Opinion: Sequel? Prequel? Reboot? What now?
NEWS DROUGHT ALERT!
In the middle of a news drought, fans have a tendency to let their imaginations run wild on what the future could hold. In this video, I embrace that tendency and examine possible routes Walden Media could take for a fourth Narnia film.
Outline:
1. Sequel: The Silver Chair
- Fourth book to be published (1953)
- Logical next chapter
- Will Poulter’s age
- Set up in Dawn Treader film
2. Prequel: The Magician’s Nephew
- More popular book
- Clear connection to the first film
- The opportunity to give Tilda Swinton a prominent role again.
3. Reboot: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- Start from scratch: New cast, new crew
- Would need to be fundamentally different from Adamson’s version. (Animation? PG13?)
4. Reboot: The Magician’s Nephew
- Re-cast Aslan and The White Witch
5. Prequel (to VDT): The Horse and His Boy
- The Pevensies would likley be given bigger roles
6. Re-read the books! I have read each book a dozen times, and I’m still discovering new things.
How would you feel if Walden announced a LWW reboot? Scroll to the bottom of the homepage and vote now!
Wow! I wish we had something new!!! But I agree, read the books and re-read them. There are goldmines in those books!!
Please do not redo Lion Witch and the Wardrobe. Many have completely fallen in love with the characters and cast that were already used. Aslan would not be Aslan any different. And Tilda Swinton does an excellent job as the Witch.
Otherwise any of the other movies sounds good to me. I love all of the Narnia books, but the Silver Chair and The Horse and His Boy are my favorites. Love the ones with the Pevensies.
I have loved all of the movies that have been made thus far, and I would feel very sad if the actors were changed. It just wouldn't feel the same.
Yeah, I don't think any good can come from rebooting LWW. At least, not anytime soon. Adamson's version was not perfect, but there was nothing so wrong that I would want a reboot.
But remember, even in the unlikely event that LWW is rebooted… you'll always have Adamson's version. … Unless Walden pulled a George Lucas and tried to wipe the original version from the face of the Earth. 😉
Well, actually in my own opinion, I would rather see The Magician's Nephew next, then followed up by The Horse and His Boy, then The Silver Chair and finally, The Last Battle. Why? These are my reasons:
1. The Magician's Nephew next 'cause-It's the second most sold Narnia book.
-It's more magical and it has a very big relation from the Bible cause it talks about the creation.
2. The Silver Chair-Why not the next? 'cause if it flops in the box office, it's the end. Not just talking about Will Poulter's age but the popularity of the books. the big problem is-Will Poulter will get too old. But it's better if they will make SC then LB.
3. If they will reboot the series, it will not get even better. New cast? new productions? all new? Then we're just saying that Narnia LWW, PC, VDT from Walden Media wasn't good at all. The Pevensie's (Moseley, Henley, Keynes, Popplewell, Poulter) acting are very great and they have all great acting skills and they are all loved so much by many fans. As for the production, it's better if they will just return the LWW's prodution team.
4. All set! But the final decision will be from Walden and 20th Century FOX.
Note: Whatever the case, we just need to support their decisions (Just NOT REBOOT NARNIA!).
-And this is my own opinion. I do not want to harm anyone.
-Let's make Narnia 4 the best!
What needs a serious reboot are the script writers – the last two movies bombed because of their tampering with the original storylines and characters. I really hope Walden fires the lot and hires writers that remain true to the spirit and content of the books (like the Harry Potter franchise). And my vote is The Silver Chair – no one can do a better Eustace than Will Poulter!
"Whatever the case, we just need to support their decisions (Just NOT REBOOT NARNIA!)"
Haha
@glumpuddle
What do you mean about my comment?
Is it insulting or something? just please tell what is on your mind from my comment.
sorry if I have a wrong english though
Poulter did not play a Pevensie. He played a Scrubb!
No, I just found it amusing. You said we should support their decision whatever it is, and then said you were opposed to a reboot. I understand what you mean, I just found it ironic, haha. Thanks for posting! 🙂
And your English is great.
I would prefer them to make 'The Silver Chair' next. It's got good potential – it's a logical progression from 'Dawn Treader', concluding the Pevensie arc and retaining Eustace, but it's also got good potential to have a darker, more menacing tone – which, let's face it, has pulled in the crowds with Harry Potter, as well as the new Batman films.
Furthermore, there is potential for Tilda Swinton to be involved – the Green Witch/White Witch conundrum. Are they the same person? Again, 'Dawn Treader' seemed to pick up on this by casting Jadis in a green pall.
