According to a report from NRB’s Sunday Super Session in Nashville, Dekkie writes that Walden Media and Fox are talking about doing The Magician’s Nephew next. This confirms what we reported a little while ago, even though many polls put The Silver Chair into the leading spot, that book has proven to be much more popular with fans.
Michael Flaherty just confirmed that Walden was talking with Fox about the Magician’s Nephew.
I just got back from attending NRB’s Sunday Super Session in Nashville, TN, where Flaherty and Simon Swart from Fox spoke about “Connecting with Audiences in an Age of Distraction.” And Narnia, of course. A few noteworthy tidbits:
When asked by Phil Cooke of Cooke Pictures and host of this session if Walden would make any more Narnia movies, Flaherty responded, without hesitation: “Yes. We are talking to Fox about making the Magician’s Nephew next.” The audience clapped. He then mentioned that there was some debate about whether SC or MN should be next, and asked the audience to clap for their favorite. A few (including myself, loudly) clapped for SC, but the majority cheered for MN.
Flaherty also referred to Gresham as “the CS Lewis Cop,” and talked about when the production team would wonder what Lewis thought of something, Gresham would say something like about how once he was having dinner with Jack and he said that if there ever was a movie made it would have to include such and such. Flaherty, laughingly, added that he wondered how many of those stories actually happened.
Phil Cooke talked about the time he was at the first screening of the VDT trailer, 20 minutes after the trailer was shown, he received a notification on his phone from Google about all these Narnia sites having detailed reports about the trailer. “These people are crazy.” I laughed – because we are.
Flaherty gave a “huge, heartfelt thank you” to the audience for their support of the film, saying that many thought the franchise was “dead” after PC. He seemed pleased and not worried that VDT made “only” $100 million domestically.
Swart also talked about how excited Fox was to be able to pick up the franchise: “We get a shot at Narnia?” and saying that they “jumped in with both feet in.”
Making MN next is a decision made out of desperation to keep the series alive. It is not a creative decision.
You’re quite right, gP. And to be honest, that’s practically all the franchise is. It’s a money-maker. They don’t care about the fans, only the money they can get from us.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: no film maker ever sets out to make junk. No one gets up out of bed for 3 years, working on the same project, and says “In 3 years, I’m going to be creating a movie just to make money.”
I know plenty of people that really loved the movie, and I include myself in that.
Well, I think it is not creative to call it “not creative”…you are not being creative enough to look at it from their view. We have no idea what is going on with them. AND! It is SUPER creative! No one has EVER made MN into a film, unlike LWW, PC and VDT which were already made by BBC. So this is even MORE creative than the first 3! Go Narnia and GO MAGICIAN”S NEPHEW!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh…and the HAVE to care SOME! Doug Gresham is involved! I would love to hear what he has to say. I admire Doug Gresham allot. He is an amazing man!
Of course it is a business decision. It’s show business. However, remember that all of the creative team has mentioned time and time again that they really love The Magician’s Nephew. This is something where they can make a movie that they’ve been looking forward to making for some time. For some of them, it’s the reason they started doing the Narnia movies to begin with.
I wouldn’t call it desperation. Too strong a word. I would say that it’s a business decision with the potential to safeguard the rest of the series.
Yeah, they love TMN so much that they went against fan’s wishes to make it. My point is made.
No, they went against a majority of fan’s wishes. Where I come from, 75% isn’t the same as 100%. There were 25% that wanted Magician’s Nephew.
Oh, go ahead and nitpick my word choice. Maybe I’ll stop making critical comments or comments that actually reflect my opinion, since that’s apparently what you want. See ya…
It wasn’t a nitpick over word choice. I clearly was pointing out the simple facts that there ARE people that wanted Magician’s Nephew next. Your opinion comments are fine, I just wanted to remind you that there are people that do want something that we don’t. Personally, I wish that they were doing Silver Chair next.
Its about time they listened to the monority!:)
Hey, don’t feel bad. ( you don’t have to be angry over it. It is just a movie….)
Atleast this means that The magician’s Nephew wil be made. If they did SC and it didn’t do well they might drop the series before they ever do one of the best books.
I matters very little what is made next. Just like the books themselves, a person can choose to view movies in any order they like!
Exactly. The only reason that the Magician’s nephew is more popular is because It’t the first book of the series!! After both films are made, I bet the Silver chair will be more popular.
