Flaherty: “Multiple Opinions” On Fourth Narnia Film
This Monday will mark two years since Fox/Walden’s The Voyage of the Dawn Treader hit theaters and ultimately performed below expectations in the United States, but pretty well internationally. At this point, most fans have accepted the fact that we should not expect to see another Narnia film made for some time (view our ‘Narnia 4’ summary page).
One of the reasons for the hold-up is disagreement about what the next step should be. Micheal Flaherty (Walden Media president) would like to make The Magician’s Nephew while Douglas Gresham (co-producer, Lewis’ stepson) favors The Silver Chair. Here is a clip from World Magazine‘s interview with Micheal Flaherty:
Q: So, with revenue going down and production costs remaining high, so what’s next for the Narnia movie series?
MF: There are multiple opinions on all this and a lot of different players: The C.S. Lewis estate, the studio, our company—and we’re not all of one mind. I would love to find a way where the economics work, acknowledging the decline. I’d like to do The Magician’s Nephew. Other people want to do The Silver Chair, and there’s disagreement about the economics and the overall vision of where the franchise should go next. My hope is that we may all become of one mind, but unless something providential happens there, I’m focusing on a number of other stories.Q: So, at this moment, no deal?
MF: Nope.
Flaherty talks more about Narnia in the full interview.
Back in May, Douglas Gresham indicated there is a seven-year moratorium on producing any Narnia films outside of Walden Media. He also wants to make The Silver Chair next as an independent film.
If I'm the one who in charge to choose the director, Matthew Vaughn was my 1st choice. I know not everyone is going to agree.
No, I haven't signed anything. And I don't have any LOTR fanstuff. 🙂
I agree; you're correct! I'll add that I was disappointed when they put a hint of SC in VDT (the Green Mist).
I understand your opinion of these directors, but I don't think they'll do for Narnia if they're not fans. And I agree with the last paragraph of your 2nd-to-the-last post. 😀
Typo: He died in 1963
Thanks 😀 Hmmm…that's weird…
You made this? Wow! It was great; I loved it! 🙂 It felt so epic. I suddenly realized how thrilling the chronicles was when great scenes were put together successively…along with the soundtrack. 😛
K. Taisia, did you see LIFE OF PI's post? He/she is Son of Adam, telling us that s/he changed his/her username to LIFE OF PI. 🙂 I'm not sure if you saw it, just saying.
Actually, right now I think Poulter is getting too old. 🙁
omg they should just do SC cause that's whats continued from TDT right?
Disney and Fox now have did Narnia movies, I would like to see Warner Bros. do Narnia movies, this studio did so many great movie these day, maybe if they do Narnia, they will have David Yates do direct it! Hahaha! He did Harry Potter so successful, right?
If Douglas Gresham decide to do it independently 7 years later, then I hope he go to find Warner Bros., I'll accept the delay if he do this way.
I'm he, that's why my name is Son of Adam, and not Daughter of Eve.
With some makeup, he still fit.
What about David Yates or Alfonso Cuaron, they also did Harry Potter.
Hey, I found I'm the only one who talk about the directors, what is other people's thought, which director are you going to suggest? Don't make me just looks like a stupid guy.
You just enjoy everything without doing anything…. Do you know how many we have sacrifice for making this movie happens? T_T Hahaha! XD
Oh, ok. Well, I didn't want to presume because not everyone's usernames agree with their actual gender. 🙂 But yes, I did think you were male because of "Son of Adam". I hope you're not offended. 😀
About those two you mentioned, I haven't quite heard of them; I didn't watch any Harry Potter movie.
About you're the only one who's talking about directors.. I join you a bit there 🙂 And I don't know what these people are thinking. But to me you don't look like a stupid guy about being the only one who's bringing the topic up. 😛
Yup! XD And you know what? The Hobbit's tomorrow!!!
I would like to see Silver Chair too, especially if they could get Will Poulter. I think they should keep the continuity if possible, and I was really looking forward to seeing Puddleglum (yikes, I almost typed glumPuddle! So used to reading your stuff, glum). However, if a Magician's Nephew movie would save the series, I would be glad to see it. I love MN, and since they've never done a movie of it before, it would be very exciting–provided they don't ruin it by deviating too far from the book, and trying too hard to make it like today's popular action/fantasy movies. All of the movies could be great if the filmmakers tried to follow Lewis's original storylines. Of course, I guess it's hard to agree on what is faithful to the books, and what isn't.
I agree that it's frustrating that they haven't finished the series, though. It seems wrong that Dawn Treader ends with a promise (or almost-promise) that will never be fulfilled. And as I said before, I would really like to see Will Poulter again. I think they filmmakers might be hard-pressed to find someone better than him, and I think it's sad that his personal Narnian journey might be over.