Thanks glumpuddle for your appreciation.
(For posting) Anytime!
Yes of course, I know that Will Poulter plays Eustace Clarence Scrubb. What I mean in the Pevensies, that he is their cousin. Sorry for lack of info. But Will Poulter plays a great role for Eustace Scrubb.
I personally think it would be a little dumb to reboot with LWW, or to reboot at all, because it's too soon. If they waited a few more years, and then restarted, I could go with that a little better. But I LOVE the cast for this series, and I don't want to see them go! I'll be very sad if they start over. And I think that non-fans who didn't know what was going on would be like "what??" I mean, how would you advertise that? "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, PG-13 version, because the first one wasn't good enough!" Everyone loved LWW, and there aren't enough bad things about it to warrant a new one. There would have to be some drastic change, which is NOT what we need at this point (no more messing with story plots) I think it's not a good idea to try and make it PG-13. Model it after the book, and if it turns out PG-13, then that's okay. And I don't really like the idea of animation… finish the real movies first…
I personally think they should do SC, HHB, MN, and LB, in that order, but that's not considering money, which is a key factor at this point. I like the idea of a VDT prequel… only I'm worried they'd screw up HHB and add the dumb "green mist" again. Plus, I'm not entirely sure how that would be a prequel to VDT; wouldn't it be a prequel to PC? well, anyway, I'd be okay with HHB next. MN would be good, too, and it would be fun to see Tilda Swinton in a movie she was actually SUPPOSED to be in! Silver Chair, like I said, would be my preference, simply because it's the "next in line" and it seems it would be awkward to come back to it after doing MN or another book (Eustace's age, among other things, would complicate this)
I hate this blackout. Can you just make a decision already?! Grrr. Ah well, we'll all have to be patient a while longer. In the mean time, glumpuddle, you're definitely right… reread the books! They never lose their magic. (I just got the classic book two days ago… it's beautiful! =D It has the prettiest cover and all the Pauline Baynes illustrations! Sorry-flail! :P)
I'd love it if they'd dust off their VDT footage, scrap the green mist CGI, reshoot, and recreate the missing footage to create a more faithful rendering of the VDT story. VDT was heartbreakingly awful.
As for moving ahead with ANY of the other books, they seriously need to get back to the LWW approach, stay faithful to the storyline, or else they can deep six the remaining three books. I have not the stomach for another VDT adaptation; it was nauseating and stupid.
Agreed!! I was watching VDT a couple days ago, and couldn't help but mentally critique every inconsistency. It made me very sad… they messed up my favorite book 🙁 I'm not sure how they'd market a redo, though. If they can figure out a good way to advertise it, I'm so in for a REAL VDT! Don't know how it would go over money-wise… but I bet the fans would sure appreciate it, at least 🙂
Prequel: The Magician’s Nephew!!
Because of VDT being a such a disappointment to me I wouldn't like to see a sequel, YET! The Narnia series needs to go back to MN to be able to regain all the fans it has lost because of VDT failing. If they made SC it would just continue to go down hill. I think it would be great to see everything before the wardrobe and the Pevensies.
Also I think it should get LWW crew back, perhaps not Adamson but definitely Harry Gregson-Williams! His music just made the whole LWW and PC films! So much magic in that! Didn't feel at all the same with different music in VDT.
Great video! I will, always, always like the books far better than the films. But here are some of my thoughts.
1) SC This one has to be the one to do next. While it is not one of my favorites of the books, they should complete this line of book to films while they can. It's not because of the aging process, but I think doing MN before this could cause people to think the series is almost over. Besides, I think doing SC first(because it is just a little more mature; please don't debate about this) could attract some older fans to the series.
2)MN, while it is one of my favorites books with one of my favorite characters, Digory Kirke, I don't want them to do it yet(see above). Also, I think people are getting really tired of the White Witch, and I don't think they really want to see her again for awhile. While she is a very popular character, not just in the books, but in pop culture(even a trailer music company has a song called White Witch), I think we should take a break and see a whole new villan, like LotGK.
3)If a LWW reboot were to be done, I would actually try to have it done for younger children, but keep its emotional depth. Kind of like a Disney movie like The Lion King. When you are younger, you can just enjoy the movie on a reason of understanding the basic plot, but when you are older, you see the emotional core of the film. Kind of like the books as well, when you don't see all the depth at first, but eventually find it.
4) If an MN reboot were to be done as the first film, I have similar thoughts for it with LWW. While doing this one first, I think more people would be able to follow the story better in chronological order.
