Being an avid C.S. Lewis fan, I am unsure as to how to react to the news that Twentieth Century Fox is going to take the helm in the making of the third Narnia film. According to news reports, the movie giant has partnered up with Walden Media and will create the third installment in The Chronicles of Narnia series.
The development was announced after the Walt Disney Co stepped out of the picture sometime this week. If you recall, Walt Disney and Walden Media were the entities behind the first two Narnia films, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Prince Caspian. And the reason behind Disney’s letting go of the franchise? “Budgetary considerations and other logistics.” Could this be a sign that Disney is being affected by the economic times?
Perhaps. The numbers that were involved in producing the first two Narnia films are around $180 million to $200 million. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe grossed about $745 million worldwide while Prince Caspian earned nearly half of that amount at $420 million. Perhaps Disney is merely playing it safe and not wanting to risk much lower turnouts.
In any case, the third movie is going to be The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The story (based on the book, at least, as the movie is not out yet) picks up Caspian’s story but many many years later. The once prince is now the King and is on a quest to find the seven lost lords of Narnia – a promise which he made to Aslan. The younger Pevensies and their cousin Eustace are drawn into Narnia again. The Dawn Treader is Caspian’s ship, where much of the story will take place.
Needless to say, I want to see this film.