Would Updating Narnia Be the Worst Idea Ever? | Talking Beasts
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This story is about something that happened to them when they were sent away from London during the war because of the air-raids.
The World War II setting of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe makes it read like a period story today. But, C.S. Lewis published in 1950, just ten years after the story takes place. Many of the book’s first readers clearly remembered the war and would have related to the four children on some level.
Is the 1940s setting absolutely essential to this story? Most NarniaWebbers think so, but at least one isn’t quite sure… Listen to our discussion and then post a comment below!
Read more about the 1990s screenplay that was set in present day and substituted cheeseburgers for Turkish Delight.
Watch the post-show chatter in which the podcasters discuss the exciting/terrifying progress of artificial intelligence.
You folks make a lot of good points on both sides of the debate. I could go through the thoughts I have, but then if someone said, “Jonathan, you must decide, will Gerwig’s Narnia movies be set in the 1940s or the 21st Century?” I would choose the forties. Why? I think the 1940s Britain setting is part of the fairytale quality of the stories. There is some mystery and therefore magic, about the past and their costumes, cars and architecture. It is one step towards fantasy.
On the other hand, after seeing Lady Bird, Gerwig’s Little Women, and Barbie, I am entrusting Narnia to Gerwig and I honestly think she will do a good job. Especially due to her reverence for Lewis and the source material. If she goes for a modern setting, I think it could be done tastefully and respectfully.
It is a weird example that comes to mind, but “Just Like Heaven” with Reece Witherspoon (a ghost romcom) has a 2000s setting but with nice modern clothes with collars and summery semi-formal vibes. That would be the way to go. This would also help the movie not date as quickly. The director of Sleepless in Seattle said she set it in the winter time, because clothes in the winter are a bit more formal and not as casual (and I guess, not bound to fashion trends), because she didn’t want the movie to get dated as quickly.
I am a bit confused by Glumpuddle’s suggestion that you must keep Turkish Delight in the movie, for the sole reason that it’s a pop culture icon. That doesn’t make sense to me. They changed the whole of The Lion King in 2019, and even things like Be Prepared were desecrated, even though it was iconic.