Disney wants Nicole for Narnia

[Sarangel]

I've read several reports that Disney has offered Nicole Kidman up to $60 million to voice the White Witch in the Narnia movies. The catch is that she'd have to commit to all 7 movies, which doesn't make sense if they want her for the White Witch, who only appears in 2 of the 7 books.

I suppose it will all make sense sometime.

Sarangel

 

[rwodonnell]

Wasn't she in 3? Obviously she's in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", and I also think "The Silver Chair" and "The Magician's Nephew" (called Jadis, later becomes the White Witch). At least I always thought that Jadis later becomes the White Witch.

Still your point holds - the character does not appear in that many of the books. I think I read somewhere that the only character to appear in all 7 books is Aslan, and thinking back on them, I think that's true.

 

[wdhatter]

They have already cast Tilda Swinton as the White Witch.

 

[Sarangel]

Wasn't she in 3?

Nope. The witch in the Silver Chair is a different. witch.

 

[GBHost]

In case any Disney casting folks are reading this, not everone in America is ga-ga over Nicole Kidman. She's over-rated and definitely over-exposed. And why pay $60 million for a cartoon voice? Wouldn't make better business sense to get a talented character actress for this? Or is this going to be live action? Anyway, as cute and as moderately talented as NC is, her name on the marquee won't be what draws me into the theater....

 

[randytenn]

This has to be a bunch of hooey. No one gets 60 million to appear in a film. Let alone simply voice a film.

From the Gunniess Book of World Records website:

Highest Salary Per Film (Actor)

Arnold Schwarzenegger was paid a salary of $30 million (£20.9 million) in 2001 for his role as the terminator in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (USA 2003). Actors can earn more if their payment is based on salary plus a percentage of earnings, but Swarzenegger bagged this record for his "basic" wage.

Cameron Diaz is the highest earning actress, having secured $20 million for her role in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (USA 2003).

 

[Sarangel]

The stuff I read indicated 60 Million for the whole deal, 7 films. That would work out to 8.57 Million per film. Nothing to brag about for an "A" list star.

Sarangel

 

[MomlovesDad]

As this is the first time I've heard that Disney is making the Chronicles into movies, all I have to say is "THEY BETTER NOT MESS THEM UP!" I must agree, I think Nic. Kidman is definitely a witch, but there has got to be a better actress out there to do her voice. I definitely think it should be an "English" actress with serveral octave, strong crisp voice. It's scary when someone is working on a production of stories that are so near and dear to your heart. I'm SO NERVOUS!! If they do all the books, I hope they do them in order that they were written, so it will be so much more interesting than chronologically. People will love the way they tie together.

Must also concur - the Silver Chair witch is NOT the same as the White Witch. And the characters that are in almost all the stories are Edmond, Lucy, Susan, and Peter, and their cousin Eustice (I think that's his name).

I guess Disney is trying to hop on the band wagon of famous modern English literature - and I guess I'm happy they are. I just can't imagine being as pleased with a production of a "book" as I was with Lord of the Rings, even with the diversions from the book that they had.

Okay - I'm done.
MomlovesDad

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

According to Sky News, it's £60 million (UK) -- that would be about $108 million (US)! See http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30500-13141918,00.html

The Narnia Fans website challenges the accuracy of the story. See http://www.narniafans.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1088435702&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&

 

[Sarangel]

And the characters that are in almost all the stories are Edmond, Lucy, Susan, and Peter, and their cousin Eustice (I think that's his name).

I agree that Disney had better not mess these stories up. The cousin's name is Eusatce (rhymes with useless). And Edmond, Lucy, Susan and Peter are only in 3 of the 7 books (OK, technically 5, if you count cameos in the Horse and His Boy and the Last Battle): Lion, Witch & the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader [which actually only has Edmond & Lucy of the original 4]. Eustace is in Voyage of the Dawn Treader and the Silver Chair. The Magician's Nephew shows us a prequel.

That being said, I can't think of any one character that appears in all 7 books, with the possible exception of Aslan.

Sarangel

 

[Phoebesaturn]

"The Voice" of the White Witch. Are these live or Cartoon movies? I don't want to see a Cartoon version of these books.

 

[WDSearcher]

The Chronicles will be live-action but, like the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Harry Potter series, they will obviously have sfx / animated elements. I know that there will be video games released along with them, as they were for Harry Potter, et al ... that may explain the "voice of"?

 

[Sarangel]

Rumor denied. This from NarniaWeb:

We've received word from Ernie Malik, the publicist for the film, and he assures us that any reports of Nicole Kidman being involved in the film are simply old rumors and that she will never be involved with the production.

 

[dcentity2000]

Wonder how they'll do the lion? CG, puppet or the tradition two people?

Michael Moore as the rear end maybe?



Rich::

 

[Phoebesaturn]

Originally posted by dcentity2000
Wonder how they'll do the lion? CG, puppet or the tradition two people?

Michael Moore as the rear end maybe?



Rich::

I've been reading the website looks like CGI.

 

[HauntedMansionFan]

Originally posted by MomlovesDad
As this is the first time I've heard that Disney is making the Chronicles into movies, all I have to say is "THEY BETTER NOT MESS THEM UP!" I must agree, I think Nic. Kidman is definitely a witch, but there has got to be a better actress out there to do her voice.

I love how we form an opinion on people that we don't even know, based on how the media presents them.