Confirmed: Walden is Talking With Fox About Making The Magician’s Nephew
Dekkie attended NRB’s Sunday Super Session in Nashville today and has posted the following report which confirms that Walden is leaning toward making The Magician’s Nephew next.
Michael Flaherty just confirmed that Walden was talking with Fox about the Magician’s Nephew.
I just got back from attending NRB’s Sunday Super Session in Nashville, TN, where Flaherty and Simon Swart from Fox spoke about “Connecting with Audiences in an Age of Distraction.” And Narnia, of course. A few noteworthy tidbits:
When asked by Phil Cooke of Cooke Pictures and host of this session if Walden would make any more Narnia movies, Flaherty responded, without hesitation: “Yes. We are talking to Fox about making the Magician’s Nephew next.” The audience clapped. He then mentioned that there was some debate about whether SC or MN should be next, and asked the audience to clap for their favorite. A few (including myself, loudly) clapped for SC, but the majority cheered for MN.
Flaherty also referred to Gresham as “the CS Lewis Cop,” and talked about when the production team would wonder what Lewis thought of something, Gresham would say something like about how once he was having dinner with Jack and he said that if there ever was a movie made it would have to include such and such. Flaherty, laughingly, added that he wondered how many of those stories actually happened.
Phil Cooke talked about the time he was at the first screening of the VDT trailer, 20 minutes after the trailer was shown, he received a notification on his phone from Google about all these Narnia sites having detailed reports about the trailer. “These people are crazy.” I laughed – because we are.
Flaherty gave a “huge, heartfelt thank you” to the audience for their support of the film, saying that many thought the franchise was “dead” after PC. He seemed pleased and not worried that VDT made “only” $100 million domestically.
Swart also talked about how excited Fox was to be able to pick up the franchise: “We get a shot at Narnia?” and saying that they “jumped in with both feet in.”
Michael Flaherty just confirmed that Walden was talking with Fox about the Magician’s Nephew.Thanks to Dekkie for the report!
That's hilarious, Samuel.
This is great news. I think the success of this next film will carry within it a deep interest, curiosity, and boldness that will generate the sales needed to do more Narnia stories in the future. I think this is a very smart strategic move. After all, they can incorporate The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe into their marketing campaign. I can see it now…..
Before the Lion, Before the Witch, Before the Wardrobe, came the Genesis of Narnia.
Sounds pretty exciting. And since this story is most connected to the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, very good sales would be anticipated due to the LWW's success.
Well, I used to be totally against the idea of MN being made next, but I don't know anymore, I did like that one a WHOLE lot better than SC. I will be happy if they really do go through with MN!!!!
Tilda Swinton IS Jadis.
She embodies Jadis so very well.
I still wish they were making SC next, although I am very relieved that they are going to keep making the movies. I just hope they don't mess up the story line like they did PC and VDT.
You're right. 😉
Trailer Text: Before the Lion
*The iconic shot of Aslan between the Stone Table's pillars*
Trailer Text: Before The Witch
*Tilda pulling up in her chariot*
Trailer Text: Before the Wardrobe
*Lucy pulling the cover off the wardrobe*
Trailer Text: There was the Creation of Narnia
*New movie footage begins*
I can't wait. I would just LOVE to see that Narnia Logo roll up onto the screen! 😀
Announcer: "The Chronicles of Narnia. The Magician's Nephew."
Gives me goose bumps just thinking about it! 😀
Oh, I'm mad all right. I will go see whatever comes out. Once. And you should know that by doing this they ruin SC. Will Poulter will be in his twenties by the time they film that movie. Not happening.
They don't know what they're doing!
THANK GOD!
that's all i can say
No, I don't think it's a green-light. I think this just means that IF they make another Narnia film, it will be MN.
I am glad they are considering another film…however I think SC would do better in theaters than MN. (I would prefer they make the SC next anyway.) I guess we will have to leave that up to Fox and Walden to decide.
