Douglas Gresham on The Lady of the Green Kirtle
NarniaFans has posted their video interview with Douglas Gresham (producer/Lewis’ stepson) at the premiere of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Gresham talks a little about why the green mist was added to the story, and then transitions to The Silver Chair. View the interview here; he starts talking about the LotGK at the 2:48 mark. (Thanks to Danyelle)
NF: Does [the green mist] foreshadow The Lady of the Green Kirtle?
DG: Well, that’s probably why the mist is green. But, that’s the only foreshadowing effect.
[…]
NF: Would Green Kirtle Lady be a new cast or would Tilda–
DG: I think it will have to be a new cast. This evil spirit has found a new, young body in which to inhabit, and I think that has to happen.NF: Do you know if the plan is to go forward with The Silver Chair if this one does really well?
DG: Well, that’s a moot point. We are still in discussions as to exactly what to do next. The leading opinion, I think, among the filmmakers is that we should do Silver Chair. There are probably some who would like to do The Magician’s Nephew or something. This is a decision we will have to make when we know whether we’re going to be making another Narnia movie.
Barbara Kellerman
For budgetary reasons, the BBC Narnia productions cast the same actress (Barbara Kellerman) as both The White Witch and The Lady of the Green Kirtle. Some fans have been speculating about whether Walden might take the same route and cast Tilda Swinton as the Lady of the Green Kirtle. Now it appears they will cast a new actress.
IMDb currently has The Silver Chair listed for a 2011 release, but this is NOT an official announcement. The reason as to why it is listed as a 2011 release can be found on our FAQ page here. Keep checking back; maybe there will be an announcement soon!
Thank God Tilda won't be playing the LotGK.
Hear hear!
Out of all the horrible concessions Gresham has made, let's hope he doesn't back down on this one.
I really like him 🙂
I knowww!!!!!…thats agreat decision hehehe…now we will watch a film with a new villian finally..here comes the silver chair 🙂
IMDb's date for The Silver Chair has been up before VDT was filmed, before Disney even dropped out of the series. The page was made shortly after VDT's page actually. So yes, that's just a speculation of the time and hasn't been updated since. Glad to hear a new actress will play the role, and not Tilda.
i think i agree with the others. casting Tilda would mean casting Jadis again. The Queen of Underland should be a new actress.
This makes me even more excited about The Silver Chair! I hope they make it!
Phew! I haven't been worried about that lately ('cause I thought the movie makers wouldn't go that far), but I'm relieved we are not to see Tilda be or the WW be LotGK! 😉
Tilda's a great actress, but I don't feel the filmmakers captured the look and feel of Lewis' White Witch as well as either of the BBC versions. I still don't get why Adamson had to mess with the aesthetics of Narnia. The White Witch was such an iconic character, and was illustrated, making it so much easier for Adamson to get the right look. Tilda looked too much like Galadriel's evil sister.
That said, at this point, I wouldn't mind Tilda in the role of Lady of the Green Kirtle, though with completely different makeup, hair, clothes and performance, as if she's a completely different character (which she is), but with a weird, unexplained connection to the White Witch.
But I won't object to another actress either, so long as she has the power and majesty the Lady should command.
Whew. That was a close one! If he doesn't like the idea, I hope he fights for it in the end. Way to go Mr. Gresham!
I thought it was interesting that Douglas Gresham said, "This evil spirit has found a new, young body in which to inhabit." I guess that means he thinks the LOTGK and Jadis are the same soul, just in two different bodies…
I actually liked Tilda's White Witch much better than the White Witch of the BBC TV series. The latter felt way too cartoony and just ridiculous – Tilda was icily beautiful and quite scary.
I was content after he said Tilda Swinton wasn't going to play the Lady of the Green Kirtle. Life has new meaning. I like Tilda alright, but SERIOUSLY?!
Why are you all saying that Tilda shouldn't be cast as the Green Lady? It would make sense because of all the comparisons and speculation between the White Witch and the Green Lady and how many think they're both the same.
It will be cool to see a new villain (yes, Miraz was new, but seriously, there's nothing great about him.) I also liked what he said about the evil spirit inhabiting a new body. Let's hope they make this! I want to see a Rilian. If he looks anything like his mother or father, I will be sighing most dreamedly. 🙂
Yeah really weird comment about it being the same evil spirit. Not liking that, philosophically speaking.
Some of us are tired of Tilda.
Maybe the LotGK is a human follower of WW and she has sold her soul to Jadis when WW invades Narnia long time ago and now that Caspian grows old and the faith of Narnians grows weak, the time is ripe. Creepy thing: Queen Swanwhite, the last human ruler of Narnia before the Great Winter, who disappears without trace when WW invades is actually abducted, tempted, twisted and 'preserved' for some menacing reasons by WW… Well, just some wild crazy imagination of my own… You know, both Queen Swanwhite and the Green Witch are exceptionally beautiful, of course, in different aspects…
And the WW is WHITE so she gives Swanwhite another colour – GREEN.
I liked Tilda in LWW. I thought her calm demeanor actually made her even more scary. I think it evoked the character in The Magician's Nephew. She always felt in control.
