Episode 77: Next up: The Magician’s Nephew?
Running time 32:00
Rilian returns with Gymfan15 to discuss the possibility of The Magician’s Nephew as the next Narnia film instead of The Silver Chair.
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by Rilian · March 3, 2011
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"With the story creators behind Dawn Treader, I don't think they respected the story, nor do I think they understood it."
I totally agree. I felt they misunderstood a lot of the aspects of VoDT.
While I want to see Will Poulter come back for "The Silver Chair", I must say I am getting more excited about "The Magician's Nephew" as I get used to the idea!
Yes, that is a very good point. I haven't really thought about it from that angle.
That was great at the end about having children listening. Hahaha!
Once again, another great podcast! 😉
This podcast really challenged me to think differently on the matter. While I still want SC next, I will accept MN if it is the last Chronicle made.
If they do Magician's Nephew next, I'll be upset for them losing the chance to use Will Poulter again as Eustace, as well as the fact of the horrible changes made to VDT for the sake of trying to setting up Silver Chair. But that's all. Cause I myself can't see the same studio who messed up VDT try to do SC and do it well. Bleh!
Magician's Nephew sounds ok. Like what gymfan said, it could be better of a film, with the filmmakers excited to make MN.
Well, after that podcast, I do feel a bit better about them making MN, although I would still really like SC next. I'm quite torn, actually, because if the filmmakers were to make SC next, they would most likely do something drastic to the plot that would be ridiculous and taccy. However, (and this is just my opinion, I'm not sure about others) I'm really getting sick of them putting Tilda in every movie. Don't get me wrong, I think she's great for the white witch, but I would really love a new bad guy, because we've already seen so much of the White Witch. I can just imagine audiences groaning in the cinemas, "Oh no, not /her/ again!"
And, as Rilian said, nobody really said that the highlight of VDT was Tilda's acting. However, many people raved on about Will's acting and how it was, for some, the saving grace for VDT. I'm not sure about audiences in general, but I'd much rather have a fresh, new face such as Will rather than someone I've seen repetitively in each movie and I feel as if I've 'seen that, done that'.
But yet again, if another Narnia film gets made, I think the most important thing is love and respect for the source material.
Thanks for the podcast guys, it made me feel much better about something I was almost tearing my hair out over before 😀
I, at this point, am going to believe that The Magician's Nephew will probably have huge changes from the book. Unless Adamson comes back, the director/screenwriters will probably go,"Oh, there are no big battle sequences. Let's try to include details from The Lefay Fragment, yet another book Lewis didn't write(wasn't it an original copy of MN?)."
I do agree that Walden wants to do The Magician's Nephew partly because of Tilda Swinton. She is an Academy Award winner, and she was loved as the villain in LWW. Now, how will they sneak her a cameo in THAHB, since they can't seem to let her die?
Another reason I also agree with is people loved the first film, but not the two others as much. People would love a prequel to a beloved film(hopefully). Vital factors needed (but no limited to)are good marketing and strong performances. Until a green-lighting, I personally am going to wait to speculate further.
Thanxs for the podcast guys…I do now understand better the reason why the filmmakers chose MN next….but I hope its not the last narnia film no no no…I really wanted to at least see SC and HHB as films as well as the MN offcourse..LB maybe I dnt know its just really dark for children thats all…but at least they are making the next film so I am happy with that and like you guys have stated they would make it better interms of adaption..portrayols of actors and effects better if they do a film they really want to do..lets wait and see the next exciting episode news and what happens next 🙂
Haha yesh I'm thirteen if you can call that a child.
I had a reaction like Gymfan. I never even doubted they'd make The Silver Chair next (and was really looking forward to it too) then all of a sudden the news about The Magician's Nephew came up and I really feel like I'm in a dream. As long as SC comes right after MN, I'm good.
"I WAS GONNA SAY THAT!". LOL
I want SC next. MN is one of my least favorite Narnia books. Mark Johnson, the producer, while they were marketing LWW, stated in the New Zealand interview that MN was his favorite Narnia book. I agree that Tilda Swinton is a factor in the selection of MN, but also Mark Johnson is a factor. I agree with Rilian that if they are going to make a last stand, they should select HHB. HHB would tie very nicely into the one success they have had, LWW. Marketing would be easy then. HHB is one of my favorites.
I think it's almost certain that Andrew Adamson will direct 'The Magician's Nephew'. He's gone on record stating that he wants to do it (I think the actual quote was "When they get around to that one, I'm doing it!"), and, when you have one bullet left in the chamber, you want your best marksman to take the shot. Clearly, given the results of the Michael Apted experiment, it isn't enough to just be a good filmmaker when directing a Narnia film. I think it's also a prerequisite to have a passion for these books, as Adamson clearly does.
I concur with regard to the "Caspian Trilogy" that you mentioned in the podcast. I think that was a key factor in hiring Andrew Adamson in the first place—his track record with 'Shrek', and how it displayed his ability to produce entertaining fairy tale-ish material that is accessible to modern audiences. I believe the plan was probably to produce five films: 'Wardrobe' and 'Magician's Nephew' would bookend the 'Caspian Trilogy' in between. Not to say they wouldn't have tried at some point to make all seven, if they had had financial incentive to do so, but I think that those were the five books they were definitely shooting for. The other two books both have issues that make them, in my opinion, less commercially viable than the other five.
You're right. I get so mad when people talk about how bad Adamson was. At least he cared about and respected the source material!
"….when you have one bullet left in the chamber, you want your best marksman to take the shot." Wow. What pressure!
i still kinda think they should do sc next….
…and i kinda think they should do all seven. of course, like everyone has to come back in the last battle, Goergie Henley, Skander Keynes, william mosely , will poulter, james mcavoy, etc, or else its gonna be messed up
I just read an article from 2001, saying how they wanted to make a more secular version of narnia movies from walden, to get narnia out to the secular audience more and introduce them to narnia. so it was a stealth attack, after all, the way these movies were made. I'm ok with that, I guess, maybe people will be inspired to check out the books like i was. maybe they'll even convert.
that would be a dream if everyone got togehter for the last movie. that would be a mindblower. i;'d probably cry my eyes out.
A really good dream. MN is one of my favorite Narnia books, while SC was always gloomy.
Me too!
agreed! MN will be happier and more enjoyable!
it is thrilling to the heart just to contemplate the possibility! i wonder if the actors realize just how moving it would be to us?
yeah, i can't believe he didn't do VDT. i felt like,
'hey , who is this new interloper directing?"
@Rilian & Gymfan and all others who might be interested… I'll post the link when I find it, but they first started talking about switching the order back when PC was in production… infact I'm pretty sure it was in the same interview that Rilian mentioned about the Caspian Trilogy, They had wanted to do that, but they said that after SC they would have some playing room, and even then expressed great interest in MN… I'm looking for the link now, if I find it I will post it.
My little sister was listening with me. That made me laugh!