"Not much action"? Are you kidding? Who can forget the final collapse of Charn, the Battle of Colmey Hatch (the fight at the lamppost), and Fledge's Flight? Why, they might even reproduce the Utterance of the Deplorable Word, a thing you didn't get to see in the book. And how about the Narnia creation story? That alone is worth the price of admission.
Cheers!
Walden Media and co. certainly seem to have retained their passion for the films. 😀
I'm very pleaseed that they are making MN, but I personally think SC would be the best one to make next, because A they should use Eustace while he's still young and B because that would really b a good next one after the SC. I think they should maybe do SC & the MN & then HAHB & then LB. I do think LB's important to be last.
They had a problem: if they make SC next, and then wait two more films to make LB, then you cannot use the same actor to play Eustace in both films. (Remember, Eustace and Jill age only a year between SC and LB.) Besides which, they absolutely *must* use Tilda Swinton as Jadis, while they can easily hire another actress to play the Lady in Green in SC. All things considered, making MN now and SC later makes sense.
But I dare them to make HHB. I double-dare them. Can't you see the protests from CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood?
I'm SUPER excited and all… but I'm really confuesed… you've got the PERFECT Eustace (I'm such a Will Poulter fan as Eustace 🙂 so why do MN? You just lose all the momentum you had in connecting stories with characters. That's why HP is so stinkin' good. Everyone loves the characters and it's all a continuing story about Harry trying to beat Voldemort… but… Narnia has the weakness of not a continuing story and continuing characters in EVERY story… and they built up excitment for Eustace and had the oppertunity to do SC… and now… they're switching…
Don't take me wrong, I'll take ANY Narnia movie I can get… but it doesn't make sense, and I was sooo looking forward to Silver Chair… it doesn't make sense at all… it's not their fault, I mean, Lewis didn't use the same characters and made it hard to adapt as a movie series…
I wanted Will Poulter as Eustace SO bad… he's so PERFECT for the role…
Oh well, I've got my Darling Dragon Slayers, Guardians, and the Unbroken Thread… don't forget Killer Muggles at Moghldor, so… *sigh* oh well… but MN IS a fav. I just wanted SC so bad. And… maybe this will be one where Aslan is SO involved unlike PC etc.
I don't have a problem with The Magician's Nephew being made before The Silver Chair. I think it would be perfectly acceptable to have a high school-aged Eustace for The Silver Chair. He'd probably look about like how Peter looked in Prince Caspian. And like others have said, they played around with Caspian's age and that turned out fine. I see no problems. I think The Magician's Nephew has much better marketing potential regardless, especially if Tilda Swinton is back as Jadis (I don't see why she wouldn't be, they've shoehorned her into the last two).
OMW when are the auditions????? LOL! 😀
This is a fail. Tilda Swinton will continue to be white witch material for a while, but Will Poulter is going to grow up and stop looking like Eustace did. Not that much time elapsed between Voyage and Silver Chair, so I don't see this working out just fine by making the Silver Chair wait.
I am feeling… very puzzled by this. I don't worry about Will Poulter's age right now (after all, what use would it be to replace him even if he was over age?), but there are so many other reasons why it makes more sense for SC to be made first instead of MN. Don't get me wrong, I love MN a lot. But I wish they would finish the old territory (which is the books that have already been made into films: LWW, PC, VDT, SC) before heading on into new territory (films that haven't been adapted into films yet: MN, HHB, LB).
I don't really want him replaced at all. Well if they don't make Silver Chair in the next 4 years then he really would look too old …I would say his cutoff for dressing him down to look old enough for SC would be 22…hard to tell what he'll look like then, in which case he'd be better suited to be the Eustace of Last Battle instead of Eustace of Silver Chair. And it's strange for me to say this, but if they find a suitable actor of believable age to make the Silver Chair and then still have WP as Eustace later it would be okay with me. Though honestly I don't think he should be replaced at all.
I'm so upset though that had not Disney pulled out and they were faster about getting the movies out, we possibly would have had VDT made earlier and SC in 2010 and the age problem would not be an issue. The Disney fiasco made WP wait a whole year to even start in the role.
