Narnia Fans Mailbag #17

Q: Hey!! I was wondering if there is a chance that you could do like a monthly update about Skandar! If you could that would be amazing!! Thanks!

-Destani

A: Hello Destani! I am actually planning a feature that just might cover this. It’s still in the planning stages, but you might see something in the coming weeks or months. We’ve been planning some great new features, and hope to be able to unveil them shortly. All the same, best to keep your eyes open.

Q: Hello! I was wondering does the cast and crew [of the Chronicles] believe or even know about the biblical truths in the Chronicles? Because that’s the reason it was a big hit. I mean in some places it’s obvious, but others not. Please let me know because they don’t even know about God than that’s poo!

-Jesus-is-my-homeboy

A: Well, this is a question that resonates with most of us here at NarniaFans.com. I am absolutely sure that most, if not all of the cast and crew have heard of the biblical parallels that are found in the Chronicles. However, what I am not sure of, is if they all know it in the same way. I do know, however, that a lot of them take it to mean something different. I hope this helps, but it’s really a difficult question to answer. It was pretty vague in what you wanted to know or how you wanted me to answer.

Q: MAJOR SPOILERS from THE LAST BATTLE! For some reason this is really bothering me so please read this. Well in the last book when they (parents and children) are in the crash and end up in Narnia does susan end up in Narnia to?

-Haylee

A: This is a question that has been discussed a lot, and I suppose it is about time that I finally take the time to answer it here. The fate of Susan is one that C.S. Lewis speaks very little of. In fact, the last time Susan is mentioned is the most telling, and I think it is pretty cut and dry. It is in chapter twelve of The Last Battle, Through the Stable Door:

“Sir,” said Tirian, when he had greeted all these. “If I have read the chronicle aright, there should be another. Has not your Majesty two sisters? Where is Queen Susan?”

“My sister Susan,” answered Peter shortly and gravely, “is no longer a friend of Narnia.”

“Yes,” said Eustace, “and whenever you’ve tried to get her to come and talk about Narnia or do anything about Narnia, she says, `What wonderful memories you have! Fancy your still thinking about all those funny games we used to play when we were children.'”

“Oh Susan!” said Jill. “She’s interested in nothing nowadays except nylons and lipstick and invitations. She always was a jolly sight too keen on being grown-up.”

“Grown-up, indeed,” said the Lady Polly. “I wish she would grow up. She wasted all her school time wanting to be the age she is now, and she’ll waste all the rest of her life trying to stay that age. Her whole idea is to race on to the silliest time of one’s life as quick as she can and then stop there as long as she can.”

This is very telling about where Susan was headed and where she would end up. Peter says clearly that Susan “is no longer a friend of Narnia.” Throughout the series, if you notice, Susan is always trying to be the “grown-up” member of the family. You can tell it right from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Later, she starts to believe that the adventures in Narnia were just games. She forgets that it was a real adventure. She’s interested in nothing but “nylons and lipstick and invitations.” This basically means that she’s interested in acting like a “mature” adult, more interested in how she looks and in partying like “adults do.” Polly mentions that Susan spent all of her life wanting to be like that, and now that she’s at that age, she thinks she’s found the meaning of her life, and that she should never move beyond that. She’ll do, as some do, and probably get plastic surgery or hair dyes, etc., and attempt to stay at the “perfect age” for the rest of her life.

This isn’t as poignant an explanation as I would like it to be, and doesn’t really say what I want to say about it, because my imagination tends to fill in the blanks. Especially as I have watched people do this, while growing up myself. I have met many people that try to be older than they are (mostly girls that either think their mature enough or teenage girls that are physically as mature as most twenty-something girls that I know, oddly enough). And then, I’ve met women that are much older than thirty, that are trying to look and act like they’re in their twenties. It’s a very sad sight to see, and their lifestyles are really horrendous. The reasons for their actions are very selfish, all about getting what they want out of life, no matter the cost.

Q: I heard a rumor that Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader & The Silver Chair, will be filmed all at once (so the children won’t get to old). Is this correct?
Love your site!
Grace

A: This is something that we do not have confirmation on. We do know that they would LOVE to film them all back-to-back-to-back. This would allow for a short break between filming on each, and shorter intervals between each film release. However, they’re still working on the pre-production on Prince Caspian, and I think they’re waiting until Prince Caspian gets moving until they make a final decision on this. But really, I don’t think any final decision has been made, although we can only hope that they continue to film them all in a row. We can tell you, though, that the scripts for VDT and SC have not been publicly acknowledged as having been started, but we can assume that they may exist a bit in the notes for Prince Caspian. If they’re going to make it into the Caspian Trilogy, they have to plan threads to go through all three films.

Q: Hi! Thanks so much for answering my last letter! It meant a lot to me and my friend! I love this site!!! I am writing again because I was wondering if there is anywhere you can get full-size replicas of the Christmas gifts for the Pevensie children. I am very anxious to find somewhere because I would like one of the children’s Christmas gifts for Christmas this year (and hopefully another Pevensie’s next year!) Thank you so much and God bless! (Oh, Happy Thanksgiving, too!) 🙂

-Becca

A: When it comes to fill size replicas of the Christmas gifts for the Pevensie Children, I don’t know where you can find ALL of them, but I do know about a couple of them: Peter’s Sword and Susan’s Bow. There are also the Master Replica’s versions (which are smaller, I believe). Happy Thanksgiving!

Q: Hi! Thank you alot for reading this! So on to my question. I’m a bit confused. Are the going to continue to make Narnia movies or are there only going to be two?

-Lei

A: Hi! I know they want to make all seven! They just have to continue to be successful. Let’s help them maintain the popularity of it, so they can get to all of the books!

And that’s it for Mailbag #17!