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.

Discuss!

427 Responses

  1. Douglas Gresham was not a real producer on the film. (I believe he was written down as an executive producer, which is a title often given to investors who never set foot on a film set) I've seen all the behind the scenes footage – he was just an on-set advisor. They had other producers all over the place who did the heavy work.

    I think that knowing C. S. Lewis personally as a child is irrelevant. He was under 20 when Lewis died.

  2. Ash says:

    Trailer? there is no trailer if I'm right..

  3. Taisia says:

    Yes! They did mess the Voyage of the Dawn Treader up a bit :-/ Sadly…

  4. Bilbo Baggins says:

    If the silver chair is made don't tie the white witch or the green mist into it at all in fact let's all just forget the dawn treader movie ever happened. I personally want to see dawn treader made next (what do you mean dawn treader was all ready made? No that was not a narnia movie, that was a shipwreck of a film about a voyage with a hole filled plot) think about it , we all want all the books to be made but not if its a horrible movie, especially if its of one of the best books of the series. I never thought a pc film would be better than the vdt film

  5. Bilbo Baggins says:

    Wait but voyages worldwide total was only 3 or 4 mill. away from pc, they should be more concerned about making a good adaptation to make narnia fans want to see the movie instead of making a movie that makes narnia fans want to break there t.v.

  6. Bilbo Baggins says:

    Its not american narnia fans falt they didn't want to spend good money to see a horrible film

  7. Bilbo Baggins says:

    I don't think they will reboot considering gresham wants to have all the books made into movies before he dies. I think they will do want incredible hulk did where it picked of in India where the first film ended but could be seen as reboot/sequel or like tron legacy. And if they do that all the actors will be old enough to play the older versions of themselves in horse and his boy, if they get that far and make it at the same standard as lww

  8. Mirko says:

    Is a shame. Narnia must go on…they can not lock now.
    2018? oh my god…can not be true

  9. GlimGlum says:

    Time will tell which remaining book will be the actual one to be made into a big screen movie. Let's hope the next film version will be worth the long wait. 🙂

  10. Farsight-messenger says:

    I made a "new" video of The Best scenes of Narnia…..
    Please watch it Narnians! This is due to: 1) the video was too long, 2) And the video had many problems. For this reason, I shortened the video

    Please watch it Narnians!

    "Return to the Magical World of Narnia!"

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZc1SUvlybc

  11. mixedfiction says:

    Yeah. Well, that's that. 🙂

  12. mixedfiction says:

    Wait, will be downloading it… 🙂

  13. Farsight-messenger says:

    Thanks mixedfiction! hope you'll enjoy it!

  14. Just Queen, not High Queen says:

    Will Poulter turns 20 today. In The Silver Chair, Eustace is only 9 years old. Just another sign that they need to hurry up and make Silver Chair NOW!!!! Time is running out.

  15. FOR NARNIA says:

    WHY DON'T THEY MAKE BOTH MOVIES AT THE SAME TIME START WITH THE Silver Chair AND END IT WITH The Magician’s Nephew IM SURE US NARNIA FANS WON'T MIND WATCHING NARNIA FOR A FEW HOURS LOL

  16. mixedfiction says:

    Really? Eustace was just 9? Well, my memory isn't that good, but isn't he early teens or something?

  17. Farsight-messenger says:

    yes. in the book, there's no year passed in Earth. after some months after their voyage, Eustace was called back in The Silver Chair.

  18. Farsight-messenger says:

    hey mixedfiction….
    have you watched The Best scenes of Narnia? any reviews about the video?
    Hope you've enjoyed it!

  19. Farsight-messenger says:

    wait a minute. This all means that Flaherty or Walden Media is the different among all others. He wants to make MN, Gresham and C.S.L. Estate wants SC. come on Walden, Narnia franchise is your best and top grossing movies that made a great hit! don't even ruin the story. come on. just start SC if that's the majority.

    look, it's been 2 years since the release of VDT. Now, there's no production for the fourth? please do start Narnia 4.

  20. Just Queen, not High Queen says:

    I totally agree! I have thought from the beginning that they should make a compromise and simply film both at the same time. That way, with two films back to back, the releases would receive a lot more publicity and thus do much better at the box office.

  21. mixedfiction says:

    Wait, haven't finished it yet. Sorry; I've been very busy these past days. 🙁 I'll find time and tell you what I think about it, you may expect my reply this weekend (hopefully & probably). 😛

  22. Farsight-messenger says:

    no worries. take your time and just tell me your review. I'll be really fascinated for your review. 🙂

  23. FOR NARNIA says:

    Walden media needs to step up their game. I can't believe its taking this long for them to compromise. Like i said before film both at the same time also make them right don't change everything like the last 3 movies Walden media left so much out of p.c. that it got me mad. BBC in 1988 even made their films like the books they didn't change anything.So step it Up!! Walden media

  24. FOR NARNIA says:

    THANK YOU

  25. narniahannah says:

    Well, that's kinda sad. Though, I am not even sure I want them to touch Narnia anymore, since they really screwed up the last two. I was looking forward to seeing more of Will Poulter as Eustace. He was pretty much the only saving part of Voyage. But now that they've taken so long… 🙁 But maybe 'tis for the better.