5)HHB This is actually my least favorite Narnia book, but I may have to read it again to give better thoughts. What I will say though is that like MN, this has LWW ties. During a trailer, I would put down something like "During the Narnia Golden Age, when the Pevensie Children Ruled". That could attract people, and it wouldn't be false marketing, like with the White Witch. 😉
6) My thoughts for this is said in the second sentence I typed.
Here are my thoughts if a modernized Narnia were to be announced:… AUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHH! No, no, no! Hollywood, you can't ruin a beautiful classic like this alongside, oh Gulliver's Travels, Around the World in Eighty Days, Mr. Popper's Penguins, and all those other books that now have their authors rolling in their graves! I know what they would do with Susan, I just know it, and it's so awful I can't say it! And they would probably give the other characters the I.Q. of a walnut! By the way, how would hiding from an earthquake in San Francisco be possible? The city is on a tectonic plate basically, and earthquakes can't be predicted until they actually come….
While it almost seems very unlikely, I think a Narnia reboot could be possible. If I recall things right, there was a lot of competition between studios to partner with Walden Media when LWW was announced, and after Disney dropped out, it took only a month for Fox to come along. I wonder what it would be like if a series were to try to do a Narnia series without a partner? Probably much faster with the films. XD
Well, all we can do is be patient. Flaherty himself even said in an interview back in March that it could be some time before another Narnia film is announced. Waiting a few years could actually help, with all these major film series, like Twilight and LotR, about to conclude. Then Narnia could have more options for release times.
In conclusion, there are many possibilities on what could happen to Narnia, but I think the best thing wee as fans can do is continue to show our support for the series by reading the books, buying or renting the movies, and continue visiting these great fan sites. 🙂
those screenwriteers submitted a faithful script for VDT and the CS Lewis estate powers that be rejected it for not being "exciting enough". makes me wonder what's going on over there. : /
Silver Chair! Silver Chair! Silver Chair! Silver Chair! Silver Chair! Silver Chair!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What's taking them so long to decide?
Anything but a reboot!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want nothing either though.
Why not film SC and MN at the same time and release SC first as a compromise?
it was shallow and childish, as opposed to the book, heart thrilling and awe inspiring. i just watch it to see pevensies and ben and aslan again. LOVE them. MISS them. hope they do hHB and expand on pevensie, and do SC with more caspian added in….
AGREED about the music HGW maade a HUGE DIFFERENCE. VDT music was pretty, but lame. i got goosebumps when the played the kings and quuens of old music. bring HGW back!!!!!!
ps the movie did great overseas, but then again, tey actally advertised there : /
Thanks glumPuddle! I like these type of things to pass the time for news. I personaly think the best thing to do is to continue on the series. Absolutly no one will make a better LWW. It is almost word for word and it captures the magic of the book. I would like to see SC next but I don't think it would be the best for the series to make MN next (Besides Poulter's age, of course) because I fear that if SC flops Walden will think "Oh well. We are done. They got the first four in, and not many things are left hanging." But (I don't think it will flop) if MN does flop, they might stop the series, but they might not becuse everything would be very incomplete.
thank you for posting , NARNIAWEB!! we all come here everyday and go away forelorn with no postings. making our own discussions is great, we get to connect and discuss, at least-
Please, no reboot! The actors are perfect. Despite flaws, I believe I like the movies better in many ways. I vote Silver Chair all the way!
We need a Narnia film without the White Witch.
Im not too excited about this for many reasons. 1, if they recast the white witch and aslan, i think a lot of people(including myself) would really hate it. 2, i dont know how an animated Narnia would fare. I think they just need to push through, and go to the next book, because of Poulters age.
OOOOH! I could SO wish they would just redo! Especially make it PG13!! 😀 that'd be SO awesome!! 😀 Either that or do SC next!!
Dude, I haven't posted here in AGES!!
it's AUGUST?! :facepalm: oh my! :blink: Way to go, GlumPuddle! Awesome ideas!
The Lady of the Green Kirtle, a.k.a the Emerald Witch, is not the White Witch in a sense you would think. While she may be an incarnation of the White Witch's spirit or something along those lines, they are definitely not the same person, at least, physical person. If they make SC next then they will have to get a new actor. Besides, the BBC verison used the same woman who played the White Witch to play the Lady of the Green Kirtle. If the movies choose to use Tilda, it won't be "original."
Silver Chair! no redo of LWW!!!!!!
