Tilda Swinton and Ben Barnes Talk About VDT
After The Voyage of the Dawn Treader trailer release last week, both Tilda Swinton and Ben Barnes gave a brief mention of it in interviews. Tilda, who was interviewed about her upcoming movie I Am Love, had this to say when asked about her return as the White Witch.
You reprise your role as the White Witch in “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” the third film in the “Narnia” movie series. How long did it take you to film what you do in that movie?
Oh, you know I’m in it? Yes, it’s true.
I know you can’t give away any spoilers, but it’s not a secret that you’re in the movie since you’re shown in the movie’s trailer.
Well, I’m amazed that that they would put [my scene] in the trailer, because I spent less time filming it than I spent speaking to you [in this interview]. [NOTE: This interview was 23 minutes long.]
Meanwhile interviewer Andy Gibbons managed to bump into Ben Barnes on the street and Ben graciously agreed to a short interview about Dawn Treader right then and there.
With the trailer for The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader debuting this week the buzz has really started, it promises to be a big Christmas release….
Yeah, I hope it is. Personally I’m quite excited that it’s going to be 3D. It’s my favourite of the seven books, I think it’s one of the best stories and it’s got some good human characters as well – I think Eustace, who Will Poulter plays brilliantly, is a really funny character. It’s got a lot of the fun magical stuff of the first ones and I’ve got some fun action stuff which is cool. It’s going to be good I think.
You’ve got a new director in Michael Apted – what’s he brought to the movie?
Just a sort of an outside eye and a very human touch really. I think he was as anxious as any of us going in to it. When we first met and spoke he told me how anxious he was about the scale of it but I think he did a great job and I think it’s going to have an interesting flavour to it. Saying that I haven’t seen it yet.
Tilda’s interview can be read in full here. And Ben’s interview can be read in full here.
Thank you so much to everybody who sent these reports in!
If I was an actress, I would always know when the trailer came out,etc. But yeah, I understand, they're really busy,etc. That was funny. "I'm in the trailer?" "Yup"!
Ugh, I really don't like the BBC versions.
Sometimes I check out NarniaWeb like @ 1 am! ;D
At least Ben saw the trailer. The interviewer found Ben near her house! Cooool. 😉
Oooops. I meant to type his house. Grrr.
Let me make this clear once and for all.
LOTGK is a different person from Jadis. Lewis indicated this, the Estate says so, and Lewis scholars all say so.
Tilda is not going to be cast in this role.
The part calls for a young, pretty woman, not a mature striking handsome and slightly scary woman in her 40s!
It is this sort of comment and dogged refusal to listen to reason that caused this topic to be banned from Narniaweb for about five years.
No matter how much you think Tilda would look like a pretty 20-year-old girl, she will not be cast as the LOTGK. She is Jadis and only Jadis.
She's mentioned on Ramandu's Island when they see her knife on the table. But she's not mentioned on the Dark Island. Still, since I was influenced by the Focus on the Family Radio Theater dramatization of the book, I can picture her being a nightmare on the Dark Island quite easily.
Interesting really, I didn't know Tilda Swinton was in it.
narrowmindedness goes both ways you know.
i'm aware of what Lewis and his estate and the scholars said about LOTGK. but i only discovered that WAY AFTER i finished reading all 7 books. unlike many Narnia fans, i have never seen any other audio or live action iteration of the Chronicles of Narnia other than the current films. so you can say that my interpretation of the story is as undilluted as it could possibly be for a book reader. my interpretation of the Narnia tales came from me and me alone. Reading the books i took it that LOTGK was some kind of Jadis/ WW reincarnate, THE malevolent spirit that keeps returning to the world in various forms, which of course follows the Christian allegory (that word again) of Lucifer never giving up on tempting Christ and his followers (to this day).
so i ask you, is my interpretation wrong simply because i understood the story one way and not the way other book readers– or the author– understood/ relayed it? the author tells the tale, it is up to the reader what he/she takes from it, isnt that the golden rule of storytelling?
