NarniaWeb has learned that design director Grant Major left the Narnia project in July of 2003. No news yet as to replacements or why Major left the project.

An Ottowa firm, XYZ RGB has placed a bid to help bring the magical characters of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia to life. The firm hopes to be able to help with models of characters such as Aslan, Reepicheep, Tumnus, and 17 other magical creatures. This article from the CanWest News Service describes the process that XYZ RGB uses and their role in The Return of the King.

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”.

IGN Film Force reports on filming locations.

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.