NO REBOOTS!! I love the series the way it is, but I'd love to have the series continue on! I don't mind if they make the next movies PG, PG13, R, or NR, but please don't reboot!
Hey all, this is my first post on here! First some thoughts on previous installments…
I thought LWW really captured the magic of the first book. Love the casting of the kids. No real complaints worth mentioning. As for PC I feel like they left behind a little of the magic that LWW had, but it was great nonetheless. Love Ben Barnes as PC as well as the other adult cast members. The score for the these first two was absolutely incredible-they add so much to the experience. Then came VDT. The new soundtrack really disappointed me as well as how they told the story. It really is a shame because I think the cast is excellent, including Poulter.
So what's next? I just hope something is. In my mind the only way to go is MN or SC. For Poulter's sake and as a fan, I'd like to have SC made. But I really fear that this would be the end of these versions of the film. If it did not perform well, they would have a decent amount of the loose ends explained and it would be closure for the film-only or casual fans. This is why I feel it would be best for them to go with MN. As previously mentioned, it is hugely popular and only comes behind LWW on many readers' lists. Also one of my favorites, I think it could save the series. The marketing would obviously play on the Pevensies story again and have a tagline such as 'before they went in the wardrobe'. Well, I hope the tagline would be much better than that, but you get my drift. Tilda Swinton would once again be amazing, and actually have a big part this time so they don't have to awkwardly sneak her in. I just hope the performance of VDT was a wake up call for what needs to be changed. I think one thing they always managed to get right though was casting, not to mention the beautiful sets.
I'd love to hear your thoughts!!
I dont even think that the Lady of the Green Kirtle is an incarnation of the white witch, but i think both of them might have something to do with Charn. And yes, i know that all life on charn was desrtroyed by the deplorable word, and therefore it would support the claim that the White Witch is is the same as the Lady of the Green Kirtle. But that is not my point, the parliament of owels think that they are "of the same crew". So that may leave a lot of speculation to wich witch is wich if you see what i mean. I think Lewis meant for it to be that way because he left a lot of things to be a product of your imagination, he didnt always explain things, he let you use your imagination to create the origins of it or to think of it. Like in one of the versions of LWW, he mentioned that the deep magic was written in three different locations, the world ash tree, the emporer over the seas scepter, and the secret hill, which I think he mentioned it for no reseon in particular other then to let your imagination run wild. So, I think it would be very interesting to see what his purpose for the Lady of the Green Kirtle really was, but in my opinion he left it up to you to think of the reason behind her. But then again, it actually might be the wihte witch because, in the book she ran away to the north, instead of getting eaten by aslan (like in LWWW movie version). And the underworld is to the north, so we really dont know, because CS Lewis left it up to us to figure it out.
After the last two movies, I'm not sure if I'd want to see another Narnia film.
What about doing a TV mini series? Some, if not most, of the Narnia stories are better in numerous parts, rather than in a 2 1/2 hour sitting. Each chapter could be an hour or 1/2 hour long episode. It would give time to really do each part justice as well as provide better character development.
I really dislike the idea of a reboot at this time. Reboots are becoming very common and it's getting annoying. No guarantee that it would be any better.
Harry Gregson-Williams is definitely the composer, because with him and his magical-musical influence, Silver Chair might actually do better . VDT was not that lame, but still not as good as it seems. And no animations! CS Lewis's worst fear about Narnia movies are animated movies!!
Your right, they dont need to go out of their way to make it PG-13. And right now, the best option for them is to make SC and then finish up with LB. Then, maybe some years later, revive the series with MN and HHB.
I think that the green mist was waaaaayyy too cheesey. It looked so fake! The movie was actually pretty boring 45 minutes in, but after that it got interesting. Im not that dissapointed about it, I just want them to continue making Narnia movies just as long as they dont ruin the plot. People always say that they hated PC and now they are going on and on and on about VDT. Seriously, nothing was wrong with PC, I actually liked that one. And with VDT, whats up with Edmund going crazy about golden sea shells?!? I mean seriously they messsed up that scene.
My next favorite book, and the next one I would love to see as a film is "The Last Battle". Silver Chair was not my favorite. I do love the MN and Horse and his Boy, but I really love Last Battle. Would not like to se a LWW reboot. It's way too soon, and would probably fail.
Is G not on your list? 🙂
Bring in Howard Shore, his LOTR music is so awesome!!!!!
Good idea JQnHQ!