oh btw, Jadis/WW called for a brunette gigantess of otherworldly beauty. if they went strictly on book description, Tilda Swinton and most of the Narnia actors wouldnt be anywhere near this franchise. something to think about.
i forgot to say, the last time the greater majority burned anyone for adhering to their own beliefs, that person turned into a saint and forced the Catholic Church to issue an apology and a retraction. 😉
the thing is Sammie, *i* took it as LOTGK and WW/Jadis to be the same spirit, if not necessarily the same form. and i read the books solo, no outside influences, no cliffnotes, no forums, no fellow fans, nothing, not even Lewis' later writings about it. i learned about all of that afterwards. and i go back to reading the stories, and i understand everybody else's interpretation, but i can still see how i arrived at my own interpretation. if i as a book reader can come up with a different interpretation from other book readers, how much more an assembly of artists who has their own take on things? see what i mean?
Woohoo! I now got an avatar on my comment box! (thanks to Tirian, & gravatar.com)
I certainly hope there ARE lots of dragon scenes!!! There should be, with all the latest technologies in film-making these days! I can hardly wait till December!!! I totally loved the last movie; but then again, Ben Barnes is a total hunk. 'Can't wait for the movie to come out. I'll be anxiously waiting and pondering on the actual scenes based on the book itself.
My thoughts exactly.
I know, right. At first I was kinda worried that they were going to completely change the whole plot of the story, but now I realize that that's not what they had in mind.
Curious to me is how they continue to re-insert the White Witch into the series, however short the cameos. As a storyteller, that's tension you're building up there, which may create a lot of expectation for her actual return to Narnia. Although of course her younger self is in Magician's Nephew, will they treat her as a Voldemort, as the true threat which will someday return? and swap out other villains (Green Kirtle, Tash) in the series for her? I am hoping not, but more so I hope they're conscious of the effect all these cameos have.
A thirth narnia movie? 😮 jeez, where have I been..
Trufflehunter said: "Without changes, and more eye-appealing shots, the series won’t attract any more attention."
*sigh*
I think it is so sad that what is considered a 'good' movie is the movie with nonstop action, fighting and "eye-appealing" shots while a movie is considered 'boring' often because it has too much extensive character development and dialogue with little blood and gore.(Obviously this is not always everyone's opinion, but with the majority of people today, it is. I mean, what movies make all the money?) Why can't the two be combined? Is it so impossible? Why can't you have a movie with interesting and intelligent dialogue, beautiful filming, and some action and suspense? Especially for a movie based on Narnia, which potentially all of those things!!!
That's funny. I get tired of the overuse of that word too.
But actually…I looked it up. I think it does apply to Narnia 🙂 :
"1. a long narraitve poem that tells the adventures and achievements of one or more great heroes, written in a dignified, majestic style, and often giving expression to the ideals of a nation or race."
Love your name!
Somewhere not as cool at Narniaweb!!
Hehe, I was just joking 😉
I've been following the films since film nr 1 😉
What I'M freaking about, is the fourth HUMAN figure that is on the rowboat while they're going to the end of the world, that has a hairdo that suspiciously looks a lot like Ben's!!!!! *sigh* Sadly, I can't tell who it is cause you can't see his (or her??) face. I soooo hope that Caspian stays on the boat where he belongs, and doesn't go along riding rowboats to the end of the world. Other than that, I can't wait to see the movie.
you are kidding me? that does sort make scenes a lot! i have been watching the two films and cant wait for the third film
Lets just hope she doesnt appear somehow in HHB!
If only the actors moved where I live, i would really filp out!
couldn't agree more with the comment/s you gave. I just hope it's gonna be a blast even from the start of the movie.
