Submit Questions to Joe Johnston, The Silver Chair Director
Joe Johnston, director of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair, is taking your questions! Post them in the comments section below or on Joe’s Facebook page. Joe will record a video response at a later date. (UPDATE: Please include your real first name and location)
Joe is pretty active on social media and already has quite a following due to his work on Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park III, and Captain America. View Joe’s YouTube channel and website.
UPDATE: Now accepting video questions! Upload them to YouTube (public or unlisted) and post the link in the comments below or on Joe’s Facebook page.
UPDATE: No longer accepting questions.
Are you going to pace Silver Chair the same as you did in October Sky, an excellent film?
What rating will this film have, PG, PG-13 etc. ?
I honestly feel that a PG rating can hold back a film from staying close to the book (i.e. Voyage of the Dawn Treader) but a PG rating worked REALLY well for Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
Daniel Kuehn, Albuquerque, New Mexico,
I have a couple questions:
1) Is there still a way to bring back Will Poulter? I feel that if the script is written in a way that it's unclear how long it has been since VDT, then I think Will could pull it off. Adults have played teens in films in the past before, so I don't think it would be a stretch.
2) If Will can't come back, could Ben Barnes, Peter Dinklage, and Liam Neeson come back? I feel that a total reboot will not help with the promotion of the film, since people only familiar with the films might be confused, and a reboot might lose those fans and hurt the box office revenue. There are some fans, including myself, who are fans of the films first and foremost and want to see these actors return. Besides, there characters wouldn't be on screen for a long time, at least based on their appearances in the book.
3) Who will be doing the music and will there be any themes from the previous films? Even though David Arnold replaced Harry Gregson-Williams for VDT, he still managed to maintain the main theme for three instances in the film, helping to maintain a sense of continuity that other franchises are known for. It might be difficult, but I feel that repeating this for The Silver Chair will help appeal with fans of the films as well as fans of the books.
4) VDT seems to imply that there is a connection between the Green Mist and the Lady of the Green Kirtle. Will The Silver Chair address this?
5) The first three films did a good job of retaining most of the Christian messages and values of the books while also expanding on them and addressing themes and lessons on their own that were not in the book, such as the raid on Miraz's castle emphasizing the importance of waiting on God in Prince Caspian. How will you continue this trend with The Silver Chair?
Thank you and good luck with filming.
-Tivoli from Tampa
Please create this film like the BOOK! Thank You!
Translation for Luis Alfonso: when will casting begin?
Aslan is the connective tissue throughout the chronicles. How will you reflect the importance of Aslan in the film? How will you keep him at the heart of the story?
David Kelly, alabama
I sure hope your questions get answered!
My questions are:
1. What's the budget???!!!
2. Who will the composer be?
3. Will Liam Neeson voice Aslan?
Tim (Chicago, Il)
How much of the Narnia world do you plan on being practically realized? Will you be collaborating with Shelly Johnson again? Also, what is happening with Lumen? Will there at least be a DVD release of the pilot you shot in the near future or will it just sit in a vault for eternity?
– Justin Thormann (Noblesville, Indiana)
1. Will any of the previous actors be making cameos/re-living their roles?
2. When will casting begin, and are you accepting taped auditions?
3. How "dark" are you planning to make the movie?
4. How many of the characters will be CGI, and how many will be real actors in make-up?
5. Are you going use past productions of the Silver Chair, like the BBC mini-series, for references?
Five questions should be good enough. Thank you for directing!
~Liesa from Milwaukee
What is it about the story, The Silver Chair, that made you want to take on the project?
Andrew Harmon, Kalamazoo MI
Is there one specific thing you wish to accomplish with The Silver Chair and, if so, what is it?
What do you see as Jill Pole's and Eustace's character centers that you want the movie to portray? Thank you!
– Elizabeth (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Hi! Narnia'a been a huge part of my life since I was able to read, so my questions are:
A. How do you see this film differing from the previous films created (Including the BBC versions and the Disney/Walden Media versions)?
B. Who's going to be the casting director and how can we (the fans) attempt to be in the film?
-Victoria V., South Carolina
Have you ever kept in touch with actors you worked with on previous movies and what advice would you give to people wanting to be a filmmaker?