@Anhun–So glad you posted that. Yes it's only a yellow light. There's still hope for SC!
I'm taking this as good news, even if it's not confirmed good news. Here's to hoping we will get a green light soon!
@wolfloversk — Contract or contact? If maybe we write Michael Flaherty and tell him seriously don't recast Will P. Don't know if that will help at all.
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What was the point of adding in all that “green mist” phooey if the plot wasn’t going to lead in to the story of the Lady of the Green Kirtle??
And, if I remember correctly, SC is a few months after VDT, while LB is a few YEARS after SC. Which means that Eustace needs to look still pretty young in SC, but he can age more for LB…. does ANYONE ELSE see the logic?
I guess I can’t complain too much… at least the franchise is continuing. And if it brings more people the joy of the Narnia series, then…. *sigh* I guess the order doesn’t matter. As much. Further up, further in!
Correction to previous post: I meant dressing him down to make him look "young enough"….
So I guess I'm the only one who thinks they shd quit before they screw up any more movies. I'm not a purist: I had no problem with the differences between the LotR books and movies because they preserved the spirit of the books.
LWW was fairly decent in maintaining the spirit of the book; PC less so, but the changes were understandable. VDD was a travesty.
Because of the steady decline in quality of Narnia movies, I really hate to see any more of Lewis's stories ruined.
that's IF they don't make two at once 😉 (Unlikely perhaps, but I still say its the only way it'll work)
For us fans of Narnia it's understandable we might prefer SC first, but I think interest must be re-kindled with those who know little of Narnia or who are only familiar with LWW. Box office numbers are important for more Narnia films to be made and it might be difficult to re-kindle interest on the back of VDT (though I personally liked it very much). What better way to re-kindle interest than with MN which is tied closely to LWW; having the professor, the white witch, the origin of the wardrobe and other "things". I don't recall his name, but I hope they can get the same actor who did the professor, who I thought was excellent. If done right, just think of the promotion they can do tying it with LWW the most well known of the books and movies. I think it could create a huge amount of interest in seeing it and provide a bouncing board for other movies in the series. As far as Will Poulter being older when SC comes around; film makers have many ways to make an actor look younger. It is an issue but it's not insurmountable.
So basically they screwed up the plot of VDT to set up SC, then decided they don't feel like making SC right now after all. Thanks a lot, Walden. Can't wait to see how they shoehorn in EPIC battle scenes all while de-emphasizing Aslan's deity status.
oh brother. Will Poulter will be ancient by the time Silver Chair is made.
you don't know that for sure, Arvan. maybe the chose MN b/c they thought it would be a better story to make a movie. SC isn't my favorite book in the series, and the only reason i REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAALY wanted it to be made was b/c of Will Poultler. who knows? maybe they'll go back to SC, but either way, i want a movie, so i'll take what i can get. don't get me wrong, i'm just as mad as you are, but still, i want the series to be continued, even if it means making MN next. 😛
i agree,i mean the magician's nephew is my favorite,but i would like them to do it the way c.s.lewis wrote them.
Oh no, I was hoping somebody would come to their senses, surprise everybody and make HHB next. Okay, wishful thinking, because it's my second favourite of the books (after LWW), and the last book I really have any interest in seeing made into a movie. At least it's good that they're not giving up on the franchise.
Well, I would have liked to see SC next, especially since Will's going to get a lot older in that interval if they go with MN first. He was so funny. I was really looking forward to seeing a whole movie featuring him. Still, I'm sure MN will be good too. After all, they do need to strategic, and MN would make for a good connection back to LWW which made them the most money. Still…..
You have a point, however, as history has shown us in the past films, the majority of those things most likely won't be focused on. When I say action, I mean fighting scenes and battles that get an audience adrenaline pumping.
The moments when they SHOULD slow down and let us all take in certain wonderful scenes they usually cheap change us and include it in there as merely a brief Easter egg.
All those scenes where there is very tame "action" is brief. Filmmakers will consider that stuff hardly enough content to sustain an audience's attention.
