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!
Check out http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheSevenBasicPlots
I think that Lewis might have written these books with the seven basic plots in mind – it's kind of fun to theorize how they might fit. The link above brings out the observation that complex stories use a combination of the seven plots (Lord of the Rings for example). So consider this…. as children's storys it would make sense that Lewis would go with a single plot for each of the Narnia books. Theorize then: The complexity of plots is found in the series, the "graspability" for the child is found in the singular plot of each book. If this theory is true it is my opinion that a reboot is the only solution – and what a magical reboot MN would offer! MN 3 years out, LWW reboot 3 years after that? 2017? 2005 was the original, that's 12 years?
Consider this….what if the next movie did not declare if it was a reboot or not? The audience would be left to draw there own conclusion. Crazy idea, which could only come close to working if the next film was the Magician's Nephew. Here's what I'm thinking….
1) Digory and Polly – clean slate right!
2) White witch much younger – who's to know what she looked like years later (like with Digory).
3) Narnia is fresh and new and the creation scene is going to need to be something amazingly unique – it's music that Aslan uses, a music like no other, to create Narnia.
4) In MN Narnia is an unfallen world – there is no point of reference – in other words, the effects of the 100 year winter could have brought about changes that would make Narnia look totally different….or maybe not!
5) Alsan told Lucy that He appeared different to her not because He changed but because she changed – once again would we have a reboot or not?
Reason for not answering the question "is it a reboot or not?" I do not see how people can say that Narnia's film future does not need a fresh start. Leaving a mystery in the process can allow for its rebirth and at the same time allow for….
No reboot PLEASE . The movies' declining sales is cos of increasing improvisation. They stayed almost true to the book in LWW , and so offcourse it did the best.
Movie makers think ppl watch movies for the stupid kiss scenes. In Prince Caspian, they were kinda purposely making Peter do unpopular stuff to make Caspian look good.
And they should do silver chair next.It would spoil the surprises too early to explain everything with MN immediately. Kindly follow the books – plot , order and all.
I happened to love VDT and enjoy PC. We have to look at these movies separate from the books. I don't like the books that much so maybe it isn't that big of a deal to me. but for me the only bad thing in PC was the romance between Susan and Caspian. and then in VDT the only thing that bugged me was the acting of Lucy/Georgie and some little things from Edmund/Skandar
I don't think Will's age is a big deal actually. He is around eighteen years old and my brother is that age and hasn't changed much in look, height, and voice for quite a long time. Now maybe Will is an even later grower(my brother was really late) but I don't think he will be changing that much.
Man, this is so screwed up, i mean, you cant release a seven part series 2-3 years apart! It doesnt work like that! Man, im sick of all this. Cant stand the uncertainty of 20 cent fox, and walden, and all the other screwed up things about the way this series is going. VDT……maybe it wasnt just a box office failure, maybe it was a failure period. PC was alright, but i dont think, unless they finiish off the series and make it amazing, non narnia fans are gonna have a bad after taste from VDT. But maybe im wrong, because all the non narnia fans have no idea that the seven lords and there magicly glowing swords werent even part of the story, so they may not know how bad of a movie it was.
Im going to list my problems with the films overall.
VDT Problems are-
1. Lucy acting like she isnt pretty
Maybe its just me or something, but why does she have to be obbsessed with being pretty. I mean, she already knows what shes gonna look like in the future, because she already has grown up in a sense. Anyways, just a minor problem i saw with VDT. 2. Edmund going crazy over golden sea shells?! COME ON! Really! Maybe it had to do with the green mist and all, but it was terrible. 3. Green mist. Yes, green mist. Single biggest mistake in all these movies combined. Besides, it was to cheesy. Like the seen when Caspian and Ed first see the green mist from there jail cell(CHEESY….). These right here are my biggest problems with
VDT. PC didnt have as many problems except for 1. Caspian is too old, 2. Peter the "Magnificent" mind you, and Caspian getting in little sissy fights, and number 3, Suspian. Yah, that was stupid. They should have just stayed closer to the books, and i bet you anything these movies would be more successfull. I do like some of the things they added, like the overly extensive and awesome battle scenes in PC, and them skipping all the sad and gloomy seens with the Narnians after the first battle. That just makes Narnians look like saps. I think they added enough emotion in PC to get the point across.