How deep do you dig Narnia? (Tonga, South Pacific)
Hi Joe. I've been a fan of your movies since I was a kid (and still am). Thanks for the good memories and welcome to Narnia!
My question is:
1 Do you plan on combining CG with practical effects, animatronics or even miniatures in The Silver Chair? And in your opinion is that style of film making feasible anymore (from a financial perspective)?
Thanks! From Nicholai in New Zealand.
It was announced that original casts will not reprise the roles because age difference.well that makes sense for the children but what about aslan?.. to help audience understand this is not a reboot it will be easier to transition to the new cast with liam neeson reprising his epic voice… Q will the owls be motion capture or practical effects?….Q the giants be motion capture or forced perspective? FINAL QUESTION if there is a last battle or horse and his boy the pevensies family are grown ups in their stories. it would be possible to use the original casts?
Before i start to ask anithing, i would like to thanks you to bring Narnia back on screen again !
Narnia Books was my medecine after my mom' s death and the silver chair is one of my favorite.
I would like to know how would you see the film's atmosphère ?
Me, i see a darker version of the book with a terrible underground land, …
Who would you see as eustache to re take the poulter' s role ?
Thanks a a lot !
Sorry for my bad english 🙁
Jonathan Minsart-Belgium
Looking at your work it looks like you don't use the same composer for every movie, it would be awesome if you could get Harry Gregson-Williams to do the score for The Silver Chair. What are your plans for the music?
Luke (British Columbia, Canada)
Will the Narnia reboot be a "mild reboot"? Can we recognize characters or is everything new?
Armin W. Arndt, Fuerth, Germany
Would you consider returning as director for the next Narnia films?
Emily G. (Boston, MA)
Many fans feel that the last two Narnia movies altered core elements of the books, to the detriment of the movies..what are your thoughts, and how will you adapt the book for the screen while staying true to the spirit of the story?
Are you interested in staying as close to the book as possible, as one of the previous Narnia directors, Andrew Adamston was? Or do you feel that you want to have more liberty with changing different aspects of the book?
Also, how long have you been a fan of the Narnia stories?
West Virgina
Hi!!
1. Would Narnia Silver Chair bring back its theme song and narnian folky songs more often for this movie?( coz in dawn treader, i felt like they didn't use the theme song that much and a folky tune like Mr Tumnus' lullaby)
2. Unlike the previous movies, would narnia silver chair get a video resolution like the wardrobe and caspian movie? ( Dawn treader had a different video resolution from the 1st and 2nd movie, which quite low spirited me, yet i liked the story)
3. Will this movie be enjoyable for both kids and adults and a bit dark story ( not much tho )?
4. Any plans of making a cameo for the White witch?
5. Will it showdetailled backgrounds and also showing the beauty of nature like narnia 1, and 2?
Abey From India
I agree with Chris, the last 2 movies are bad because they strayed from C.S. Lewis story. Please stick as closely to the book as possible (I beg you!). I know a lot of people want to see Narnia films true the books CS Lewis wrote and not a twisted Hollywood version. I love Puddleglum, he's my favorite Narnia character. Don't change his character one bit. Please.
I think that CGI characters make a movie look and feel fake, which, in my opinion, is a main reason why the Star Wars prequel trilogy and the Hobbit movies were far worse than their original trilogies (even Princess Leia and Tarkin from Rogue 1 looked fake). In fact, I think the only CGI Characters that ever looked good are Gollum and Smaug. Can you please have the Narnian creatures be real actors with costumes instead of lousy looking motion capture/CGI? I think the previous Narnia films have done a good job with this so far.
Also, Can you please have Hans Zimmer do the score for this? he's the best in the biz, and I love all of his scores. Thanks a lot for helping bring Narnia back to film.
Yeah too much characters make it kinda fake. Narnia 1 and 2 did good with their CGI characters coz CGI is involved just a few times (like for aslan, water man, reepicheep, and tilda), and others had spectaular costumes, which makes them more radiant. But in narnia 3, it was quite too much CGI. I hope this movie captures our hearts like the previous movies 🙂
coorection : too much CGI characters
It was announced that original casts will not reprise the roles because age difference.well that makes sense for the children but what about aslan?.. to help audience understand this is not a reboot it will be easier to transition to the new cast with liam neeson reprising his epic voice… Q will the owls be motion capture or practical effects?….Q the giants be motion capture or forced perspective? FINAL QUESTION if there is a last battle or horse and his boy the pevensies family are grown ups in their stories. it would be possible to use the original casts?
