Buena Vista Games, Inc., the global interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Company, today announced that it will publish video games based on the epic tale of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the best-selling story by C.S. Lewis and the forthcoming film by Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media, for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, Xbox(R) video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube(TM), PC and handheld consoles in fall 2005. The action-adventure series, which will be published under the company’s Disney Interactive label, will be the first multi-platform video games introduced that let gamers and Narnia fans step inside and immerse themselves in the magical world of Narnia.
“We are pleased to announce our plans to develop a full slate of video games based on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion,The Witch and The Wardrobe film currently in production in New Zealand,” said Graham Hopper, senior vice president and general manager of Buena Vista Games. “Given the truly unique, creative nature of the story, we see it as especially suited for a spectacular translation to game consoles and something that the millions of Narnia fans and gamers worldwide will love.”
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is based on the first in the series of phenomenally best-selling novels by C.S. Lewis. The live-action film concerns a war between good and evil, pitting the magnificent lion Aslan against the forces of darkness in the magical world of Narnia. A White Witch has used her dark powers to keep Narnia in winter for 100 years, but it is foretold that four humans will be able to help Aslan break the spell. When the children – Lucy, Susan, Edmund and Peter — discover the magic of Narnia by entering the enchanted world through a wardrobe, the stage is set for a classic battle of epic proportions. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe film, under the direction of Andrew Adamson (Shrek, Shrek 2), is scheduled for release Christmas 2005.
“The opportunity to work closely with the video game production team at the same time we’re creating the film is very exciting. I’m looking forward to watching both projects come to life,” said Andrew Adamson, film director, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. “Through the video game, fans will be able to re-open the wardrobe countless times to revisit the magical world of Narnia and all of its characters and environments.”
About Buena Vista Games
Buena Vista Games, Inc. is the interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Company’s Consumer Products business unit. The division publishes, markets and distributes a broad portfolio of PC and multi-platform video games worldwide. The company also licenses properties and works directly with third-party interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to market. Titles for Buena Vista Games fall under two publishing labels: Buena Vista Interactive, which publishes high-profile, multi-platform games based on creative content from the numerous businesses within The Walt Disney Company, and Disney Interactive, which markets and distributes the company’s interactive entertainment based on Disney bbranded properties.
For further information, please contact: Kehau Rodenhurst, ext. 204, or Andrea Sausedo, ext. 201, of WONGDOODY Communications, +1-310-285-0181, for Buena Vista Games, Inc.; or Angela Emery of Buena Vista Games, Inc., +1-818-553-3923.