And you know what? even though I didn’t like what they did, making Magicians Nephew next instead of The Silver Chair (Poor Will Poulter), I think it’s nice though, because they will end the “Pevensie Trilogy” you know what I mean? they will end it with Magicians Nephew to know the Prequel of LWW. But it’s really really sad, I want to see the Silver Chair next. =( It’s my second favorite book in the series. But I really really hope that they will realize that they need to MAKE SILVER CHAIR next. =(
That’s not right. The Magician’s Nephew was supposed to be the 6th movie of Narnia. The Silver Chair supposed to be the next Narnia Movie. Because it is the 4th book been published.
WAHHHHH!!!!!! WAHHH!!! I WANT THEM TO DO THE SILVER CHAIR!!!!! (okay, enough sobbing) But i am disappointed. the silver chair is one of my favorites.
Don’t feel bad Emily. I don’t like it ethir, but it just will have to wait. ( I love SC, but I think that this might be a good and a bad move…for more info read my older comments)
OOPS! Bad spelling , AGAIN!!! Sorry. I met ethier.
I think they are going to set up the Queen of the Underworld from the Silver Chair in the Magicians nephew. Makes sense if they do this. It will drive plot more. What they should do is have MNcome out at Christmas and then SC come out in summer. The every other year is killing the draw. That was why Lord of the rings was so effective. Keep your audience and keep media attention. You have a different cast for silver chair. Film it at the same time! No brainer.
Okay, i get it!!
@ Jeff, please don’t suggest that the lady of green kirtle should be set up in magician’s nephew. That would be reallyyyyyy wrong bcos the lady of the green kirtle came to narnia 1400 years later after the reign of the white witch who is the villian in magician’s nephew. Please do not say that lest Micheal Apted accidentally hears of it and decides to add that to the movies.
BTW, nice way of linking the movies, really creative but that would be way out of line when it comes to narnia.
But the thing is, they need to film the rest of them in order, or else everyone who hasn’t read the books is going to get all mixed up and they might not even film the rest!!! Since ypu were refferring to the Lord of the rings, i think that you should consider that they make the prequel movie ( the hobbit) AFTER the rest. That will be very effective.
I have seen VDT 16 times and have the ticket stubs to prove it. I knew from the beginning that VDT was going to have trouble. It is a very good movie but poor adaptation of the book. Some parts of the movie still make me cringe, but I did my part to keep the series going. SC is a very character driven story. I am looking forward to seeing the interplay between Eustace and Jill. MN is one of my least favorite books; I have a hard time getting through it. I think that Walden needs to completely change its marketing direction. The religious community did not respond to VDT. Many of them appear to want to judge but not reach into their pockets. I have reached into my pocket for VDT and will do so for SC but not MN. We fans want SC.
That is not true! A lot of Christians went to see and raved about it. More than they did with Prince Caspain!
WOW,16 times!! Are you kinding???
I only saw it once and that was in 3D.
Well,there sure are alot of upset Narnia Fans out there!
( Please try looking at it in a good way!
If there are so many upset fans, maybe that should tell you something…
Yeah…Like go walk in their shoes for a while and try doing all the hard work they are…OR just sit back and relax!
If I could get involved in these films, I would. I’d literally drop everything for it. But it isn’t possible – yet. Don’t tell me about their hard work. I know all about it.
LOL! Me too… maybe we can do something some day. Sooo, are you involved in the film industry?
I wish… I may get involved in it someday. I do a lot of video stuff on my own and enjoy it immensely. But Narnia would be a dream… maybe it’ll get rebooted in twenty years.
Guys, look at my point of view and answer me: Do you think that Walden wants to terminate the franchise of Narnia putting the magician’s nephew as the next movie? I think so, so vote in The Silver Chair!
Are you saying that they WANT to destroy the Narnia films?
No, he’s saying they want to stop making the films (not the same thing). And he’s got a great point. Listen to the NarniaWeb podcast and you’ll understand where we’re coming from.
YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!! This is the one that I wanted to see next!!!!!!!!! I voted for it on the polls. So, does this confirm that they are going to continue the series?
How much does this have to do with the fact that Perry left funding for MN?
I was just in Nashville!
I wish there was some way for me to take part in this movie…I would do just about anything!
well said, well said. Most people who have posted on this article seem like self centered beings. why cant they do MN next? Just cause its not ur faveorite book? I dont mind which one the choose to do nex as long as they keep doing it.
