Variety confirms that British actor James McAvoy has been cast as Mr. Tumnus the faun in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The Walden Media/Disney co-production, based on the first book in the classic C.S. Lewis series of children’s novels, is due to shoot this summer in New Zealand, directed by Andrew Adamson.
McAvoy previously featured in Children of Dune, Stephen Fry’s Bright Young Things, Band of Brothers and the upcoming Working Title pics Wimbledon and Inside I’m Dancing.
Mr. Tumnus is the first creature encountered by Lucy, the youngest of the four siblings, when she first stumbles through the magic wardrobe and discovers Narnia. He befriends her with the intention of betraying her to the evil White Queen (Tilda Swinton), but is too good-hearted to follow through with the plan. The queen turns him into a statue as punishment.