Yeah, every time I visit LA, California, I am like "pleas oh please let me or my cousins bump into a celebrity, please oh please! Though once I got my picture taken with a 3 star Michelin chef… 😉
I read the whole series twice w/ no outside influence as well. I never saw the White Witch, the Lady of the Green Kirtle, or Tash as the same person. Certainly, they all shared the same evil nature and hatred of the books' heroes and heroines, but that is where the similarities end. I would be quite upset if Tilda played LGK and/or Tash simply b/c she's "high caliber." Don't get me wrong, she's been fantastic in her current role, but I think LGK and Tash are two separate characters all together and deserve separate actors/actresses to bring out their individual uniqueness. Too bad C.S.Lewis isn't here to help with the movies- they would be truly spectacular then! 😉
There is such a movie with almost equal amounts of character development and action, though I admit it is rare. I understand your distress, but it would only be foolish to deny reality, not everyone will appreciate the greatness of a good character development and a beautiful, breathtaking story, not everyone is really into the beauty that comes with literature like we are with Narnia, thus movies must be made to attract the general population, which generally consist of action-thirsty movie goers who'd rather watch and feel the sudden quick thrill of an action packed film then experience the wonder of a slowly, beautifully unwinding story.
Ahh, run on sentence. Sorry :/
So true.
My thought was that Caspian was with them just to row the boat back or something like that. I don't think they would ever have him go to the end of the world with them. Keep the story of Aslan alive.
They wont do that. They will just have her play the Lady of Green Kirtle and Tash 🙂 Im suprised they didn't have her play miraz 😉
I want to hear what Andrew Adamson would say, as he is one of the producer of VDT.
Below is an artcle from other page.
"Voyage of the Dawn Treader Trailer (and Some Thoughts on the Narnia Series) "
Technically this arrived about 10 days ago, and I myself watched it a week ago, but clearly I'm not here to premiere trailers. No, I am here to discuss movies. Based on the 3rd Chronicles of Narnia book (and yes, in the original publishing order, it was the third book but more on that later), Voyage of the Dawn Treader picks up shortly after the events of Prince Caspian where the two younger Pevensie children (alone with their cousin, Eustace) are once again whisked off to the land of Narnia in order to help during a time of great need.
Voyage of the Dawn Treader marks some switch ups in the Narnia movie series. This is the first film to not be produced by Disney and to not be directed by Andrew Adamson. Why did Disney leave? Well, though Prince Caspian made near double its budget at the box office, it made about half as much as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Disney wanted to cut the budget of the third movie down to less than half of Caspian. Disagreements were had, Disney left, and we have a movie being produced by Fox.
Initial thoughts: am I the only one who thinks this movie looks cheaper (and a bit cheesier) than the previous two films? I realize the budget is probably a bit less than the previous, but to me its more than just the quality of the effects. I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe its the set pieces that look a little too unrealistic. Also, it just seems a bit dull for a trailer. I've seen many a boring movie that have had really exciting trailers. I can't say I've seen a whole lot of exciting movies that had boring trailers.
Its been made known that some people had a problem with Prince Caspian's "darker nature". I didn't; I thought it made the movie stronger and helped contrast the difference between our world and Narnia. The main characters may be just children in the real world, but in Narnia they are much more (and people shouldn't forget that the Pevensies have lived to be adults and back to children). I realize a sizable chunk of the audience is children, but these books have been around since the 40's so much of the audience is older. I'm simply hoping this movie doesn't become too "kiddie". If only everyone could balance a movie for all ages like Pixar .
I'll be honest, I don't remember the story of The Dawn Treader that well (its been years since I read it), but I do very clearly remember the Silver Chair and The Last Battle, and let me say, dark and scary things aren't going to be avoidable without compromising the stories and themes of those books. I would imagine if this movie does well, those two books will be adapted. What I'm not so sure on is whether or not they will adapt the Magician's Nephew and The Horse and His Boy. I'm fairly amazed by all the comments on youtube of people saying they clearly aren't going to do all the books since they skipped the first and the third books (then again, I shouldn't ever be surprised by stupid comments made on youtube).