Look at VDT for instance. There is plenty of exciting scenes in the book to make it a great film. But they decided to add a big epic battle near the end. That's wrong.
My only point about little action wasn't that I thought MN couldn't make a good movie. The point I was trying to make was that the filmmakers could really flub up this film like VDT for the same reasons.
As wonderful it is to hear that there are at least speculations that MN may be the next film to be adapted into a film, I am greatly concerned that they are making quite a mistake in regards to the possibilities of ever seeing the makings for the final 4 books. Most movie goers, who are not passionate or faithful followers of the stories, will have a difficult time understanding a 'prequel' as you may call it, after several films chronologically following the release of LWW have already been released. If MN were to be greenlit and eventually adapted, I truly believe that the series will come to an end with MN, as then returning once more to a future Narnia, with different characters, ages ahead of what just happened in MN, and also with several entangling plots will have everyone confused and therefore dropping interest with the films entirely. Plus, there is also the downside that obviously the cast will have to be different…i.e. Will Poulter will no longer be able to reprise his role as Eustace in SC, as he will then be too old for the role. If, despite the now slim chance, they should chose to create SC, then there would be a somewhat more positive outlook for at least one or even two others to be finally made before ending the series. Regardless, of course, the future of the Narnia films does lie in how much success they earn in the box office, but I find myself seeing MN to be the last of the Chronicles adapted, should they go that route.
Yes! Finally they came to their senses and are making MN it's my favorite book. I hope that Will won't be too old for SC when they make it though.
No, I can't belive this, Magician's Nephew!!!!!!!?????? Why, I was so looking forward to Silver Chair, *sighs* why are they messing everything up, MN is the 6th book, I thought they were making the movies according to the way C.S Lewis wrote them 🙁 By the time they get around to making Silver Chair Will Poulter will be waaaaaaay to old……….I'm so dissapointed :(((( this is such sad news for me 🙁
I think people are making WAY too much about Will Poulter's age.
I seriously doubt they would dump the perfect Eustace simply because he looks more mature. That would just be silly.
Uggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhh!!!!!! Darnit. . .I wanted the Silver Chair to be next! Now Will is going to be too old to be Eustace! But I still reallly hope they won't pick a different actor!!!!!! Sigh. . .oh, well. MN would be cool. . .But they BETTER make Aslan REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAL looking again! Like in LWW!!!!!!!! It just wouldn't be right if they didn't. . .
*sigh* I was hoping for SC because if they don't make it soon they will have to get a different Eustace and that would be AWFUL!!! But this one will be interesting to see since they have never made a movie of it!! I just hope they know what they are doing. Chances are what will happen is this one will be a bomb and they won't make any more…I really hope that is not the case, but I am ready just in case. :/
The actor who played the professor was Jim Broadbent. And there is a cutoff physically to how far one can go to make an older actor look younger….they take so long to make these movies who can be really sure that makeup, prosthetics, and costuming can make a 24 year old look 16.
At least they are talking about making another Narnia movie. 🙂 Personally, I would have liked The Silver Chair next or perhaps The Golden Couch. 😀 :-O
But maybe they are leaning towards MN because it could be cheper to produce than SC. Go Narnia!
yeah, sorta what I thought too… set up for SC and doing MN?! I'm excited to see a Narnia… I'll take what I can get… but I'm not going to quote Harry and shout: 'FANTASTIC!' *blinks in confusion* Ooooooh…. well…. I've got Harry books to read… I can live without a silver chair movie… *drags off slowly*
Perhaps the only way the franchise can continue is to make both "The Magician's Nephew" & "The Silver Chair" simultaneously and release them a year apart.
Well Magician"s Nephew is one of my favorite and i would really want to see it next,the only thing that worries me is how the reception will be.You know,between SC and MN I don't really know which one should be next but I feel that to bring back the glory of the franchise they should make The Magician's Nephew.