Right now, I'm kind of fed up with the whole business of the Narnia movies, because I think they messed up, blamed their mistakes on movie-goers ("It didn't make money because no one likes Narnia" –No, it didn't make money because it wasn't done properly), and then they dropped the ball. I'm losing hope that any new Narnia movies will be done "right"……..but just give me a smidgen of hope, a hint of a new movie, and I'll rally again, and look forward to it with almost as much excitement as the last ones. I say to the filmmakers, try again, and don't rush it or force it. Don't try to please everyone. Just try to make a great movie–or at least a decent movie–that tells either of SC or MN's great stories. If they just do ONE more movie, and make it a good one, I'll be reasonably happy–though I'll be sad that I never got to see the Horse and His Boy, which I have always wanted to see. :/ We can't have everything.
I'm glad to have some news anyway, even though it's not exactly promising news….at the very least, the filmmakers are still talking about Narnia…a little bit.
No! I didn't see it. Thanks for telling me! 😀
Well…he's supposed to be a bit older in the silver chair. It's been a while since I've read it, so I'm not sure how much older.
About 5 more hours, I'm going to see THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY!! 😀
Then which director do you think is good, who do you know the best.
Yeah, a bit too old he is, but I think still ok if they start doing the movie right now, just do some make-up will still fit, if 7 years later, then I think they need to find new young actor.
😛
Well…right now I can't give an answer, sorry. I can't see any director – among those I know – to do Narnia films.
Actually, I was thinking that – the same way I didn't know of PJ until he directed LOTR – the perfect Narnian Director would be someone I haven't heard of, so I can't make a guess. 🙂
LIFE OF PI and Taisia, goodbye for now! I'm going to see The Hobbit so you won't be hearing from me this afternoon, the next would probably be tonight. Goodbye!!! (Sorry if the timeline confuses you, I'm probably on the other side of the world. 😛 )
I'm back and I saw THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, and I love it more than LIFE OF PI!! Hahahah!! I have never seen something like this before!!
Actually I have a very long review, but I'm not going to post it here, because it have something agaisnt Narnia. 😛
After I saw THE HOBBIT, PETER JACKSON was the only director that I want to direct Narnia!! PJ is perfect!! 😀
Douglas Gresham and Michael Flaherty, I'm sorry because I blame you, hope you won't angry.
But I have to say, please find Peter Jackson to direct Narnia, he is the man who can make a great fantasy film!! THE HOBBIT is something I have never seen before in theatre, I'm going to say one thing which Narnia fans maybe not happy with, it maybe just my 1 person opinion, but it's true feeling of mine.
Those 3 Narnia movies is nothing if compare to THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY!!!
All Narnian, I'm sorry.
But we must have enough luck to hire Peter Jackson, hope he read Narnia and love it, and atleast have good impression to Narnia!
Yup! I'm back too!! And of course we haven't seen anything like this before. I'd say it was Incredible!!! if ever there are words that would/could describe it. 🙂 Watching it was just thrilling, exciting, and fun; especially when you hear and see details that were from the book! 😀
And I'm sad that we have to wait one more year for the next part. When the movie was nearing the end, I thought "Oh no, that's it. It's done! It can't be, but I know it is. And the next part is Dec next year!" Well, it's done; so we wait all over again. 😛
I agree with you; and I understand that you want PJ for Narnia: he's just so great and true to the book! But I still have one issue: Is he a fan of Narnia? If he is, how much? If not, our hopes would probably be dormant and down for some time. He was only able to make Middle-Earth so great because he was a die-hard fanatic.
I wonder, where's Taisia? Has she(I presume based on the username 🙂 ) watched The Hobbit?
you really have a great point. Peter J. to direct Narnia…. hmmmm…. BUT there is a big problem. Maybe (or should I say 'really') he will be very expensive if he'll direct it. And what if the movie flops with his hands? then Narnia will be no more…. Just to say: Andrew Adamson, Steven Speilberg, Peter Jackson are most likely great directors that can save the faith of Narnia….
well, that would really do mean that Narnia 4 will be SC. but because of the box-office problems in the US, the 4th one is not being filmed. I guess, the swords, green mist, white witch, eustace's dragon form (for almost half of the movie), line-up for the islands are not so good in the film. It's better if they removed these and stick to the book and make a REAL cinematic live action film!
please watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIuc9XGX2kM
Ok, if you think PJ is expensive, then Matthew Vaughn was the most suitable for Narnia.
LOTR Trilogy is actually have quite low budget, it was just about 100mil for each movie, and just look at LWW, PC and VDT budget, how much it cost for each movie? LWW is about 200mil I think, and PC is about 250mil and VDT is about 150mil, I'm not sure, I don't remember, but I think it is.
Most movies of these day were all expensive, Matthew Vaughn was the most economic director, and he is a great director, I have never disappointed by his movies, although I have only seen 3 movies of him.