When I first heard she was going to have blond hair, I was surprised. But when I saw it in the film, I really liked it. I guess black hair just seems too obvious.
(The book does not say what color her hair is. It is black in Baynes' illustrations…but those illustrations were originally black and white so this is hardly remarkable)
Her costumes were awesome. I think Tilda said it best: They didn't look man-made.
Well, it's more than just stupid. It's not right. C.S. Lewis specifically points out that the Emerald Witch is her own person, only related to the White Witch because they are the same race. The White Witch is dead!!! She is NOT the Emerald Witch, and so if Tilda acted her part, it would imply that they are one in the same and that the spirit of what was once the White Witch was never really defeated.
I know. The white witch is supposed to represent coldness and hatred of others. The emerald witch is darkness and hatred of self. Equally evil, but not the same evil.
As for the silver chair, it is actually the chair of the WW(that explains why it is so magical), and as the WW falls, the 'Swangreen' takes it underground in the north.
Seriously? How can anyone compare Tilda Swinton to the BBC White Witch? The BBC White Witch looked like a performer escaped from the circus, while Tilda Swinton had the poise and complete confidence in her control and powers that she ought to have. Tilda Swinton is a brillant actor. She could capture a whole world of emotion with just one line, and with one look she could freeze you to ice inside, just like she should be. I think she was perfect. Absolutely amazing.
I don't know if he means that the evil spirit of Jadis is still alive and has settled into a new body (the Emerald Witch) or if he just means that evil is now being portrayed as someone new, and is now working through someone else. Very interesting statement, and if he meant the first, that Jadis's spirit and The Emerald Witch's spirit are one, I strongly disagree.
Yeah… well as long as there's no indication in the film I'm happy.
That's interesting. I thought for sure Tilda was going to play her. I thought it would be kind of interesting if she did, but apparantly she's not.
Where in the books does it talk about Queen Swanwhite, because I don't recall reading about her?
Yeah, I'd like to see a different evil and not one that is connected with the White Witch in any way. The franchise needs new villainess blood like they do screenwriters.
She is only mentioned in LB recalling the happy old days of Narnia, which says that her rein is before WW. However, the timeline apart from the series says that her rein is between the Pevensies and the first invasion of Telmarines.
Of course she won't since the likelihood of The Silver Chair being made is very slim.
I hope there are different person to play Lady of the Green Kirtle. I want fresh feeling.
I hope there are different person to play Lady of the Green Kirtle. I want freshness feeling.
No, Mr Gresham does NOT mean it is the same soul in a new body. If you have been around NarniaWeb a while you might well have seen this explained here. Mr Gresham has explained this for us before – he has said it is the same spirit of evil that influences a different person. To have the same soul would suggest he and C.S.Lewis believed in reincarnation – which neither of them would ever subscribe to.
Why do you think it would make sense to have an extremely tall, very distinct looking, striking but not "pretty pretty" woman in her mid-late 40s, who has already played one major character, playing a different character, who is a very much younger pretty woman and who is supposed to look different and not be recognised by anyone [presumably including the audience]?
I was very happy when i saw the interview i had to send it. It's good the same person will not be playing the lady of green kirtle. 🙂
Well, in the book it says that LGK is of the "same sort" as the white witch. It is unclear whether "sort" means race, which would make LGK her daughter or other direct descendant; or if "sort" means type of magical practice, which would make LGK her protegée. Either way, there is a connection, but they are not the same.
The timeline was published after his death by someone else, we don't know for sure if it was legit.
I really like this interview!!!! I thought from the moment I saw the green mist it had something to do with the Lady of the Green Kirtle. I personally don't care either way if Tilda plays the Lady of the Green Kirtle but I am glad they want to get someone new 🙂 I think it adds more depth to the story that way, cause you know it's a different person!
Yes! THANK YOU MR. GRESHAM!! This means a lot to us. 🙂
wow! I'm really surprised they chose to do a new person… not that it's been *greenlit* but still! Wow. I would have been fine either way, but it'll be neat to see who they pick!
We just saw the movie again last night with friends, and our theater had lots of people there (considering the dinky town and size of our area)… and Eustace had me all excited for The Silver Chair. So this is great news! It adds excitement to what's going to happen! 🙂 Well, it *really* sounds like we're getting The Silver Chair! 🙂 It's not official, but it sounds hopeful!
P.S. Please pick Patrick Stewart for Puddleglum! 🙂
see? The White Witch won't be in all of them! 🙂 There's proof of that now for LB, SC, and HHB. MN is a different story 🙂
I think that recasting Tilda would be a really big mistake! Great actress, yes, and she was amazing as the White Witch, but it clearly says in the book that LOTGK was simply of perhaps 'the same kind'. She traps people with false sweetness and charm and pure slyness.
If the recast Tilda, and make it seem like the White Witch had returned, then it would make it seem like the evil power is stronger than the ultimate power of Alslan. The White Witch is DEAD. Gone. Yes, in VDT she was in Edmund's thoguhts, but that is logical and a totally different situation.
