Bad news, Ben Barnes fans. 'Narnia' follow-up 'Dawn Treader' may sink
Disney and Walden Media have confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter that Disney will not co-produce/co-finance the next "Narnia" movie, "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader."
The third entry in the series, based on the classic works of C.S. Lewis, was set to start shooting in spring 2009 for a May 2010 release.
This puts the talent up for grabs. Michael Apted was to direct. "Prince Caspian's" Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell were to return for the third film.
Walden has a relationship with the Lewis estate and will try to find "Treader" a new partner.
But partnership on a "Narnia" movie will require a chunk-a-change. "Caspian," filmed in the Czech Republic, Mexico and New Zealand, cost $200 million. "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" was shot mostly in New Zealand for $180 million.
Why did Disney bail? Could be as simple as investment versus potential return.
According to the Reporter, "Lion" jumped to $292 million domestically and an additional $453 million internationally in 2005. "Prince Caspian," however, grossed $141 million in North America and an additional $278 million internationally, far less than the "Lion's" share.
Plus, children's fantasies aren't doing so well.
Remember "The Golden Compass."
Yeah, we wish we didn't either.
More Barnes:
Photos of Ben Barnes as Dorian Gray
Photo: WireImage
The Golden Compass? Psh.. Narnia is far better than anything put forth by Pullman. He wrote His Dark Materials as an anti-Narnia and it shows.
Another bad move would be trying to turn the film into a Pirates of the Caribbean style movie, as comparisons would have been made with Dawn Treader being set on the High Seas. Here's hoping another studio takes the reigns and gives us the film series we want!
-Paul
NarniaFans.com
I think Caspian made less money because it just wasn't as good as LW&W, the first movie was so stunning, you want to watch it again and again. I saw it twice in theaters and told everyone else to see it too. Caspian just isn't as good, and the dual scene is so horrible, don't they know you're not supposed to purposefully hit a mans shield with your sword?!
My whole family was disappointed to read that the Dawn Treader may not be coming out. We were at the theater for both Narnia and Prince Caspian for opening day, and we purchased both for Christmas this year. We were really looking forward to the next installment in the Narnia series.
Terrible news! Is no one brave enough or committed enough to do the whole series? "The Magician's Nephew" would be a stunner.
Edie is correct the 2nd movie wasn't as good
prince caspian is an excellent film. it would've done better had it been released at christmas.
it is a great franchise. and walden will find a partner.
Narnia books are far better than Golden compass.Golden compass is crap
but
Narnia films are Great they are far better than Golden Compass.
I love the Chronicles of Narnia books and movies, but my question is why didn't they do the movies in the same order as the books? I personally think that they butchered Prince Caspian, they added things to the movie that where never even in the book, and twisted the plot and took stuff out. So I could see why they would have a problem getting enough money from other movies, since they didn't do Prince Caspian justice.
Well, I for one was looking forward to The Last Battle.
Maybe FOX will get it.
Anyways, look at what disney has done to the power rangers... The super sentai are still better than our rangers...
And that's because of Disney - Sucking...
I think that both movies where good, I'm happy that Disney is not going to do the Voyage of the Dawn, because maybe this time they'll do like the storyis in the book, because Disney changed lot of stuff and added some, I hope that Fox take the project of Narnia... Disney sucks !!! They'll going to have a good punch on the face later because they gava up to Narnia!!!:..