The Dec. 9 release of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” the potential Christmas blockbuster based on a novel by Christian writer C.S. Lewis, may signal Hollywood is focusing more on audiences for whom religion is important.
David DiCerto, a movie reviewer for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he has noticed a greater number of movies being targeted toward Christian audiences.
This can be seen as “an economic byproduct of the success of ‘The Passion of the Christ,'” he said.
With Mel Gibson’s film grossing more than $400 million in worldwide box office proceeds, according to an Associated Press report, Christian audiences are establishing themselves as a lucrative market for Hollywood producers. Grass-roots evangelical campaigns are starting to grow around religious-themed movies being released.
In October, Stonebriar Community Church in Plano hosted about 300 moviegoers excited to get a sneak peek of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Attendees were selected as local faith leaders. The event was one of 140 held across the United States by Motive Entertainment, which also conducted similar events for the “The Passion.”
The event at Stonebriar was billed as an “exclusive experience for leaders of faith in the community.” It was attended by Michael Flaherty, president of Walden Media, the Narnia film production company, and Doug Gresham, co-producer of the film and stepson of Lewis.
For Flaherty and Walden Media, attending the outreach-oriented sneak peek was just one part of promoting the movie.
“We’re willing to talk to almost all audiences that want to hear about the movies we make,” he told the Texas Catholic, newspaper of the Diocese of Dallas. “People seem to be interested that we’re going to churches to promote this movie, but we’re also going to schools, libraries, Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups. We’re going everywhere.”