Episode 84: The end of an era
Running time: 44:15
While Rilian and glumPuddle hope to do more discussions with the rest of the council on Narnia topics, this will be the last film news discussion for the foreseeable future. In this episode, we discuss the present status of the franchise, share laughs, frustrations, questions and a few last reflections as we conclude this episode. As an era in the podcast concludes, we on the council would like to give a warm and sincere “Thank you” to all our listeners.
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And hopefully the beginning of the next.
Everyone who maintained this site over the past eight years did a truly fabulous job – thank you all. I truly enjoyed the daily thrill of checking for new Narnia news here.
NarniaHarper, as a "moderator-at-rest", unless I missed something, I think I can safely say that the site or the forum isn't going anywhere for now. True, there won't be any news until the film option is sold again by the CS Lewis Estate (good job on the explanation, glumpuddle!), so the discussion will die down severely. But there is more to the Forum than just movie discussion. Come further up and farther in and wait with us!
Is the music at the end of the podcast from the Voyage of the Dawn Treader movie? Great way to end the movie news (sarcasm). jk hahahaha 🙂
Actually I liked the podcast very much. Thank you guys.
Since there will be at least five years, probably six or more, between the release of Dawn Treader and the next film, I like glumPuddle's suggestion to split the difference between a "reboot" sentiment and the desire to pick up where we left off by adapting The Magician's Nephew first. Tilda Swinton and Liam Neeson's voice can be the bridge to the other films, but otherwise you're dealing with a fresh look at Narnia through its origin story. I'd suggest doing Horse and His Boy next, and then Silver Chair. That way, you can cast a new Eustace and Jill for Silver Chair and have them be of an appropriate age when you film the next and final story, The Last Battle.
the title of this bit just makes me sad… 🙁
Haha, glumPuddle, you literally keep your VDT DVD in the sock drawer? I thought you were being sarcastic.
I agree that whether we have movies or not, we always have the books. At least once a year I go through the books again. They are great. I would like to see a reboot if we have more movies. The only Narnia movie I have loyalty for is LWW. I had never read anything written by Lewis until I saw LWW in 2005.
"The Narnia you remember… is no more."
Ah yes, another podcast after an overlong hiatus. To start off, this is going to be one long comment, probably the longest I have ever typed up. The reason I try to stick to comments with a few paragraphs often is to get better at debate, which I am not very good at, even after being on the forum for almost five months after the last podcast aired. But I am ten years, or even have the age younger than most of the commenters on here, but I am trying to learn so I can get better. I will probably say something that doesn't make sense or misses obvious information, but I am still learning, and will take criticism from older members so I can get better. Okay, here we go…
When the news had been reported in late September than Walden's contract had officially expired, I overall was not that shocked at all. Between June 22, and September 27, I had remained as something I call a "pessoptimist", or in other words, I had been expecting that something bad, like Walden would indeed drop the series or lose the rights or what not, but I still did have hope that somebody would come some day, to make the Narnia books.My question is: When did the contract expire? Obviously in late May, Flaherty said that Walden was still negotiating with the Estate. One moth later, we received the news that put NW in quite a mood. I would guess that they lost the series' rights around mid- July based off the information because of somebody in the comments saying that they knew Douglas Gresham and that he said Walden lost the rights to the series. (Really, I wish people wouldn't spread information like this in the comments; it just made many people upset.)
Why did Walden's contract expire? I think the answer is obvious: money. Look, VDT performed even poorer than PC did in the US, even with 3D and inflation. And the DVD did even worse, making only about $40 million in sales. While Flaherty in May did say that they were still in negotiations, I think that after a period of time, they realized that people weren't buying the movie, or really liking it. Do I need to say more?
Okay, now that we know what has happened for sure, let us go on to the future of Narnia as films. When the moratorium ends(Which I'm kind of confused on how long it will last.), let's say that somebody else other than Walden were to get the rights to continue. I, by then will be in my senior year or college, which of course could be good because then I can organize Lion Parties. 😛 Anyways, whoever could pick it up, I want them to make the true heart of the Narnia films that I think Walden virtually failed to do, even in LWW: make Aslan the true heart of the films. In the books, it is most truly He who is the real reason of all the adventures and happenings, and the end of evil. I wish to have somebody who understands and has heart for the books, and I want the message to get across without it being obvious about the Christian elements. I do hate it when people call Narnia Christian propaganda for children. NO, NO, NO! *slaps forehead* Aslan being sacrificed, for example, is done because He is the one who saves Narnia, because He is Narnia's hope after the 100 year Winter, not because He stands for Jesus Christ! (But let's not debate about this please.)
