The opening words in the film trailer for Prince Caspian declare: “The time has come to journey back to Narnia.” And truly the time has arrived for a number of reasons.
Certainly for Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, the time has come to take the next step on their spiritual journey, to enroll for a second term in Aslan’s special school for the soul. For the young Prince Caspian, who has been leading a losing battle against the forces of his evil uncle, the time has come to finally receive the help he so desperately needs. And for us, as well, the time has come to journey back to Narnia—where we will once again be encouraged and inspired and once again will come to see our world and our role in it in new and different ways.
The children are warned, “You may find Narnia a more savage place than you remember.” Narnia will be more savage this time, but it will also be more joyous. In fact, because our heroes are older and have a greater capacity for understanding, you could say it will be more everything. The trailer words remind us “One year later for them.” But the first adventure in Narnia has given the four Pevensies a maturity greater than one year normally would. Chronologically, due to a delay in production, the actors who portray the four Pevensies actually have aged two years since the first film. But this will be an asset rather than a liability as it will help communicate this greater maturity. Georgie Henley, who plays Lucy, seems especially grown up.
