This story from Stuff says that work on the film will begin next month in Auckland. Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey said last night that confirmation of the production coming to his region was “the greatest Christmas present this city will ever have”.
More information about the government tax breaks and this about location scouting: “They’ve been looking for forests, for coastal scenes for alpine plateaus and for English countryside.”
This article from Scoop Magazine is a good overview of the Narnia Movie Project by the New Zealand Minister for Industry Development & Progressive Leader, Jim Anderton. This release includes the information that the sound stage work will be based in Auckland, location shooting will be in the South Island, and that Andrew Adamson is currently on vacation and is unavailable for comment. About the movie’s production timeline, the release says “Preparation for the movie will commence in the early new year with shooting scheduled to commence in mid 2004.”
ComingSoon.net has some insider reporting about the movie script and production dates. “It is to be produced by Frozen Lake Productions and will shoot from July to December 2004. Pre-production started in mid October.” Also clears up the confusion over possible name change to “The Hundred Years Winter” – it’s only a working title.
New Zealand’s Dominion Post reports that WETA is already beginning to work on prosthetics for the Narnia movies. WETA makeup artist Gino Acevedo describes the project as another Lord of the Rings “because it’s a huge story – seven books”.
See this exclusive press release from New Zealand Cinema, complete with map.
Lifted from The Z Review, this interview with director Andrew Adamson gives a glimpse into his passion for the Narnia story.
