New ‘Dawn Treader’ Article in Empire Magazine
The October issue of Empire Magazine features a very interesting article about “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.” You won’t find any juicy spoilers or anything, but it’s definitly a great read. It covers the entire production, including stories of a difficult pre-production period that started even before Disney left.
A huge thanks to NarniaWebber ‘icarus’ for transcribing the article!
Read it here.
A few highlights:
“It definitely shook us [when Disney dropped out],” remembers producer Mark Johnson of the moment the series seemed to have breathed its last. “You wonder, ‘Is anyone going to want us. Will we find the right place?’ It was certainly a blow.”
…
“[Looking back on Caspian’s lower box office] you can’t say it wasn’t sold right or we picked the wrong release day. You have to look within the movie itself,” says Johnson. […] “I think it was probably the book Prince Caspian. It’s less about the Narnian creatures and more about this sort of Shakespearean story about Caspian trying to find out who killed his father. This book is a great adventure. It’s lots of islands where they just keep getting attacked!”
…
The Dawn Treader that arrives in Cinemas in December won’t be the version originally planned. In the three years since Apted first came on board, the film has been through countless re-writes, traveled to more locations than even the story’s fantastical voyage can manage, and found a whole new home.
Icarus adds: “‘All At Sea’ is a common English saying, meaning to be in a state of “confusion and disorder.'”
Less than 100 days to go, NarniaWebbers! (When was the last time you read The Voyage of the Dawn Treader?)
Counting down the days… =)
Very interesting interview. It had some new stuff for me (like Edmund fighting the sea serpent), but I've been really busy lately and haven't been checking NarniaWeb so much. Not sure that all the rewrites are a good sign…
Definitely a good sign. It means it will likley be very different from the leaked script.
Last time I read VdT was like…hmm…a month ago..yup :]
Rewrites can be a good or bad thing. Generally it is a good thing. Most movies go through at least 2 rewrites, often by different screenwriters, before filming begins. In the case of VDT, I would say that these rewrites were productive. Several prestigious screenwriters had a hand at the VDT script, so I would imagine it will be better than it's predecessors in that sense.
I wish there were a few spoilers in it, because I want more news about the movie! I just can't wait. I just hope they don't change it too much……..
"It’s lots of islands where they just keep getting attacked!" Oh Mark Johnson… He always seems to know exactly the wrong thing to say when it comes to Narnia…
Good article and again thanks to Fox for keeping the series alive. The Voyage is closer and I'm anticipating a good ride!
I'd like to say "Well done!". The people working on this movie have never given up (apart from Disney) and I admire them for that.
Hopefully Dawn Treader will be just what Narnia needs to stay alive.
Actually, he isn't TOO far off the mark. At the Lone Islands they get attacked by slave traders, at Dragon Island all the characters except Eustace (of course) think they're being attacked by a dragon, at the Dark Island they at least believe they're being attacked, and at Dufflepud Island the Dufflepuds surround them and make threats. And besides all these they get attacked by a sea serpent. So I guess Mark Johnson wasn't being too inaccurate. But maybe he shouldn't have said it anyway, because it gives people the wrong idea. 😉
WOOT! 97 days!
I know that the sea-monster scene in the book is resolved by NOT fighting, but I seriously can't wait to see Edmund and the others fighting the monster and falling all around the deck as it attacks them. 😀 Just hope they do the scene well.
Yes! I know it! less than 100 days! =D Yes, yes, yes! And I read the book right after the trailer came out! I couldn't help it! =D
I know Skandar will do fantastic on those fighting scenes! ( And all other scenes as well:) )
Love all the talk of future movies…still have my fingers crossed.
The Last time I read Dawn Treader was last week 97 days to go!!
last time i read dawn treader was in june! I guess i need to read it again!
I am not sure I like the fact that he said that the problem was with the book, Prince Caspian, when really the problem lay with the way that they adapted the book to make the movie. There is a big difference.
YES HE WILL! 🙂
The problem was that the book was never meant to be a movie. So I guess, depending on how you look at, the problem is with the book.
wow. i never really knew the difficult process they had to go through. i knew about Disney dropping out, and that upset me. i didnt realize how much of a panicking blow it was to them. therefore it is a miracle from Aslan indeed that things came through, and everything is going wonderfully. after reading this i will surely cherish the day when i go into the theater and sit down and enjoy this masterpiece that they have gone through so much to bless us with. it is truly a sacrifice these people make, because making a movie is anything but easy, and they're doing it for us. i suddenly feel very proud of Narnia. of course, i've always been proud of Narnia :-). thank Aslan!
I hope they don't change the order of the islands. Prince Caspian was still really good, but I wish they did it a little more like the book. Btw,who is Gael and why is she on board?
Sounds like the buck has been handed to Lewis instead of taking responsibility for the poor box office. The following by Johnson is pure poppycock:
"…you can’t say it wasn’t sold right or we picked the wrong release day. You have to look within the movie itself… I think it was probably the book Prince Caspian."
Yes, Mark, fans CAN say such things, and have. To dismiss them as having no validity at all is rather gratuitous.
Wonderful.
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One of the biggest problems with "Prince Caspian" the movie is that the happenings at the Fords of Beruna were left out; Bacchus, the obnoxious school boys being turned into pigs, etc. It would've been a much better movie if that part of the book had been included.
The problem with the movie was that they did not correctly ready the book and so placed emphasis on thing Lewis would not have placed emphasis on. They were the ones who turned it into a Shakesphere drama… it was not the book's fault. The book is about the reawakening of Narnia out of dormancy… it was about hope through troubled times. The climatic scene was Aslan's parade, which didn't even make the movie. The movie focused on all the wrong things.
i like this movie so much .and i wait to watch it everyday.
VDT is my favorite Narnia book! Waiting to see this movie is killing me, but it comes out a week after my birthday, so what a great gift! But sheesh, these people just keep finding the exact WRONG way to phrase things when they talk about battles, action, etc. I'm sure it isn't as bad as it sounds. I was annoyed by the "I think it was probably the book Prince Caspian." quote. No, it was their adaption of Prince Caspian. It wasn't horrible, but I just don't think they got it quite right. I really hope they do Dawn Treader full justice!
Have a lovely 19th birthday Skandar! <3
Way to nail it Jessica, Dawn & others! Yeah, the fams voted with their lack of repeat attendance on PC. I think the screen writers, believing themselves more wise than CS, missed some clasic Narnian (& human) moments which could've become great movie moments: 1. Ditto on Aslan's victory parade! 2. Lucy's gradual faith in seeing Aslan leading them all! 3. The big debate & fight over asking for help from evil forces! It's why we love the books!– and hope&pray the moviemakers will love them too!!!
"I think it was probably the book…"
Hm. I wonder what he meant by that. I mean, I think the book definitely had the potential to be amazing, had they followed C.S. Lewis' footsteps. The *screenwriters* were the ones who turned it into a big drama.
I mustn't start ranting now, though. He could have meant something else entirely, and I'm just missing it…?
I am actually teaching a college course this Fall and using VDT as examples of quality writing. I love this book!!!
"There I am known by another name."
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No matter how they write it I'm sure it'll be one of those movies I watch over and over again.