You see folks, the Narnia series was published for a while in the order the books originally came out. This would be why the Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is the most popular of the books: because it was the first of the series. Also, if you go and actually read the books, you should be able to notice that Wardrobe is written in an introductory style whereas The Magician's Nephew is written to a reader who is familiar with the Narnia series. As for the current arrangement being a "chronological order" that isn't exactly true. The Horse and His Boy actually takes place during the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, not after. When set as the third book of the series, all it does is interrupt the transition to Prince Caspian which is a direct continuation of Wardrobe (so why they thought was a good idea is completely beyond me).
Regardless, both The Magician's Nephew and The Horse and His Boy are side-stories so they aren't guaranteed to be adapted. However, The Magician's Nephew does fill in a lot of information about the series (as opposed to ruin a lot of surprises when its placed first in the series), so it would be nice to see it made. Its story would also work very well as a movie with its dimension hoping and world seeing. As for The Horse and His Boy, how could you do every book but one? You can't. So if they are going to make the rest of the books, they might as well make The Horse and His Boy (but if they don't, I suppose I wouldn't lose sleep over it).
As with all trailers, we are left to wait and see. Despite my doubts, I will most certainly be seeing this movie right away. I grew up on the Narnia books and have enjoyed the movies thus far. Also, there is one thing that keeps my faith ever strong, and that is the Harry Potter movie franchise. Let me explain. It was in the third Potter film that the series found its own identity on screen and become dependent from the books it was based off. The Narnia series has been decent on screen but has struggled to truly find its identity (instead kind of cradling a Lord of the Rings vibe with a bit of the first two Potter films). Like Narnia, the third Potter filmed marked a director switch from the previous two. Maybe a little new blood is all the series needs to find its feet and become not just an adaption of a book series, but a good movie franchise in its own right.
So basically modern movie-goers are ADD-ridden illiterates who's limited attention spans can't sustain interest in a movie that doesn't have an explosion or fight scene every couple of minutes? Wow, no wonder Michael Bay makes so much money.
When the author, the books, and the estate all makes it clear that two characters are not the same person, then yes, your opinion is wrong. And WW=Tash? Seriously? o_O
okay, i really like Andrew Adamson as the director. i wonder if the change will affect the quality of the movie? :/ hopefully not.
totally agree!
I think the movie sounds really good! I am only puzzled about one thing. Why is Tilda Swinton in the movie as the White Witch, when the white witch is not even in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader?
I agree completely with elanor and Bookwyrm. Also, I see no reason why the readers should ALWAYS have to be the ones to give up what's important to them. There is enough in this series to captivate anyone with half a brain, no changes needed. So just for once, can't the ADD/gore-obessed crowd be "realistic" and put up with some character development, elevated vocabulary and an actual plot? Surely it's their turn to compromise. I wish the filmakers were intelligent enough to try such a gamble and watch the box office receipts explode (because they would).
Yesterday I asked my 7 year old son what his favorite book was, and he said "I don't know…". I said "What about The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis?" He said "No, I liked the movie better." I completely understood, I adored it too. I'm just saying.
Haha, I actually drove past Jay Leno on the highway in LA. It was pretty awesome. But he didn't wave back to me when I said hey. 🙁
Are they not going to make the 4th movie? I think it would be cool to se the last two books be made into a movie.
For me so fare my favorite was prince caspian you should not ador it. 🙂
lOOK THE MOVIE DOES NOT HAVE NOTHING OF HARRYPOTTER OR LORD OF THE RING ONLY THE CREATERS LOOK ALIKE BUT REALLY IF YOU PUT ATTENTION ON THE BOOKS THEY HAVE CHRISTIAN MEANINGS LIKE THE LION THE WITCH AND THE WORDROB ASLAN DIES FOR EDMUND JUST LIKE Jesus Christ DIE FOR US. 🙂