Indeed! I can understand a little dissapointment…but don’t act like the world is ending LOL!
Look at it this way…no one has EVER made MN! This will be the first time to “see” it! We had already seen LWW,PC and VDT from BBC…but never MN! 🙂
Thank you for adding yet another insult to injury. I appreciate it. The reason I don’t want MN next has nothing to do with the book in particular. SC is my least favorite, in fact. But Will Poulter will be in his twenties by the time they get to SC. Don’t talk to me about Ben Barnes; Caspian was supposed to be Peter’s age, and he was. SC takes place only months after VDT, and you want a twenty-year-old playing a twelve/thirteen-year-old? Please! There are reasons I don’t appreciate the filmmakers choices. Don’t be rude if you don’t agree with “most of the people who have posted on this article”.
Funny thing, we took a poll, and “most of the people” voted for SC. The filmmakers, who ASKED us which next, ignored us and decided “we’ll do whatever the heck we want.”
While I agree with your sentiment about the age of Poulter, I also need to point out that the filmmakers didn’t ask us directly. We took it upon ourselves when Mark Johnson said in an interview “maybe we should put it to the fans.” This was prior to the release of Dawn Treader. Dawn Treader wound up being successful over time, even quadrupling its’ opening weekend take in a crowded month during a recession.
However, the box office take was enough that other decisions were made. Sadly, I agree with them that I would rather see a new book adapted for the first time ever, and hopefully have that bring about more. But yeah, it really sucks that Poulter can’t be frozen in carbonite until they’re ready to do Silver Chair.
One other thing to point out, as an FYI: Will Poulter grew about six or seven inches after they finished filming Dawn Treader. And when I saw him again in December, I think he must have grown another few inches in height. He still looks the same, and probably will for a few years. His voice has deepened a bit since filming too, though, and they couldn’t do any voice over work with him later on.
I agree with you, Paul 100%! Thanks. 🙂
Whoa…calm down Arvan. I really was not being mean to any body. 🙂 And, though I don’t know how long it will be for now, I do live in a free country where I can express my own thougts. And you can yours too! Please! Express yours! But…let’s act mature about it and not freak out because someone does not agree with you.
And if you are so mad at the film makers…good grief! Don’t watch the movies and just move on with life.
I hope that we can discuss things in a mature and Christian manner without taking it personally. 🙂
May God bless you and I hope you will not be too sad if they do do MN next. Let’s just do our part. 😉
Anna
I was not speaking to you.
Okay…sorry if I got it mixed up…thought you were replying to my post. Who was being unkind?
The person I replied to, “dailia4jesus”.
but think of it this way if they did sc next they would have to do mn then hb before they could do lb witch would leave a 5 or 6 year gap from sc to lb. will would age alot more than if they did mn then sc then hb then lb. the filmmakers know what they are doing.like i said they r probly going 2 make them in this order mn,sc,hb,lb
Good job Anna Pendleton! Your actually being thankful for what we’ve got! A new Narnia Movie? Thank goodness. The Magicians Nephew? Sure why not,at least (a) movie is coming to theaters!!!! Your comment was like a breath of fresh air! Are these negative comments from Narnia fans or…Harry Potter fans? I would be seriously thinking about what you say fellow fans of Aslan.
Thankful fans of Narnia and the North,
I solute YOU!
I’ll have you know that I love Narnia more than any other series. More than LOTR, more than HP. More than Star Wars. Just because we don’t like a Narnia movie doesn’t mean we’re not Narnia fans. In fact, we probably didn’t like it BECAUSE of our fandom. I thought VDT such a sorry excuse for an adaptation that I wouldn’t be very sorry if they dropped the franchise. That is not how I felt when Disney dropped Narnia. I felt almost sick back then. Now I feel sick as I read comments like yours. It’s a sad day when our love of Narnia is questioned. I hope you like whatever they do to the next movie. But of course you will. You don’t care what they do, as long as teh movie says “NARNIA” on it.
Well Arvan, I’m sorry if I came off angry! I love Narnia (the books!) More than any other series. I didn’t like Prince Caspian one bit (I kind of wish they hadn’t made it.) but the VDT was a definently a step up in my opinion. Just because what I loved in the book itself was in the film! But I still wish they had gone with the book (a lot more)than they did. The dark island was one of my most favorite scenes in the book (and in the movie-they ruin the scene totally). The reason why I said what I said was because I tired of people being ungrateful for what they have. And I’m trying to be thankful like Aslan would want me to be.