If PJ accept the job, he atleast have very good sense in fantasy movies, I believe Narnia will be so epic!! Just like THE HOBBiT! What about he shoot it in 48fps again!! Hahahah!! 😀 I'm so excited to imagine about this!! I can't wait to see how Aslan will look like if PJ do it!! XD
You know, I have a wet eyes when near the end when Bilbo save Thorin and fight that Pale Orcs, this moment was so so epic, I'm wordless, and the eagles scene…. it's so beautiful!! 🙂 And the Riddle in the Dark, so happy to see Gollum again!! (:
It's great to return to the Middle Earth!! :')
If Peter Jackson do Narnia, I'm going dancing, like Merry and Pippin!! Hahaha!!! XD
And maybe Howard Shore will be the composer for Narnia movie. Hahahahha!! XD
My comment awaiting moderation. 😛
Dear Narniaweb owner, if my comment disturb, just delete it. Sorry! ^!^
Yes! It was so epic and dramatic, but with a touch of fun and lightness in it. That was a Bilbo-Thorin "moment"! When I saw that shot I knew it was climactic and I was afraid the movie was going to end, and it did. :'(
I hope we're not spoiling the ending for some people 😐 There is so much more about the movie that I want to babble about, but of course I can't; not everyone saw it already and this is a Narnia fansite. 😀
If it would be as successful as LOTR and The Hobbit, then I'd go
"Ho! Ho! Ho! To the bottle I go
To heal my heart and drown my woe!" X)
Yes, Farsight-messenger. It'll be my pleasure to watch that; but can you give me some time? I don't think I have one straight hour to sit and watch; I'll watch it part by part. Is that okay? 🙂
I think I have lost control, I'm too excited and happy!! XD You know, I even have a big smile last night when I went to sleep, I can't sleep until late night! XD Many great feeling running in my mind, the feeling is almost like 8 years ago!
Yeah, I know this is Narnia fansite, and there's another reason make me talk about Middle Earth, it's because Tolkien and Lewis was a good friend, so I think it was ok to talk something about Tolkien. XD But I'm sorry if this annoy some others Narnian. XD
And I think I shouldn't use some word like "d**it" or d*mn" Haha! XP
Oh, I don't know what's the name of that song, thanks for telling this! 😀 And I remember there's another song which they sang in Return of the King, when they have won the battle of Helms Deep and way back to Rohan. 😀
Of course it is!
I hope you'll enjoy it when you watch it! 😀
But I think PJ still have other movie project after THE HOBBIT TRILOGY, such as MORTAL ENGNES or TEMERAIRE…. 🙂
It's so difficult to have a GREAT NARNIA MOVIES, so many obstacles for NARNIA movies….
Disney gave up Narnia, Andrew Adamson no more director of Narnia, Fox pick it…. and…. Douglas Gresham want SC, Michael Flaherty want MN, and Gresham want it 7 years later…. and Will Poulter is getting old….. and still no any decision…. or…. maybe they have no more interested in making another Narnia movie…..
Ok, if we can't have PJ or Matthew Vaughn, atleast they should find Andrew Adamson, but I guess Andrew Adamson won't be so happy for the return…. because….
I am one of those who compare him to other directors, I enjoyed PC the most, and I think Andrew Adamson is trying to improve it and make it better than LWW, atleast I can feel that he is a good director, the filmmaker that working hard and try to do the better job was a good filmmaker, even though they have failed to make audiences feel satisfy, and I appreciated what he is done.
So…. I should respect Andrew Adamson. I would love to see him return.
To mixedfiction, Taisia and all Narnians, I think I won't come here for awhile or reply the post.
Actually, there are nothing to talk about now, we are just repeating and talk about the same topic, and answer the same question, and even our answer is still repeating…. with no ends! 😛
So I'll be back if Narniaweb have posting new good news about Narnia movies.
So… see you all again! And hope they will have greenlit the next Narnia movie and start the filming as soon as they could. Hope this is not the end of the Narnia movies franchise. Good luck!!
This year's Christmas was the best Christmas of mine since 2003!! Thank you so much SIR PETER JACKSON and ANG LEE!!
"I'm going on an adventure!!" 😀
And wish you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! 🙂
The silver chair takes place a couple months after VDT. So, he's supposed to be about the same age. Even if they make SC without concern for continuity with VDT (as I think they should), Eustace and Jill's behaviors and responses to situations place them in their pre-teens. The actors have to be 12, maybe 13 tops, or able to pass for that young. Will Poulter already looks like an adult. No amount of make-up can turn him into a 12-year-old.
Aww! I'm so touched. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too!!! 😀
Yeah, we should not be rude. You have a point about the Lewis-Tolkien thing.
And Yes!!! I had many a big smile and many a good laugh while watching, and smiles and laughs more when I went home, where I belong.
Yes, that's right.
He's the most talented (and thus terrifying in his skill level) musician I've ever known! 😉