Beloved Pictures has secured the film rights to C.S. Lewisʼs The Great Divorce. C.S. Lewis, the world-renowned Oxford/Cambridge scholar and best-selling author of works such as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters, is regarded as one of the most profound writers of the twentieth century. The first two installments of seven in the Chronicles of Narnia film franchise (The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe and Prince Caspian), produced by Disney & Walden Media, have grossed $1.16 billion to date. Lewis was also the subject of the Academy Award-nominated, BAFTA-winning biopic, Shadowlands, starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger.
An adventure-laden tale in the vein of Lord of the Rings and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, The Great Divorce chronicles one man’s harrowing journey from the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Grey Town to the outskirts of heaven.
Beloved has attached David L. Cunningham, who helmed To End All Wars (Twentieth Century Fox), The Path to 9/11 (ABC), and Seeker: The Dark is Rising (Twentieth Century Fox/Walden Media), to direct. Michael Ludlum, Caleb Applegate and Robert Abramoff are all attached to produce. Bob Beltz, Special Advisor to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and the Academy Award-winning Ray, is attached as an Executive Producer. “We are tremendously excited to bring one of Lewisʼs most profound stories to the screen, and we have assembled an exceptionally strong team to achieve that end,” said Beloved CEO Michael Ludlum. “We believe that this story, much like The Chronicles of Narnia, will resonate with a global audience.”
Beloved is also developing the Garry Marshall feature, Dear Eleanor, and the Cinco Paul & Jon Hale scripted, Nora. Cunningham is represented by United Talent Agency.
More news and information on Beloved’s current projects, can be found on the company’s website, www.belovedpictures.com.
By Mason Harrison
This is such an amazing book, I really am praying that they do this book justice.
I’m afraid that this man having headed “The Seeker” isn’t a strong reccomendation to me… I’m hoping that this book-to-movie adaption is handled better than “The Seeker” was.
But it is good news to hear of another serious Lewis work coming to the screen. 🙂
Speaking of Lewis adaptions… not the first time I’ve mentioned this, but there’s an audio-drama of Screwtape Letters being worked on starring Andy Serkis as the voice of Screwtape. ^_^ Maybe I’m the only one who finds that cool, maybe not.
I definitely find that cool, Lily. The audio CD is due out in stores the 15th of this month, and includes a DVD documentary. Online outlets like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Christianbook.com are already taking orders.
Hmmm… I’m not sure I like the description: “one man’s harrowing journey from the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Grey Town to the outskirts of heaven.” Are they afraid of the word “Hell?”
I am glad someone is going to bring The Great Divorce to the screen. This is my favorite Lewis book. I agree with the previous post; It does not take much to see that Grey Town is an allegory of Hell. When I first read this book, my mind created a huge visual picture. This could make a good movie.
I am totally excited about The Screwtape Letters audio…I need to read The Great Divorce before having an opinion on it though. 🙂
<3 Andy Serkis!!!
Mr. Sommer–it doesn’t take much to see that Aslan is a strong parallel of Jesus, either, but that doesn’t mean the plot of The Lion, the With and the Wardrobe needs to be described as being about four children’s encounter with a magical land and its ruler Jesus.
In other words, I don’t think it’s necessarily inappropriate of them to refer to Grey Town as it’s allegorical name. 🙂
Lily: I understand your thinking, but the publishers never refer to Aslan as Jesus, nor is Aslan an allegory, in the strictest sense, of Jesus. There are things about Aslan that are like Jesus, but there is not the substantial correspondence that you find in an allegory. Aslan is more correctly referred to as “supposition” of what the Son of God would be like if He were to enter the world of Narnia. Lewis himself said the Chronicles were not allegorical. (For a good, brief article on this see http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-16048-Narnia-Examiner~y2009m7d6-Aslan-isnt-Jesus ).
The Great Divorce was written as a response to William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, so Hell is implied in the very title, The Great Divorce (of Heaven and Hell).
Also, the book refers to Heaven as the High Countries. So, the description given by Beloved Pictures is inconsistent. It uses the actual name in the book (Grey Town) instead of what it represents. But it then uses the reality represented (Heaven) instead of the High Countries.
Like I say above, are they afraid of the word “Hell?”
Does anyone know who owns C.S. Lewis´s rights???
I´m talking aboutt the books.
Please someone answer or tell me how to search.
Thanks,
Lucy
P.S: My real name i Lucy, seriously. I am very serious about this.