Voice of reason, you are the voice of reason!
That would be cool, but they shouldnt make it an animated movie, they should make it a tv series.
The advantages of a MN movie are, clear. The indroduction of jadis, the explantation of the lampost, the creation of it all… this would be really good marketing wise for the series. Think about it, if your a non narnia fan and you sitting on your couch and your watching tv, and a commercial comes on for SC " The magical journey continues for Eustace as he and Jill blah blah blah….". Now imagine if your sitting on your couch and a commercial for MN comes on " The creation of Narnia as never seen before in eyepopping 3d blah blah….". The second commercial makes you think (if your a non narnia fan), well, how did narnia get created? I dont normally watch Narnia, but this may be interesting.
Why would someone who isn't interested in Narnia have any interest in how Narnia began? Would you have an interest in how Talamhland began?
Sounds like you would market MN using the prequel and special effects angles. Given that Narnia is not a successful franchise, the prequel angle is a weak marketing hook at best. Also, while special effects can magnify the appeal of interesting protagonists or an interesting story, they can't make up for a lack of strong protagonists and story, which is an issue for MN. Take a look at the expensive box office failures of the past year and you'll see what I mean.
I agree that they shouldn't market SC as the continuing story of Eustace. Given how poorly attended VDT was, most Americans would be scratching their heads saying "Who's Eustace?" But if they market it as the story of two boarding school misfits on a sleeping-beauty style quest, that might attract interest. We talked about this on the forum:
http://forum.narniaweb.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2953&start=224
What Im saying is that it might be just a little bit more interesting for someone who hasnt seen the movies. But your right, the plot isnt the greates, and SC definatley had the better plot. I would really hate it if they ruined SC or MN, because the movie would suck. The past two movies have been an example of that. there are plenty of people (me included) who actually like the PC movie. But overall, alot of people i know arent that crazy about it. Same thing with VDT, a bunch of my friends and i were all excited "Ooo, VDT is coming into theaters tommorrow!" and the like afterwards we were kinda like "Huh? What was that?". So, they better not do a poor adaption, they better make the movie exactly like the book.
Bottom line, even for the most avid "I can not believe that people are talking about a reboot!" mindset….Is anyone saying that this series has met the hopes and dreams they had for it? Harry Potter – eight movies, theme park impact, etc. I am not satisfied with the results. Is there any true fan out there who is?
Your absolutley right. The only movie that lived up to expectations at all was LWW, definatley. I dont think right now, for the time being, that a reboot is neccessary. Not only will no studios want to pick up on it, it would confuse the hec out of people. Re boot it 10-15 yrs from now. I cant say that i am happy with the results SO FAR. Just look at it this way, they have a chance to redeem themselves, theyve only done 3 out of the seven chronicles. They havent even gotten to the really popular books yet. LWW was one of my fav books, but PC and VDT werent even close to being my fav books. As long as the series is still going, im fine.
Chronicle, are you really satisfied with the fruit of this series? Look at the Harry Potter series – they weren't looking to shut down after the first three, in fact they found a way to stretch it into eight. And a theme park attaction from Harry Potter….Wouldn't it have been a thrill to walk into Narnia! So to say the series is fine…I just had a much bigger dream for this fanchise than to be debating/speculating after 3 movies if a fourth one was in the works. I think most Narnia fans did and I think it is why this discussion is something that most of us are very passionate about – I don't see it as being anoyone's fault (though the PC liberties with the story might be a good place to start looking in my opinion)but the bottom line is HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN WITH SUCH A GREAT WORK OF LITERATURE? SOMETHING WENT VERY WRONG THAT WE WOULD BE IN THIS POSITION! I almost feel like a reboot is analogous to an election that votes out the incumbent and says in a manner of speaking, "Why should we give you another term when you brought us…."