Fellow Fans of the books and films,
I solute You!!!!
If you have a candy bar and someone slaps you in the face, picks up you candy bar, and eats half of it, would you be grateful that they didn’t eat the whole thing? Or would you be angry with them?
Would you turn the other cheek, and pray for them?
Very true Paul…AND! Would you pick it up and let them eat the rest?
Like I said Arvan,I wasn’t satisfied with everything they did in VDT. And to your question, I probably would be pretty mad if they took my candy bar, I would leave and then come back when I had a better attitude. And forgive them even if they don’t opologize (but of course with God’s help). The Narnia series is my most favorite series of all time, but at same time I guess its only a story and doesn’t really matter in the wrong run. I am sorry that I was rude Arvan, I did made a mistake on how said what I said.
God bless!
Sincerely a fellow friend of Narnia
@Paul, no I wouldn’t. I’m not a perfect Christian, and that’s something I simply have never been able to do. I also can’t “be perfect as my Father is perfect”. Here’s a question. Would you turn your other cheek?
@Anna, yes, because I’m a germophobe, and for no other reason.
Arvan: I would. The goal is to strive for perfection. Not to admit defeat and than become defeatist. That’s the pessimistic attitude that I’ve seen a lot of. I’m an optimist.
Arvan,
If you call yourself a Christian you will not have to be perfect…but don’t hide behind not being perfect. We fail enough without trying…let’s do our best NOT to try.
Would you tell Jesus that to His face? “Sorry Jesus, I am not perfect, so I just can’t do what you command me to.”
like Paul said…we are supposed to STRIVE for perfection…true, we won’t get there…but we can try to be as close to it as we can before we meet Christ. Remember we all have to stand before God one day. And He is watching all we do right now.
And about being a germophobe…I can understand that lol. I am not one, but I have seen some people who are. 😉
You guys are perfectly right, and as I said before, I’m not perfect and I’ve never turned the other cheek in my life. I’ve tried, and failed miserably. But that isn’t the original question. Would you be angry?
Well, we have to be honest here. 😉 I would love to say “Oh no!!! I would not be angry!” But the truth is my first reaction would probably be one of upsetness. But, I would like to think that I could get over it and get things into perspective. Why do you ask?
Thanks Narnias #1 fan (thouhg I may steal your name 😉 )
Yes…why not another movie! 😉
Even if they did LB (though it would be kinda odd) But think of this…maybe they have their reasons…I mean, we are not there! We have no idea what is going on.
And what if this does have something to do with Perry Moore…I think it would be amazing for his dream to be fulfilled after he is gone.
I soute YOU for recognizing that things are not always just how we want…and that sometimes we don’t really know what we want. 🙂
heeeyy everybody. lets all breathe. alrighty then. It is true that they killed PC and i really wanted to strangle peter for being such a butt head. And it is true that they messed up the order of VDT and added more stuff. But honestly the book VDT did not have enough action to just plop onto the screen. They would have never gotten enough money to make the next movie. and i am EXTREMELY UPSET that SC wont be next but having MN would be a good finisher for the “Pevensie” trilogy before people completely forget about the profesor. but i am still upset, but c’est la vie.
You actually believe that a movie needs action???
I agree with both of you. 😉
Yes…let’s just move on and look forward to each movie and not freak out!
AND! I don’t think that a movie NEEDS action…depending on the movie. Narnia kinda and kinda does not.
MN=End of Narnia franchise. I’m not looking forward to that movie.
Really? Are you basing your information off of something statistical? Or…just what you think? Just curious…because if that was the case I would call up the production team etc and tell them!
I am sure they know what they are doing…don’t you think that if it was THAT obvious that MN=End of Narnia franchise the would NOT be making it?
MN=End of Narnia franchise as we know it. They may continue with a new actor for Eustace. Believe me, if they use Will Poulter in future films, I will laugh.
Well…why would you laugh? Ben was 30!!!! And I though he did pretty good.
PLUS! Will was like 17 when he played a 12 year old. I think they should continue using him.
Who would you rather them use?
It would be a great special effect having the pre & post Narnia footage of Will as he is now, for SC, & having him older when in a few years time the filming starts for SC.