Anyways, I hope Doug Gresham is right, and I also am really hoping SC will have a possibility of being made 😀 There's still hope…
DITTO! 😀
REJOICE!!!
Oh man, this is great!
Nicly put Coracle 🙂
Mabey they would cast me ! (Just kidding 🙂 not old enough 🙁 )
Hmm…. This is a shame. No one can compare to Tilda Swinton.
Bringing Tilda back full time would have been a very good idea for the movies.
A central villain always helps a movie franchise. I've tried to explain why before.
But DG doesn't make the final decisions. So it could still happen. 😛
White Witch cameo–still very possible. 😉
I guess some fanatical book purists will be happy. *irritated sigh*
I thought The Green Lady was a pretty weak villain in comparison to the first witch. No Narnia villain compares to The White Witch. I'm sorry. Just one more reason for me not to see "The Silver Chair." Unless Cate Blanchett plays her– I'd watch that.
Anyway, I've always supported making "The Magician's Nephew" next.
The origin of Narnia is far more interesting and more colorful.
I guess there's some consolation in knowing DG considers it "the same evil." Evil is a force in Narnia and now it will embody itself again. I bet whoever they decide to cast will look very similar in style (hair, costume) as The White Witch to give it some connection to the first embodiment. Still– I'd prefer Tilda over anyone else. She's the best.
If this was facebook I would click "like."
If it's not Tilda, they are probably going to do something else to connect the two witches. My guess is their look will be very similar. Perhaps their hair will be done in a similar way. Who knows? As much as I love DG, he does not make the final decisions. So Tilda could still show up. And if not as the Green Lady, I'd wager another White Witch scene is in the cards.
I really hope they make SC! I do not think Tilda should be cast as The Lady of the Green Kirtle. It wouldn't be THAT bad but it's wouldn't be that right either. The Lady of the Green Kirtle is supposed to be young and breathtakingly beautiful. Tilda is beautiful but a different kind of beauty than the Lady of the Green Kirtle.
I realize her skin tone and hair color did not match the descriptions and illustrations, but Tilda was so convincing in the role that those things mattered very little. It was a different spin on the character than we've seen previously. Artistically, that is more fun than having the same look re-hashed for the character again and again. Tilda is the greatest depiction of Jadis to date. No question in my mind.
It is interesting to note that in some of her cameos, her skin tone is much much whiter in color. But it is more subtle than just painting her like The Joker. I don't think that would work very well because you would lose some of Tilda's natural beauty.
I just hope they don't make them sisters or something. That would be pretty cliche, and Jadis already had a sister who she destroyed in Charn. If they have to connect them, I wouldn't mind too much if the two witches had known each other at one time or something. Glimfeather DID say they were "part of the same crew". Maybe the LotGK got some of her ideas from Jadis.
HAPPY NEWS!!!! All this talk would not be taking place if there was not a chance that Silver Chair could be made! But no more Pevensies 🙁 Only for a while though. We all love Eustace now and seeing who will play Jill will be cool 🙂
well…of course MN would be a diff story 😉 I hope they make HHB and MN and LB though!!!
You say the LotGK was a weak villain, but I don't know, I think she has her own evil charm. Jadis is tougher, colder, more controlling, and more regal, but the LotGK is much more deceptive. No one in Narnia knew she existed until she kidnapped Rilian–that's some clever sneakiness on her part. She could act much sweeter than Jadis, fooling people into thinking she was nice (she fooled at least three people, while Jadis only managed to get Edmund [I don't know if Digory counts] to fall for it–and he was a brat). The LotGK was also very patient, slowly building up her enchanted Earthmen army, killing Ramandu's daughter in her snake form, then seducing (some people don't like that term, but I think it fits) Rilian in her human form, keeping him for ten years underground while she brainwashed him and very carefully dug to the surface. And her goal was to conquer Narnia with its own prince–who would be her husband, but more importantly her puppet. She was brilliant at undermining Narnia and working behind the scenes to achieve a massive overthrow. Maybe she doesn't seem as powerful as the WW, but remember she hadn't completed her plan yet. If she had succeeded, Narnia would have come to its knees. Her defeat just seems anti-climatic because there was no huge battle to go along with it.
But I do think, that despite all her clever planning, she made some major mistakes. Enchanting an honorable Narnian prince with a spell that gave him an hour of lucidity–not a good idea. Enchanting gnomes who weren't her real allies and would only follow orders like robots–not a good idea. Thinking Aslan would let her get away with her evil plot–not a good idea (it makes me wonder if she was in some denial about his existence). And of course, underestimating a Marshwiggle who had staunch faith in Aslan–not a good idea at all. 😉
So, I guess in the end its all about your personal preference. I think both witches are about equal–though its true Jadis got to rule Narnia for 100 years and the LotGK didn't. But Jadis never got to manipulate a prince…
Okay, sorry I talked so long, but I'm just sitting here at home having a good time analyzing Narnian characters. My point is that I don't want Tilda Swinton to play the LotGK, and I think they're both good villains, but I respect your opinion. So I'll just shut up now. 😉
This is GREAT news! 🙂 I'm so happy!