I think as long as Andrew Adamson directed and Harry Gregerson Williams did the music I would be extremely happy. Those were my main two issues with Dawn Treader. I think it just wasn't filmed very well at all. I think the reason why Prince Caspian didn't do as well as LWW was because ( like VDT) It was released right before a major much more anticipated movie. Also Prince Caspian was fantastic although I feel like it was just a little too dark to be a real " childrens" movie like LWW. I mean at the point it came out it couldn't have been an adult movie and it wasn't enough of teenager movie ( which I personally like)( Aka it wasn't a romance, it didn't have lots of explosions or stupid drama or vampires. things that normally attract the usual teenage crowds..( sadly) ) but at the same time it was too dark for a children's movie. Personally rather than doing the rebooting thing ( which probably would not very well at all ( I mean you already have one why need another? and it's a children's story I don't know about making it PG13) ) anway I think personally if they can't do the Narnia series maybe they should do the series that he wrote with the " out of the silent planet" and the " prelandra". ( Aka space trilogy or also called ransom trilogy). Sorry if I offend anyone these are merely my opinions
OPTION 1: Silver Chair next – sequel
OPTION 2: Magician's Nephew next – reboot
I would love to see Horse and His Boy and Last Battle come to the screen but I'm not sure which one(s) should come before LB. :/
I'm strongly opposed to an LWW reboot. The Walden/Disney version has the makings of a classic. It's by far the best screen adaptation of the book! [compared to BBC and the animated cartoon]
Why MN could be next http://www.aslanscountry.com/2011/08/aslan%E2%80%99s-meditations-i-am-the-door-the-good-shepherd-part-1/
Why SC could be next http://www.aslanscountry.com/2011/08/aslan%E2%80%99s-meditations-i-am-the-door-the-good-shepherd-part-2/
Option 2: I meant MN as a prequel not reboot. Sorry. Liam Neeson as Aslan and Tilda Swinton as WW are just too perfect…
the magician's nephew !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think the best chance for the Narnia movies to survive is if they make The Magician's Nephew instead of The Silver Chair or if they do both at the same time with two different filmmakers for each movie. And also if they're both directed by directors like the director of the last three Harry Potter or the director of Pan's Labyrinth, than the the Narnia movies will back on track and maybe even be made better than ever before.
I would be in favor of a reboot, BUT it's too soon. I loved the way they did LWW, but Prince Caspian definitely needs a "do-over"…and VDT was marginally better but could also stand a "do-over"…
That said, I would love to see this cast finish the series, with the clear understanding that they need to STICK TO THE BOOKS! Forget this stupid "green mist", Susan/Caspian romance, annoying Peter, and other elements that aren't in the books and distract from the magic and wonder of Lewis' works.
Also, if they don't do another movie soon, it won't matter what order they do it. Will Poulter will be too old even if they do SC next. In addition, I think the longer they wait, the more people will lose interest.
But whatever they do, they need to make sure the director is a fan of the book they are directing, and that said director doesn't feel we need to add unnecessary "common threads"…
Nice affects on that video, glumPuddle. I liked the sound effects too 🙂
I just have to point ths out that I don't think the Narnia movies would be made any better if they were animated or turned into PG-13 movies,in fact I think it would be worse, I mean these are movies based off of popular children's books don't make PG-13 just because Harry Potter did it, be your own movie franchise, (if the franchise will continue that is hopefully)these movies should be made for kids.
I wouldn't mind a reboot. I would love a reboot. Just cut out some of the Hollywood jazz, add a tin soldier dancing on a yellow brick road, throw in a dash bash 'em an' slash 'em and you've got your remake!
Don't forget the Wicked Wight Witch of the North! 🙂
I mean the Wicked White Witch of the North. Sorry for the typo!
Silver Chair! Silver Chair! Silver Chair! Silver Chair! NO REBOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh by all means! Let's not forget her. Don't kill her off in the reboot either! Just sorta half kill her and keep here around in case the arises to amuse the crowd in future films!
Oh by all means! Let’s not forget her. Don’t kill her off in the reboot either! Just sorta half kill her and keep here around in case the arises to amuse the crowd in future films!
PLEASE DO NOT REBOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They don't need to reboot. The first two were great movies. I would like a do over on Dawn Treader though. It's the best book in the series, but the weakest movie.
A reboot would be disastrous. I think the best thing they can do now is keep following the original order of the books. Silver Chair, further up and further in.
I agree. I was shocked really at how poor VDT turned out. The first two were magnificent.
Congratulations on keeping a straight face while mentioning the Green Mist, gP. 😉