Last December the cyber-world was rocked by one of the largest breaches in US history when a group hacked into Sony’s accounts and not only stole several films slated for release, but leaked many confidential memos and e-mails to the public. Aside from making award parties awkward by revealing conversations about actors and directors that took place behind closed doors, these e-mails also revealed discussions about hot properties including James Bond, Ghostbusters, and Spider-Man. However what didn’t make the news was information regarding many smaller films, such as the upcoming movie Tolkien&Lewis.
Sony Pictures, who has helped distribute many faith based films through their AffirmFilms subsidiary including Left Behind: World at War, Soul Surfer, Fireproof, Facing the Giants, Courageous, Heaven is for Real, The Song, Mom’s Night Out, and When the Game Stands Tall, had been interested in distributing the Tolkien&:Lewis movie. The documents also indicate several casting ideas as well as suggestions for some minor plot changes that came from other possible studio partners.
Among the top choices for the role of CS Lewis include Tom Hiddelston ( Thor, The Avengers), James MacAvoy ( The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past),Eddie Redmayne ( Les Misrelables, The Theory of Everything) , Tom Hardy ( Star Trek: Nemesis, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises) Kirk Cameron ( Left Behind Trilogy, Fireproof, and Saving Christmas) and Nicolas Cage, while contenders for Tolkien include Benedict Cumberbatch ( BBC’s Sherlock, Star Trek: Into Darkness, and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug), Michael Fassbender ( X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past), James D’Arcy ( Edwin Jarvis on Marvel’s Agent Carter), Henry Cavill ( The Man of Steel, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice), Kevin Sorbo (TV’s Hercules and God’s Not Dead),and Gary Busey ( the memo states, “C’mon Tolkien was crazy! Just look at The Hobbit and LOTR!”).
The documents went on to say:
“Unfortunately Loki and Sherlock may be too busy to commit. If we go with Mike Sever and Hercules, could we consider making Lewis and Tolkien Americans and set the story in NYC? Would people really care if they aren’t British?”
And further:
“After God’s Not Dead, is it really a good idea for them to be college professors? How about a different occupation? In most Christian films there is always a youth pastor. Could one of them be a Youth Pastor at a local Evangelical Free Church? And the other a Janitor at a community center and the two meet after a pick-up game of basketball?”
Another document included a script treatment that among other changes, made alterations to Lewis conversion. A note on the script reads:
“Audiences would probably be confused by the whole Tolkien using Norse myths to reach Lewis. They hear things like Thor, Asgard and what not and they’ll think “what is this, a Marvel movie.”
The note indicates plans to consult with the Kendrick Brothers ( Fireproof, Courageous) on how to handle the conversion scene for CS Lewis in a way that is “seeker friendly”, but still true to the characters of Lewis and Tolkien.
The documents also discuss trying to sign CCM sensation Jamie Grace on to perform the “bubbly” end-credit theme, “Awesome Friendship, Awesome Books”. Now, readers should be advised that these were only suggestions for the film. Whether or not any of it comes to fruition is anyone’s guess. However if the fact that the news Spider-Man will join the Marvel Universe is any indication, some rumors may have more of a grain of truth then others.
We at NarniaFans are working hard to try to find out more information on this and should know more by tonight. Come back tomorrow for further updates!
You can read the script and see all the memos here.
Update: APRIL FOOLS!
I am really excited for this film! I would love any of these choices for Lewis and Tolkien but, I would prefer Nicolas Cage and Gary Busey. They look the most like Lewis and Tolkien and they are great at acting like calm British professors and scholars, eventhough they are not British!
Good one! I always like seeing what you all come up with for April Fool’s Day! Wish there really was some news though… 🙁
Believe me, so do we !
¡I hate you April Fool’s Day!