series, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, grossed $292 million domestically and an additional $453 million overseas, per Box Office Mojo; this summer's Prince Caspian dipped to $141 million and $278 million, respectively.

In fact, aside from the Harry Potter movies, kid-friendy fantasy flicks have produced diminishing returns (The Golden Compass, The Spiderwick Chronicles) of late.

The Mouse House had hoped to begin shooting Dawn Treader for a May 2010 release, with Michael Apted directing and the key holdover players from Caspian in place (Ben Barnes, Georgia Henley, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell).

But with Walden scrambling for a new backer (20th Century Fox is reportedly a possibility) and reduced costs, it remains to be seen whether the principals will remain on board.

One thing we're certain of: Mickey and Aslan didn't exchange fruit cakes this year.

 

[CoolTrainerTerry]

I think our threads need merged. Lol

 

[rutgers1]

The Narnia movies were horrible. Ok, maybe not horrible, but nowhere near as good as the Lord of the Rings. Although they weren'e budget, for some reason they seemed that way to me. Somewhat cheesy looking.

 

[puntagordabob]

The Narnia movies were horrible. Ok, maybe not horrible, but nowhere near as good as the Lord of the Rings. Although they weren'e budget, for some reason they seemed that way to me. Somewhat cheesy looking.

Thats a shame...I really enjoyed the movies

 

[MJMcBride]

The Narnia movies were horrible. Ok, maybe not horrible, but nowhere near as good as the Lord of the Rings.

That would have been a very tall order. No sci-fi movies come close to Star Wars either

 

[CoolTrainerTerry]

They aren't suppose to be like LotR. If that's what was expected, then of course you didn't like it.

 

[Jessfrogger88]

The upside is maybe the "attraction" at MGM will close.

I did enjoy the first Narnia film.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I only saw The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe but I loved it. It definitely had that Disney magical feel coupled with that Lewis magical feel.

I can see why they are getting out though. It doesn't seem like people are as into the sequels.

 

[yitbos96bb]

The Narnia movies were horrible. Ok, maybe not horrible, but nowhere near as good as the Lord of the Rings. Although they weren'e budget, for some reason they seemed that way to me. Somewhat cheesy looking.

I liked the first one... haven't seen too...

That being said, as the films progressed, Disney was going to enter dangerous territory as the Christian Allegory of the book becomes more and more forefront in the stories as well as dealing with the alienation of one of the main characters. The final book would have probably ticked off one or more groups of people.

 

[yitbos96bb]

That would have been a very tall order. No sci-fi movies come close to Star Wars either

Um... First Matrix?

And as fun as Star Wars is, there is some really bad film making in the series... specificially anything Lucas wrote the dialogue on... and most of what he directed. Hence why most people think Empire is the best... he had the least hand in the creative process.

 

[SoScary'09]

I for one couldn't believe Disney had bothered to associate with it. The movies are so boring!!! ZZZZzzzz I'm an adult, so I managed, but I can't imagine an 8 or 9 year old being able to sit through the entire thing without getting bored or just plain confused.

I'm happy they're dropping it.

 

[ILuvCrush]

my 7yo and 10yo love them... I'll be sad to see them go. It's hard to find enjoyable and appropriate films for tweens that aren't cartoons

 

[DC7800]

While you may not personally like the movies (the original was simply brilliant, the sequel only very good by comparison), I honestly cannot imagine the phrase 'boring' being applied to either Prince Caspian or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Really, are we talking about the same films? If anything, there was too much action (too little Aslan) in Prince Caspian.

 

[wdwwishes]

We enjoyed both movies in the Narnia series. I can see how Disney would move on though. I also feel as though there are many titles in the children's fiction category waiting to be discovered and made into movies. Harry Potter was great and had a great run. J.K. Rowling is a one trick pony though. Where is anything new, fresh and enticing the young reader for a second go around??? I'll have to agree that Star Wars was unique and continues to draw kids in. At least we know there will contiue to be material out there, how good it will be, well, who knows. Keep reading, keep going to the movies.

 

[Wickedrenthead]

Honestly, I did not bother to go and see the second one because I did not have the 1st. I have looked everywhere and could not find it. I did end up getting the first and have yet to see Caspian. But from what I heard, everyone that saw it said it was awesome!
Has this sort of thing ever happend before, Disney starting something like this and then completely dropping it?

 

[randomDisneyFan3000]

Sci-fi is rising, look at wall-e and the rest of pixar.

 

[PatriciaH]

Loved the books. Liked the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe a lot. Did not like PC at all-not like the book. Was looking forward the Dawn Treader-great story!

 

[gymnastgirlflips]

Oh! Wow, well I love both movies. I do have to say Prince Caspian wasn't as good and they added/took away way more than they did in the first, but overall it was really good. I love the first movie though. They only changed about one thing than from the book, and it seems like all other books to movies they do change completley. Its just sad that they do that.
I do hope whoever they pick will do a good job though, but after this movie I dont think it will be a good idea to continue. The rest of the books aren't as good as those three, if you ask me. I dont think people would go to see them so much, unless they are true Narnia fans.

 

[BigGoofy44]

Personally, I was looking forward to The Silver Chair, The Magician's Nephew, well all of them really.

 

[Disneybag]

That being said, as the films progressed, Disney was going to enter dangerous territory as the Christian Allegory of the book becomes more and more forefront in the stories as well as dealing with the alienation of one of the main characters. The final book would have probably ticked off one or more groups of people.

I agree. I'm a loyal fan of the books and I never thought the entire series would make it to film. While I didn't think the films were perfect, it was nice having something aside from the BBC and PBS versions that were truly abysmal.

Religion and movies aimed at children/pre-teens don't mix well. For that reason, I think we'll also be deprived of the final two installments of the "His Dark Materials" trilogy. I can't imagine many parents will be keen on taking their tikes to see a film that sets out to kill God.