Here we are with this week’s mailbag! It’s been pretty exciting to see the response that we’ve gotten so far, and I’ve had a great time writing them. Hopefully the e-mails keep coming in each week so that I can continue.
The first question is a short one that I somehow missed a couple of weeks ago.
Q: What is the 4th Narnia?
-Matthew
Paul: This simple question has a bit of a complex answer. It depends on what you’re talking about, first and foremost: The books or the films.
If it’s the films, then it’s The Silver Chair.
The book version is a little more complex. But I’ll give you the original answer first: The Silver Chair. It was the fourth book published in the series. Later on, in the 1970s, the books were published in the chronological order of the story, based on the Narnia timeline. This put The Silver Chair in the sixth position in the series. Oddly enough, it also puts Prince Caspian as the fourth. However, this is something that I find rather odd, personally. Especially so because of the movies out so far.
Q: Hi! Love the Mailbag! Okay, so obviously as of May 22nd, the Narnia Exhibition rides into Union Station. (My friend thanks you for this info – she lives near there!) But is there, as of yet, any knowledge that the exhibition will continue AFTER Kansas City? I know this is a silly question, but so far this hasn’t come within quite a few miles of my area, and I might as well go to Kansas if it isn’t coming near me. Thankies! Oh and by the way, isn’t there a new movie that Ben Barnes plays in that is coming out soon?
-April G.
Paul: From what I was told in New York City a year ago, the Exhibition is meant to continue for a few years, traveling all over the country and changing after each film comes out. I just don’t know where. Perhaps someone involved in the Exhibition knows. I should have done some homework, but I haven’t had time in the last week.
Also, Ben Barnes is, in fact, in a couple of movies at the moment. Easy Virtue is currently playing in a limited release in the United States, and has been opening in many foreign territories since September 2008. It will continue to open in many foreign territories through August of this year.
Dorian Gray is the other film, and it doesn’t currently have a release date set in the United States, but it is scheduled to open in the UK on September 18 as well as Finland on December 25, 2009. It could be out any time in the fall, however, but there is no word on the scope of the release.
Q: What are your opinions about Fox taking over the Narnia series? Personally, I’m all for it; the only worry I have is they also adapted “Eragon”, which frankly was poor compared with the book. Anyway, thanks.
-Skulblaka_Shur’tugal
Paul: This is a difficult question to answer. It’s kind of a double edged sword. It really depends on how the film (series?) is handled by the studio. Their handling of the X-Men franchise is the only one that has me slightly worried. Apparently, there is a producer there that wanted to kill the franchise from the start, not really understanding why it’s a franchise worth doing well. (If it is true, then that producer should be removed from any type of control over the future of the series.)
Eragon isn’t worth getting concerned over. There is a different creative team than that which worked on Eragon. In fact, it is still pretty much the same team that worked on the first two films, save for the screenwriters, director and composer. It should feel like a Narnia film.
If there is one thing Fox has done really well, it’s letting outside creative teams have complete control of their franchises, such as George Lucas with Star Wars. Those were the terms of his contract with them, and I’m willing to bet that the Lewis Estate made it a big part of their contract with Fox as well.
All in all, I trust 20th Century Fox with the future of the franchise, and I think they’ll do a great job with it. Remember: Walden Media is still very much a part of this.
Alrighty, this is a little shorter than usual, but it’s all I have time for this week. Keep the e-mail coming!