Andrew Adamson

Walt Disney Pictures’ follow-up to Andrew Adamson’s blockbuster The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe has been pushed back from December 14, 2007 to summer 2008.

The young foursome who star in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe know how impassioned the fans of C.S. Lewis’ classic books are.

New Zealand is poised to reap the benefits of yet another big budget film with the companies behind the Narnia movies – Disney and Walden Media – hoping to make their next film in the country.

The movie adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has received a Hugo nomination in the Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form category. It’s up against Batman Begins, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Serenity, and Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror films announced the nominations for the 32nd annual Saturn Awards on Feb. 15, and leading the pack is George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith, with 10 nominations. The awards will be presented May 2 in Universal City, Calif.

Batman Begins came in a close second, with nine nominations. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire each received eight nominations.

One of the most asked questions about The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, is whether or not there would be an Extended Edition of the film. It looks like that question has just been answered. It’s interesting to note, that the current film pretty well covers all of the material found in the book. There were a few things that were skipped, and there’s room for more scenes there. There are also a few characters that could stand to have a little more depth added. Aslan, for instance, could be fleshed out a bit more.

Andrew Adamson is set to return to the director’s chair, having just inked a deal to helm “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.” Adamson also will serve as a producer and co-writer, collaborating with returning scribes Christopher Markus and Steve McFeeley. The principal cast is coming back, as is producer Mark Johnson.

Close your eyes and try to imagine who I’m talking about: He’s a likable New Zealander who directs epic fantasies that have stretched the boundaries of computer-generated effects and made more money than many small countries — nearly $1 billion worldwide.