Thank you for your insights. I am taken back with explainations of Narnia not being Christ centered in its purposes and goal. It's like gone to a hockey game and being told that it has nothing to do with hockey, unless that is what you wanted it to be. As far as the rest of the series….and said earlier that MN done in the right way would not need to answer the question if it were a reboot or not!
I am never going to agree with the opinion that MN is the more popular book. It is only the first chronologically and now because the company that publishes the books reordered them it is now considered the first. That is the only reason it has sold more books then the others. It is not more popular.
i believe now that HP is finished that Narnia can get a new audience and a continued support from current fans. But they better get in quick before any next crazy series of the HP clan comes out
Yeah. I had to push to get through Prince Caspian the book.
This may sound strange but I haven't actually /read/ LWW all the way through. I have listened to it on tape. But I've read all the other ones.
I would do:
LWW
PC
VDT
SC & MN
HHB & LB
What do you think?
Reboot? I don't even wear them.
As for which one to make next ,I am always going to be biased for The Silver Chair. But I have always spoken for doing two movies at once, like TLOtR series.
How, exactly would that be a bad thing? the Hobbit is gonna be one epic movie.
So, you dont wear reboot? Well i dont either, its to early for a reboot. Give it some time, they may pick up speed here as the series goes on.
voi dovetere fare tutti i film di Narnia …… punto e basta se no vi spezzo le gambe….. sarebbe una perdita inutile …. i film devono continuare tutti fino alla fine ….. cattivi
chi la pensa come me? Narnia deve continuare …… tutti i film devono essere fatti …. poi che volete fare fate….. ma ora i film devono essere finiti ….. li compro io i dvd se è questo il problema 😛
While I'm not sure I like the idea of rebooting the series as much as I would enjoy it if they just kept going (of course it would be best in my opinion if they picked up with SC) I can say that I would definitely be excited to see what someone else would do with it. I also think that maybe if they did reboot it they could pick up on some of the things that people have said the didn't like (e.g. the fact that it could have followed C. S. Lewis's story line more closely) and make a point of not having that problem.
I can't even explain how much I agree!! That is the most ridiculous idea IN THE WORLD! Sorry, that's just my opinion. 😉
no abla espanol.
Wait, is that Italian?
It took forever for the hobbit movie to be finally greenlit, then it took at least another year for them actually to go into pre-production.
I have a feeling that might happen. Some people forget the long-lasting effect movies have on us, and how what happens to Narnia now will effect future generations. (Reason why they should not reboot and reason to do Silver Chair next, so Will doesn't get too old and future generations don't ponder at this.)
Ditto!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i dont see it as a bad thing for that movie, because the trilogy is already finished, and they arent being rushed at all. Now for Narnia, thats a different story. Right now, we arent even in pre production, we are in pre pre production. I hope they stop wasting there time, and get started!
Yes, if they should film it that way. Film MN and Sc at the same time, since they are different casts, and then do the same with HHB and LB, maybe a year afterwards. Besides, they should release the Horse and his boy before LB, just to introoduce the audience to the Calormens.
I think they should continue on with the sequel of Silver Chair, but I would be content with Magician's Nephew also. But if they reboot, I'm sueing! 🙂
This news drought is really getting to me. :/ I want news! Any news! (Unless the news is that they're doing something crazy like turning Magician's Nephew into an sci-fi/action/thriller with the White Witch rampaging the universe blowing up planets or something—whoops, I don't want to give them any ideas)
Maybe thats how they got the idea for the green mist lol. But ya, they do need some new news.
So,I think maybe (maybe) they are telling us this so as to keep us all talking, and, you know. (and keep us psyched about narnia)
But, see, those of us that do know the real order will care…
'Ber' month is about to start, what news do you bring?
are they not finished yet with their negotiations?
We want Narnia 4!
Well, im losing the feeling that im "psyched" about Narnia. Just tell us that they are making a movie, then I will be happy.
WE NEED NEWS! This is just a little redicoulouse that they havent evne started yet.
