We received a spy report from NarniaFan Son of Coul saying that Ictus Studios, an independent Christian film studio is very interested in not only rebooting the Narnia films, but incorporating it into a “shared universe” with The Lord of the Rings, Les Miserables, The Bibleman DVD’s and even the Left Behind series. Other classic books slated to be part of this franchise include This Present Darkness, Ted Dekker’s Showdown Trilogy, and John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.
The spy report details a full thirty page treatment for this shared universe. The project is tentatively called The Chronicles of the Fellowship of the Tribulation. The plot summary for this ambitious project reads as follows:
“The Evangelist departs from the Celestial City to assemble a team to take on the unholy alliance of Marsuvees Black, Rafar , Sauron, Jadis and Nicolae Carpathia. Only the combined efforts of Bilbo Baggins, Lucy Pevensie, Edmund Pevensie, Jean Val Jean, Cossette, Buck Williams, and Bibleman can hope to defeat this threat! ”
The report also indicates that many of these stories will be altered in order to fit into this new setting. For starters Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are no longer sent away because of the air raids during World War II, but are sent to stay with the Professor sometime after the Rapture to avoid getting caught in World War III. Further Susan will not be with her siblings in The New Narnia because she will take The Mark of the Beast.
We contacted a representative for the studio who explained that, “Kids don’t respond to World War II any more. The minute they see something from the 1940s they think, ‘that’s boring. What is this, the History Chanel?’ CS Lewis made a mistake to include it. However, kids do respond to the end of the world and the Rapture.”
However the report indicated that while Les Mis and Narnia will receive updates, Lord of the Rings will be left alone .The plan is to simple have a rejuvenated and de-aged Bilbo return from the Undying Lands to help defeat this enemy.
The Representative said, “The Success of Marvel’s Avengers proves that people love a shared universe filled with their favorite characters. If Captain America, Thor, Iron Man and Hulk can rub elbows, why can’t Bilbo Baggins, Lucy Pevensie, Jean Val Jean, Buck Williams and Bibleman? Fans will love what we are doing with these popular stories and it will bring them to live in a whole new and exciting way.”
“This movie is going to be big,” said the film’s producer. “ Really big. The only way it could be bigger is if we had Larry the Cucumber from Veggie Tales and Professor Whitaker from Adventures in Odyssey show up. We are sure it will break all the records set by The Avengers with great ease.”
This first film in this new franchise is slated to release in theaters exactly a year from now on April 1st, 2014.
Visit the project’s official website and Kickstarter campaign here!
Update:
APRIL FOOLS!