Anyway, I would really like to see SC done next still, even if Will Poulter does not return as Eustace, because he really looks too old now. SC, MN, and HHB would actually all be good in ways to do next. MN is a prequel, and first in chronological order, so anybody could understand it easily. HHB works well alone because it hardly ties in to the other adventures except for having brief appearances by the Pevensies and Tumnus. SC could work too, and I really want to see this one. The story is very complex, and one I think could start making teenagers my age appreciate the series more than just "another fantasy film series". I would really like to see that happen one day.
Now, as regarding to a possible Narnia reboot. I don't think many people really even highly regard LWW anymore. I have only seen kids respond, "Isn't that a movie?" or something like that when I asked them if they had seen it. Now, something like Spiderman, had been rebooted rather quickly, and this from somebody who still remembers seeing Spiderman 3 commercials on TV, and many have pointed this out, but the problem with this is Spiderman has many comics and sources to work from, whereas Narnia only has seven books. This would be much harder, and if Narnia were to get a complete reboot, it would be in at least a decade, I agree.
But let's not live in the future right now, fellow older fans, or fans of my age, or whoever. Let us live in the present and look on the past and read the books to our heart's content and feel the true heart and emotion of what Lewis gave us. I look forward to seeing book discussion on the podcasts and forum more now than ever in hopes of understanding the themes and books better than before thanks to the many wonderful people who make NarniaWeb possible. Tirian, fantasia_kitty, Rilian, glumPuddle, our full team of moderators, and other fans who have made this place great to be.
I have not been on NW forums that long, or commenting, but I have many wonderful memories already, from the VDT trailer, my first comment( Which was just terrible.), and joining the forums just five months ago. I really do hope to continue to come here for a long time still. 🙂
Okay, closing time. Be like Lucy in PC. That's my advice. Be strong. Think of Aslan. Think of Narnia.
Further up and further in!
This is a heartbreaking day… this podcast brought back the many good memories of film waiting, which I had forgotten. You MUST continue podcasting, about the books now. If not I shall be very sad. You guys are so awesome. I shall now focus on The Hobbit films, but, much as I adore that book, it will never be the same as the Narnian community.
Think about it like this. We are the Pevensies waiting to get back into Narnia 😉
I did ponder whether or not to use the music from my least favorite film of last year. However, the music by Dave Arnold is genuinely well-done in many ways. Furthermore, that scene was easily the best in the entire film, and I couldn't have ended the film better myself. It's also my favorite song of the new score, and it had the right feel to it: a feeling of quiet joy with a bittersweet ending.
I really dont know if I liked that music for the film. Im a bigger fan of Gregson-Williams.
good grief thats a long comment.
No, were more like Peter and Susan, we might noot go back to Narnia at all.
Oh wow, that's acctaully a very good way to look at it, but SOOOOOO sad!
Well, I guess that, like Peter and Susan, we have all grown older and need to find the 'narnia' in our own world now and not rely on the movies anymore- we still have the books though! And no one can ever grow too old for thoes!
We must learn to know Him (Aslan) in our world as we do in Narnia.
Thats a big hopefully.
Same here, Dylan, but the last three songs on VDT are powerful all the same. I think that music was the perfect ending for both the film and podcast.
Wow guys, great podcast! I am filled with so much emotion after listening to it. I'm really grateful for all the time you've put into this. I will not forget these past many years of coming on here every day, excited to find out what's happening next. I look forward to those times again as hopefully someday someone will see the books, and say "wow, those would be great as movies"! That's a whole another adventure. So up until then, I shall sit back, read and discover the books, watch the movies, and remember the times that we've had together on here.
Further up and Further In!!
I definitely agree with you Rilian. Out of all three movies it was one of my favorite songs.
Yeah, the music was alright, just not my fav. I liked the Reepicheep theme though
Wait, so is Narniaweb no more?
I hope so.
You just have to have faith about these things.
A new age has begun.
Everything you know is about to change.
I do agree. It was good music, and the scene was great. I just wish the rest of the film was as good. I guess I thought the film was ok but it could have been so much better.
You're right.
Wow, your comment sounds like a cheesy and totally cliched movie trailer.
Oh no, Narniaweb is stickin around.
I liked the VODT music, but I am a way bigger fan of Harry Gregson-Williams and think his music was so much more Narnia-ish and epic. VODT's music seemed more like ballet music to me. 🙂
Gregson williams really captured Narnia in his music.
Very sad….. it makes it sound like the series is completely over, which it most certainly not.