  26. Yerdif says:

    In the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Eustace is 11 years old, Lucy is 12 and Edmund is 14. In the Silver Chair, Eustace is 11 or 12, depending on when his birthday is since only a few months pass on Earth, and Jill is presumably the same age. In The Last battle, Eustace and Jill are both 17, since about six years pass on Earth (I know this because Lucy is out of school in LB).

  27. February says:

    Sayonara, Kamisama.

  28. mixedfiction says:

    Hey, I watched it already! Sorry I'm a bit late. 🙁 I loved it very much! I like this video better because it's shorter, simpler, and to the point; I was quite surprised with the text part in your other video, and I think it's better for the flow now that it was left out. I favor how the core of the best scenes was showed in the right pace with the title and which movie it came from. 🙂
    I still agree that the best scene of the trilogy is "Aslan's Country", it's also my favorite. But my next favorite (I think) is "Eustace Un-dragoned"

    By the way, how's your reading The Hobbit? 😀

  29. mixedfiction says:

    Hehe, I got "Sayonara". I'm not Japanese, though.

  30. mixedfiction says:

    @Yerdif, that makes more sense. And my memory's closer to that. Thanks!

  31. mixedfiction says:

    Now it's really too late. Will Poulter's 20 already and they haven't got a clue on the next film! (Unless they're hiding something for everyone's surprise, but I doubt that.) I really had my hopes in him because he was such a great actor, and he portrayed Eustace perfectly. He made VDT kindle hope in me, and he almost opened the door towards SC and the other books. They really should have made SC sooner, all the more because Jill Pole already had an intro in VDT's last scene, but – sadly – they didn't. The only thing I can see left to do is a reboot. Either of the cast (if they intend to continue SC, MN, HHB, & LB now) or of the whole chronicles.

  32. Farsight-messenger says:

    Thank you very much for appreciating it mixedfition! I'm really glad that you've nejoyed my video. I also love the scene of Eustace un-dragoned. It's in ninth place in my video right? and it's still in my top ten most fav scenes!

    as for the Hobbit, I'm not yet reading it due to the fact that I'm still reading C.S. Lewis' Miraceles.

  33. Farsight-messenger says:

    I DON'T like a reboot for Narnia's franchise. Just take a look on Spiderman franchise which they did a reboot. The Amazing Spiderman was the lowest in the box-office of Spidey's franchise. Also, Douglas Gresham wants to do The Silver Chair next and continue the series. Look, all their ages are now good for their roles (except will poulter). All Pevensies are adults in HHB as well as in LB.

    No reboots…. And I want to see The Silver Chair next and Walden Media really need to respect Gresham's decision and the movie's story must follow the book's…..

  34. mixedfiction says:

    You're welcome! Am I right that you've read The Hobbit already but you want to read it again before watching it? Or you haven't read it at all?

  35. mixedfiction says:

    Well, I didn't say I wanted a reboot; that's only a possibility. Actually, I want them to make SC with Poulter as Eustace and cast new people who are aged up to match him. Gresham should announce the final decision of making SC next. And you're right, the Pevensies' ages are on time, but wouldn't that make a conflict in the movies because they were aged up?

    About The Amazing Spiderman, I think it was lowest in box-office of Spidey because people were left scalded by Maguire's Spiderman 3. But the movie (Garfield's Spiderman) was great, I loved it; I think it was better than Maguire's.

  36. Farsight-messenger says:

    Gresham should have the final say. And as for age problems, a little make up and effects will really do! and yes, I want SC to be Narnia 4. I wish that this feb or march, they will release Narnia movie news and I hope Walden will respect Gresham's decision. 😀

  37. Farsight-messenger says:

    Not yet read it but I have a little knowledge about the story. 🙂

  38. mixedfiction says:

    Oh, okay! Cool!

  39. mixedfiction says:

    Well, I hope so too. But we'll see, won't we…? 😉

  40. Farsight-messenger says:

    just like what mr. Tumnus said: "We'll see Him again." Lucy: "When?" Tumnus: "In time, one day He'll be here and next He won't." Just like Aslan, we'll see Narnia in the big screen again. 😀

  41. For narnia says:

    I must say the only good thing about this long wait, is When they get to make the horse and his boy William Moseley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell and Georgie Henley will be older and they can play the older Pevensies since the book says the Pevensies are grown up

  42. Ash says:

    Yes , you're right I think that too. It would be good put them all in the same movie again.

