Mary McNamara of the LA Times is not just a television critic—she’s also the mother of a ten, eight, and two year old. With children of that age, it is easy to believe that her household is very familiar with Walt Disney Pictures.
Yet Ms. McNamara is displeased with Disney’s recent decision to back out of production of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. In fact, in a letter to Disney published in the LA Times, she admonishes the company.
“I’m here to tell you, though it is probably too late, that you are crazy.”
Why is Disney crazy? Ms. McNamara acknowledges that expectations of Prince Caspian box office success were not meant. However, she also reiterates what many other Narnia fans have expressed:
“So, part two, “Prince Caspian,” didn’t make a gazillion dollars. What a surprise. “Prince Caspian” was always the dud, relatively speaking, of the series. For fans who read and reread “The Chronicles of Narnia,” it was the one you could skip. The fact that “Prince Caspian” the movie did as well as it did was a miracle, and a testament to the filmmakers. It certainly did not have the built-in, can’t-wait draw of the first Narnia film, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”
Or, more important, of “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” which is, hands down, the best book of the series.”
Ms. McNamara recognizes that The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is considered the gem of the Narnia series. A fan favorite, it also contains material that would perfectly lend itself to the big screen.
But as this mother states, it is probably too late to change Disney’s mind. Fans will have to wait to see what lies in the future for the Narnia series. However, Mary McNamara’s letter to Disney can leave one feeling hopeful—with many (including mothers!) rallying behind the series, a large audience awaits The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. It is not doubtful that another studio will partner with Walden Media to bring this classic to the screen.
Click here to read Ms. McNamara’s full letter to Disney.