Cheer up people! The series isnt over yet is it? 3 more years is how long we need to wait, but does that mean we should lose complete hope and give up on the series? No! By all means no!
I was almost afarid that this meant Narniaweb was over. I've grown so used to it and I use it all the time. It's my ideal website.
Yeah it is. I was using the two taglines for PC.
I'm definitely not giving up hope.
Narnia will go on in any case. They could have done better on the movies, granted. But we can still read the books and watch the movies we like. If they remake the movies or go one in a few years at least we know something is going to happen some time, since Narnia is considered a HUGE franchise. So cheer up guys!!!!
This is not the end.
If it's the end.
The end is only the beginning. 🙂
Aslan is still here so why gripe. Narnia will never die when it glorifies God. I totally agree with you Dylan!
I totally agree with you!!!
But LWW was not a flop, it got as much or more than Spider-man. And if any of the three made Aslan real, it was the first one. I'm not trying to make a debate or anything but Walden started well and finished…off. Thanks for putting you opinion out and don't feel ashamed or embarrassed to put your impute in!!! 🙂
Yes, VDT didn't sell well in USA, but it did enormously well overseas. And I think to a large degree it suffered because of the disappointment many had with PC, and the adverse publicity it got from Disney dropping its association with that film.
I don't think that money is the only reason why Walden lost the rights. I think they quite simply took too long to make even the three movies they did make. I wouldn't be surprised that the original options went only from 2004 to 2011, especially as that period of time matches the 7 years they were originally hoping to make the movies in.
I liked the podcast this time, and was pleased that this time it actually echoed my own concern about Walden losing the rights. I know that several people on NarniaWeb are hoping for a reboot, but I don't want to see endless remakes of the first three books of the Narnia series, with the film franchise fizzling out by the time it gets to VDT or Silver Chair.
Even SC has had a version made by BBC for television, which in lieu of any new version being made, I can still watch. And actually it was probably the best of their interpretations anyway.
It is the other three movies that I really want to see most since BBC didn't do these books either. I am really hoping that at the end of next year, or thereabouts that the situation will be a bit clearer.
Got a little emotional at the end of this. It truly is the end of an era. Narniaweb has been such a massive part of my life; I've literally grown up on here (from age 12 to 18). Sad to see this chapter end, but so glad that Narniaweb wont disappear altogether!
No! They can't do a reboot! I'd hate that. Will Poulter was absolutely fantastic as Eustace. He has a boyish face, so it won't matter if they wait a few years to make The Silver Chair.
As a media communications student studying film production at Asbury University (which has connections with Walden and other Narnia related people), it is my dream to be a part of continuing the stories of Narnia from book to film. We'll see where God leads me though 🙂
We dont need to be such downers about the whole thing is basically what im saying.
the beginning of what?
Nothing is preventing you from visiting Narnia again. The books aren't going anywhere.
The movies were a nice distraction for a while, but at the end of the day they aren't Narnia.
For the record, I wasn't "suggesting" they do that. I was just making the observation that if they made MN as prequel…it would likley perform the function of a reboot even if it wasn't actually a reboot. It would feel like a fresh start with a new cast and maybe a new feel too.
Don't worry. We have more plans for the podcast. 🙂 But they won't be film news discussions for the foreseeable future.
Yeah, he really did. David Arnold just didn't have that Narnia feel.
I HOPE SOMEDAY I BECOME AN ACTOR IN NARNIA THE MOVIE FOR THE NEXT SERIES….
I HOPE SOMEDAY I BECOME AN ACTOR IN NARNIA THE MOVIE FOR THE NEXT SERIES….
i will die if narniaweb is over
Thank you so much for all these great podcasts! 🙂
Someone should try to make animated versions of the movies. I've always wanted to see HHB or MN on tv, even if it is animated. Somebody should try this just until they are going to start making the movies again.
What do you guys think?
If that was that was the case, I would pass out the second I read that X-0
Dont say that. Say Narniaweb got hacked what would you do lol?
OKAY GOOD FOR YOU
I want to cry now :'( Thank you, Rilian, glumpuddle, Warrior, Gymfan, and all the rest of you. I have loved listening to every podcast and have always checked itunes eagerly to look for any new podcasts every time I plug my ipod in! I've even quoted you to my family sometimes! 🙂 I know this isn't goodbye, really, but I'll certainly miss the Narnia news. God bless~further up and further in!
Aslan's Girl
I wouldn't mind seeing animated versions, that would be neat 🙂
The books are and will always be the true Narnia.