My concern if Aslan's parts will be presented justly this time.
I'm concern about Aslan's part if will be justly executed.
Andrea and Christian Bale are hoping to be cast for the Silver Chair movie in pre-production.
Hey Joe Johnston 🙂 Here is my question…
https://youtu.be/nXy1QPt7aYE
Ján Vendelín Ficik (Slovakia)
Before you decided to direct this book Did you read it or its the first time when you experienced this story?
And who is your favourite character?
Russia, Saint-Petersburg
Do you think that you will be holding open auditions for the new Narnia movie ?
I am so excited to see it!!!
I can't believe this is the first question asking him who is favorite character is…
Hope Joe answers this one!
Joe, might you do the Silver Chair movie in a 3 hours format?
I think 3 is better than 2 for an experience of the world of Narnia.
-Tonga, South Pacific.
Joe – PLEASE!
1) Will you bring us a better Aslan with longer, faithful, and deeper sense as in the book; with the shots too, his eyes, his facial expression, his turns, his movements, and angles to the camera; his voice to be deeper, richer and stronger than any cast; and finally will you bring all Aslan part in the book – After all, above all characters, he's the one we always want not to be neglect.
2) Will you dedicate to find and shot in the best locations as possible as you vision the landscapes of the story? Will you persuade us with colors in every different settings, in following both tone and mood? Joe, will you also add something 'whatever' special you have to made the background as thrillingly, magically, sacredly, fiercely and mythological as it should be?
3) Will you make every character shine with their roles, from minors to majors? Will you make their interaction and inter-dialogue believable?
4) In the story or script there are certain parts that need to be extra special than the others, like retelling past events, or explaining the signs, or Aslan doing some magical works, or a dream, or the psychology of Puddleglum, etc. You will know them. Will you heed them with special attention?
Hi Joe!
Will casting be handled via agent submissions only, or will submissions be accepted from experienced laypeople as well? Thanks!
Pevensy kids aren't in this one
I see Jill and distance as about 12 but I think they are 9 in the book. Any thoughts about that?
How will you balance the two, often contradictory, elements associated with the Chronicles of Narnia? That is, they are children's fiction, but often deal with mature themes. How will you preserve the emotional depth of the book while ensuring the film remains "appropriate" according to contemporary film ratings? Would you venture to make this film rated PG-13 if it meant preserving that emotional depth? Or do you feel that would be unnecessary, even at this early stage?
P.S. Sir, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking on this film. The chance to see this story brought to life in a visual medium by someone who cares about it is truly priceless.
I am curious to know who would be cast as Puddleglum (His character in the BBC radio drama version was awesome). Will you be strictly following the format of the book or will there be some major changes? Looking forward to the movie. All the very best!!!!
Janet(Shillong)
Will the characterisation of the Lady of the Green Kirtle be strongly different from the previous three movies' characterisation of the White Witch?
(Wagga from New South Wales, Australia)
Hi!
I was wondering if there will be open auditions for the cast and if it will be ethnicity specified it would be really cool to see more diversity of course I understand being truthful to the book but I think adding diversity will be amazing
Hi Joe how come you guys film the silver chair after voyage of the dawn treader?
Joe, might you do the Silver Chair movie in a 3 hours format?
I think 3 is better than 2, you know just to capture the juice-experience of story.
-Tonga, South Pacific.
He said "in the movies coming next." I would imagine he's referring to the fact that Skandar and Anna won't return for HHB (Lucy's role isn't big enough to worry about), and Tilda won't return for MN.
Actually, Puddleglum has a dark brown skin tone in the book.
I'm not Joe Johnston by the way, I'm just another fan piggy-backing on your question.
Will you be auditioning both inside and outside of the UK?
I have always wanted to play a part in this film. Please, oh, please, could you tell me how to audition?