  43. mixedfiction says:

    Yes, it'll revive the fun and nostalgia of the past.

  44. Mara says:

    This is what I've always hoped for. James McAvoy could also return as Mr. Tumnus!

  45. For Narnia says:

    Did anybody see how old William Moseley looks now it would be real good for him to come back to play peter again in the horse and his boy. come on lets do this already Walden media!!!!

  46. JJ says:

    They should recast Eustace and for the other characters there is no problem (since the Pevensies are all in their 20's during Horse and His Boy and Last Battle). I know Poulter did a great job, but recasting happens a lot in franchises (like Richard Harris and Michael Gambon both played Dumbledore).
    For the next films they should leave the Pevensie trilogy alone and do Silver Chair and make it a fresh start, while only briefly mentioning the other adventures in Narnia (first 3 movies). After Silver Chair it doesn't matter as much which movie comes next.

  47. dust says:

    I would hope that a movie independently done with Douglas Gresham fully in charge would result in greater faithfulness to the books, but I'm not so sure it would. I'm quite sure i read interviews with Gresham stating he went to battle with the producers over things he felt must be in the movies and things he felt must be left out out of the movies, especially where theology was concerned. I also think I remember him saying that he was happy with the green smoke story line of vdt ( which, to me, was an atrocity that, along with other problems, ruined the movie, spoiling a fantastic portrayal of Eustace by Will Poulter). Maybe if Gresham was truly at the helm, he wouldn't be trying to decide what he can and can't live with and would be free to make the books into film as they are, but I have a lot of doubt about that. The thing is, there is no reason not to, at this point. Technology has advanced to a place where there really are no limitations to what can be depicted on the screen, so somebody, anybody, JUST MAKE THE BOOKS. Try it please, just for once.

  48. dust says:

    Sadly, I agree with all of this. It's just frustrating because I don't think this situation would have taken place if they hadn't made such messes of the last 2 films.

  49. mixedfiction says:

    If Silver Chair was to be done/made at present, who do you guys think should be cast as Jill Pole? My personal opinion is that Steinfeld might be a good hit. (Just an option)

  50. narniafan16 says:

    I think they should reboot the second part of the narnia movies. It's pretty much impossible to continue them with all the pevensies grown up now right? 🙁 oh well. BUt yeah I agree with whoever said that it's possible to do horse and his boy with all of them in their 20's.

  51. narniafan16 says:

    I really hope I can play jill pole though haha

  52. narniafan16 says:

    ikr haha

  53. Kell says:

    Amen!

  54. mixedfiction says:

    You're an actress?! ;D Have you appeared in any Narnian franchise?

  55. Yerdif says:

    If they would hurry up and do Silver Chair now, I think with some make-up and effects Will Polter might be able to play Eustace. As for the other characters, the actors' ages are good for HHB and LB, and Polter's age wouldn't matter for LB since Eustace and Jill are six-seven years older in LB. They should do the Silver Chair and The Magician's Nephew at the same time, then Horse and His Boy, and then cap it up with The Last Battle. What do you think?

  56. Farsight-messenger says:

    I am just wondering if Johnny Depp can play as Puddleglum or Uncle Andrew. But in LWW movie companion, Andrew Adamson will play Puddleglum? just thoughts Narnians! btw, will poulter can still play as Eustace, a little make-up will do! Walden Media should really make The Silver Chair next, then The Horse and His Boy, then The Magician's Nephew and The Last Battle or they can make 2 movies and release in the same year! BEFORE 2018, THERE SHOULD BE NARNIA 4 OR ALL THINGS WILL GET WORSE…….

  57. The Doctor says:

    Am I the only one who wants vdt made next? What do you mean they already made vdt? No that was a sub-par fantasy film about swords and mist that happened to have the same name as vdt period exclamation mark

  58. The Doctor says:

    Gresham was not happy with the green mist, the only reason he agreed to it was because they told him that was the only way they would make the movie

  59. Farsight-messenger says:

    actually, Narnia have 3 films:
    The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
    Prince Caspian
    The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
    all are complete films and not in parts! Narnia 4 should be The Silver Chair…. and yes, the reason for the Green Mist in VDT is for the Emerald queen in The Silver Chair.

  60. Farsight-messenger says:

    "It's Official! There's now Narnia 4 and it's going to be released next year! The next Narnia will be The Silver Chair and Will Poulter, Ben Barnes, Peter Dinklage and Liam Neeson will officially return as their respectful character portrayals in film series! The film will be released by Walden Media and Fox 2000!"

    -What will you feel if you heard/read this news? hmmmmm-
    P.S. This is not official, I just want to know your thoughts 🙂

    let's just hope there'll be Narnia 4 earlier than 2018!