Narnia. Narnia. Narnia. Awake, love, think, speak, be walking tress, be talking beasts, de divine water. OMG! I cant whait until Aslan is saying this at the cinema. Its going to be amazing!! Go The Magician’s Nephew!! For Narniaaaaa!!
I agree with you. I understand why there's a reason to worry about this, but I don't think we know too much yet to come to conclusions on what they'll do with Will. Maybe it's just because I've never cared about Eustace's age in SC that makes me not so afriad about this. Until we hear more about the deal with Will, I think we shouldn't be freaking out about it. Besides, if we love Will as Eustace, why would the movie makers have it any other way, even if he is older? 😉
Hallelujah!
I think I see the reasoning: LWW is the only Chronicle where Aslan does anything Christ-like, and MN and LB are the only ones where he acts God-like. He's more in the background in the others, SC especially, and now that Lucy Pevensie is grown up, it makes sense they want to present Aslan as a more active and compelling character, not to mention show us lots more CGI furry critters, who are probably much cheaper to do than in 2004.
I can't get upset by how old Will Poulter will be; he will be older for LB in any case. The important thing about Experiment House, if you follow Michael Ward, is that "the lunatics are running the asylum." Eustace and Jill don't have to be school-age students. A variety of workplaces can stand in as well (trust me). Eustace and Jill could be teachers at Experiment House, terrorized and humiliated by the older students. If anything, that might sharpen the drama. It can be done. In the meantime, I support the film-makers' quest to bring MN to the screen.
This is such great news, I can't express my hapiness enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Personally I really wanted to have The Silver Chair made next but this is also welcome! Also for some reason it feels like they can't screw this one up much. I'll be waiting impatiently for the day I go to the theater to watch The Magician's Nephew!!!!!! FOR NARNIA, AND FOR ASLAN!!!!
I guess Will is 18 now. It's not unreasonable to think that they could start filming SC in 4 or so; perhaps even sooner given the issue at hand. That would make him 22 or so. Many 16 year olds get close to their adult height and many have plenty of facial hair (I had a full beard by 16). We aren't talking about making a 22-23 year old into a 10 to 12 year old or a 30+ year old into a 16 year old. To make a 22-23 year old look 16 is faily easy given all the various "techniques" they have these days.
Actually you're wrong about the timeline; the books in the Pevensie trilogy are a year apart. The rest of them are not. SC is supposed to take place a couple months after VDT, and LB takes place *7 years* after SC. Will Poulter, or whoever plays Eustace in SC, can age a lot between SC and and LB, and it'll be perfectly fine.
I'm just staying calm for now. It's exciting, but not official. Walden seems happy even though Dawn Treader hasn't performed as well as they hoped domestically. Now they have to convince 20th Century Fox…
noooooooooo! i wanted silver chair 🙁 that is my favorite book. and it would make more sense to do SC and then MN. 🙁 boo.
I truely believe that doing "The Magician's Nephew" as the next movie will kill the franchise. How would they even get non-fans of the books to go see "The Silver Chair" afterwards? Plus, they could never make "The Last Battle" without doing "The Silver Chair"…..and sadly, "The Horse and His Boy" should be the very last one considered to be made in to a movie. Like i said, making "The Magician's Nephew" next will be the end of the series of movies. They might as well go with doing "The Silver Chair" next and end the series with the full story of the characters that have already been introduced, and they might even find out that the franchise can live on and do "The Magician's Nephew" afterall….and perhaps even "The Last Battle".
Gee, don't get too excited…
Wow, I was so excited to see the next movie 'greenlighted', it seems, and the pride with which Fox is doing it !
Then I read some of your comments…what a bunch of wet blankets some of you are…
If some of the producers happen to read this, how will our comments about our preferences be taken seriously ?
I recently realized that as much as I want too see Silver Chair, it is more important to go with something that will excite the audiences more , then see where things take us.
Why don't we make a short list of the details from the book ( now is the time) that we would respectfully, be very grateful to see adapted to the big screen ?
They just might listen, if it is reasonably short, and done diplomatically.
you are right, They have to put that in !