I always thought it was cool in the books about becoming older/changed in skills n appearance when in Narnia and that hasn’t been explicitly stated in the series yet, more like hinted at (for example in PC when Edmund re-familiarizes himself with swordplay near the start -although currently probably only noticed by people reasonably fresh with the books).
Physically Eustace by FAR underwent the biggest change on his previous trip to Narnia, & it would be a cool special effect when the time comes, to go with finally getting this explanation explicitly into the series with an noticeably older Eustace in Narnia as compared to him at start & end of SC film back in our world.
Will Poulter was fifteen/sixteen, not seventeen. Ben Barnes? He was only twenty, not thirty! And he was supposed to be the same age as Peter. That’s why he was cast that old.
Actually, Ben Barnes played Caspian in PC at 25 or 26.
Okay…so 16 not 17…but he was supposed to be TWELVE…somewhere around there. That was my point.
And I am pretty sure that Ben was much older…thought he was at least in his later 20’s.
Okay… I’m more than a little disappointed that they’re doing Magician’s Nephew instead of Silver Chair next. Though the main reason I want Silver Chair is because of Will Poulter. Both Magician’s Nephew and Silver Chair are at the bottom of my favorite Narnia books, but I honestly think that Magician’s Nephew will be so EPIC on the big screen. I’m getting goosebumps about it.
But yeah, I am disappointed that they aren’t doing the Silver Chair, if nothing else because if they do do it eventually, Will Poulter might look too old to be Eustace again. But I shall both cross my fingers and pray that eventually we may get ALL the books made into movies.
Woo hoo! That’s the spirit. 🙂
MN and SC are both on my favorite top 7 Narnia books. 😉 I really LOVE all of them so much…it is hard to put any of them on the bottom!
Movies do have tricks up there sleeves, don’t worry about Will getting old…no offense.
Yep! They do seem to have a way to make things work out. 😉
I still wish they are thinking of making Silver Chair!!!
But at least their not making the Last Battle in the middle of the series! I hope the movie MN goes with book like LWW!
Please Fox and Walden do a good job were Disney failed!!
YES! I would love to see all the movies as accurate as LWW. I did not really understand how close to the book LWW was until I saw PC!
And I had the same thought about being glad that they did not make LB now. 😉
I also feel it would be much better if the Silver Chair was the next movie. I love the book and I even enjoy the BBC Silver Chair movie. The Magicians Nephew can be made later because they will need new actors for that movie anyway. The Silver Chair needs to be next for Eustace to be the correct age. Also I can’t wait to see Puddleglum. The one good thing if they do make the Magicians Nephew next, is that it’s never been made into a movie before and we have the BBC Silver Chair to hold us over until the new movie is made.
Whether or not Silver Chair will not be the next Narnia movie made, I am just happy that another Narnia movie from the book series is being made. The thing I hope for the most is all seven books from the series will be made. I have read all seven books. In what order the other four books (The Magician’s Nephew, The Horse and his Boy, Silver Chair, and Last Battle) are made into movies does not matter to me as long as they will be. I have always loved books being made into movies especially stories from God’s Word like the movies Joseph, One Night with the King, The Nativity Story, and The Prince of Egypt.
I personally don’t mind the order that they’re made, just as long as they’re made. However I think they should make SC next. Souly because of Will Poulter. This kids an amazing actor, he stole VDT and if anyones seen him in Son of Ranbow they know what he’s capable of. The thing they just can’t do is introduce an actor in a certain role, then end up with a differnt actor in the same role for whatever reason. It’s unprofessional and honestly brings down the quality of the movie, it would for this especially because Will was acknowledged for his role. He’s the one known as Eustace now. If they cast a different boy in that role, it just wouldn’t work. I don’t think they can risk waiting. They have to make SC quickly before Will physically outgrows the role. They’re lucky enough that at 18 he still practically looks young enough for Eustace. Don’t push your luck and keep the books in order.
Uh, I wanted MN to be the next movie as possible or cast SC and MN at the same time. The reason I want MN to come is not only since it’s my favorite. It’s also because I don’t want an old lady playing the white witch. And everyone is forgetting that they also made SC back then. And I love VDT, it had a great message and the way Eustace turned back to a human was awesome, and it doesn’t matter if Will Poulter still plays Eustace because in Harry Potter (I hate Harry Potter cause of the demonic stuff in it) they still use the same cast in some characters and the look so old for playing a kid’s part.