COME ON Walden Media, give us something, any bit of news about the future of the Narnia series. Just at least let us fans know that you haven't given up on the series just yet, because it still has a really big fan base. The sooner you realize that the Narnia movies have the potential to be just as successful as The Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter movies if put in the hands of the right filmakers who care passionately about the books, the sooner we can have a fourth Narnia movie that's just as good as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was if not better.
I feel like they've forgotten we're here, still waiting desperately for Narnia 4. Maybe we need to show them how much we want more Narnia. We should all write letters, or we could all gather at their doorstep, showing them that we are still here, and we're wanting more!
Just an idea that probably won't happen. But still, I wonder if they don't think there are any more fans willing to wait. I am, and don't think I'm the only one.
You are right, we need to write letters or something to get their attention.
Agreed.
I wonder to whom we should write to. Walden Media? Fox? Or some of the actual crew members and producers such as Andrew Adamson or Mark Johnson? Or all of them?
Im thinking Walden Media. Or Fox. but not Adamson or whoever is producing it, they just need the ok from fox or walden to begin.
Yep.
Can't find any contact info for Fox, but did find an address for Walden Media.
The problem with that though is that they are still in negotiations, and some soureces even say they might drop out of the project. So I dont know,but Walden Media sounds more like the right people to send a letter to. you know what, narniaweb as a whole group, should write a letter to them. I dont know if it will have any effect, but it might work. We, as fans, just need are voice heard, thats all we need, for walden to know that narnia fans are out there and want another movie.
I got tired of waiting for news and called Walden myself – the answer I got was evasive at best. No one seemed to want to give me a straight answer and they just kept transferring me. The thing that was repeated most often was that they are not doing one 'right now' and that 'there are bigger things on the table.' It sounded like they haven't dropped it, but they're not continuing it, either. The lady I eventually got transferred to did say 'There's no sequel in the works right now'. I dunno what to say. T_T
It depends on the content of the letter. If it's like a petition, where you're simply stating that you want another Narnia movie, then that would be pretty pointless. They aren't shelving Narnia because they're sad that nobody loves their franchise. It's because they aren't making enough money to keep the franchise afloat. Box office doesn't lie. Not enough people have an automatic interest in Narnia to justify the massive budgets that are involved. And they don't seem to know what magic ingredient they need to add to spark movie-goers's interest.
Now, if you write with an explanation of Narnia's cinematic and box office potential . . . well, for all I know, that might be pointless too, but who knows? It might help.
Omgosh I think the best choice would b sC
Hmm…. interesting. Though I usually don't trust comments like that, I think this one is more reliable.(Don't ask.) Maybe negotiations have stalled for now. That's my best guess. At least it is better than dropping the project completely. I actually don't think it would be too bad of an idea if they waited a few years to continue with the films. Once other major franchises like Twilight and The Hobbit two part films are done, it will give Narnia more opportunity at the box office. And maybe more people will try to read the books once the movies for those are over. But I don't know. Don't give up hope yet people!
"Bigger things on the table" makes it sound like they have decided that Narnia is now a mid-range fantasy series. If that's true, they are probably keeping their options open in case somebody comes up with a brilliant idea for how to make a Narnia movie on a mid-range budget. In the case of MN, I don't think that's remotely possible. SC and HHB could be feasible, but someone has to sit down and think it through very carefully.
Great idea Dylan! Narniaweb should write one big letter that we could all sign, like the letter sent to the crew of Narnia 3 before they started filming.
Talvi already said he/she has already asked, but it might be worth a try. Now, who runs this website? maybe he/she should pick out a few people to write this thing on behalf of narniaweb.
Happy 20th Birthday Skandar <3
In that case, I think we should hope for The Silver Chair as soon as possible, and on a mid-range budget, using Tilda Swinton as TLOTGK (to drum up trade). That gets around the (awful) problem of losing Will Poulter in Silver Chair if they wait too long. There can then be a hiatus before MN. I don't think it matters too much about the ages of WP and Jill in Last Battle (if it ever got that far). Made properly, it ought to be a much darker film – protagonists in their mid/late twenties would be fine.
Wow… When are we gonna hear what's going on????