The Chronicles of Narnia (film series): Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 11:28, 3 December 2012
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| The Chronicles of Narnia film series | |
|---|---|
 Official Logo | |
| Directed by | Andrew Adamson (1 & 2) Michael Apted (3) |
| Written by | Christopher Markus Stephen McFeely Andrew Adamson (1 & 2) Ann Peacock (1) Michael Petroni (3) |
| Produced by | Mark Johnson Douglas Gresham Perry Moore |
| Starring | Liam Neeson Tilda Swinton Skandar Keynes Georgie Henley William Moseley Anna Popplewell Ben Barnes (2 & 3) James McAvoy (1) Jim Broadbent (1) Sergio Castellitto (2) Peter Dinklage (2) Eddie Izzard (2) Will Poulter (3) Simon Pegg (3) |
| Music by | Harry Gregson-Williams (1 & 2) David Arnold (3) |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Pictures (1 & 2) 20th Century Fox (3) |
Release dates | 1: December 9, 2005 2: May 16, 2008 3: December 10, 2010 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | Total (3 films): $560 million |
| Box office | Total (3 films): $1,580,364,900 |
The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of fantasy films from Walden Media that are based on The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of novels written by C. S. Lewis. From the seven books, there have been three film adaptations so far—The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Prince Caspian (2008), and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010).
The series revolves around the adventures of children in the fictional world of Narnia, guided by Aslan, a talking lion and the true king of Narnia. Most of the children featured were the Pevensie siblings and the prominent antagonist featured was the White Witch (sometimes known as Jadis, who came from a different world in The Magician's Nephew). The first two films were directed by Andrew Adamson, produced by Mark Johnson, and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The third film is the first of the chronicles to be released in Digital 3D. It was directed by Michael Apted and distributed by 20th Century Fox.[1]
The first film is the 44th highest-grossing film of all time. The series has now grossed over $1.5 billion, making it the 22nd highest-grossing film series of all time.
Development
C. S. Lewis never sold the film rights to the Narnia series, being skeptical that any cinematic adaptation could render the more fantastical elements and characters of the story realistically.[2] Only after seeing a demo reel of CGI animals did Douglas Gresham (Lewis's stepson and literary executor, and film co-producer) give approval for a film adaptation.[citation needed]
Films
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was directed by New Zealander Andrew Adamson and was shot mainly in New Zealand, though locations were used in Poland, the Czech Republic and England.
The story follows four British children who are evacuated during the Blitz to the countryside and find a wardrobe that leads to the fantasy world of Narnia; there, they must ally with the Lion Aslan against the forces of the White Witch, who has the world under an eternal winter.
The film was released theatrically starting on December 9, 2005. The film grossed over $745 million worldwide, making it the 44th highest grossing film worldwide of all time.
Prince Caspian (2008)
Prince Caspian was the second adaption to the Chronicles of Narnia franchise. The whole production team from The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe returned but also new cast members joined the Narnia team such as Ben Barnes, Peter Dinklage and Eddie Izzard.
The story follows four British children who were transported to Narnia in the previous film returning to Narnia and finding out that over 1300 years have passed and the land has been invaded by Telmarines. The four Pevensie children (William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, and Georgie Henley) return to aid Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) in his struggle for the throne against his corrupt uncle, King Miraz (Sergio Castellitto).
The film was released on May 16, 2008. It grossed $419 million worldwide and was considered a moderate success. This film was the last in the Narnia film series to be distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, based on the novel with the same title, was directed by Michael Apted and was the third official film in the series.
The story follows the two younger Pevensie children as they return to Narnia with their cousin, Eustace. They join the new king of Narnia, Caspian, in his quest to rescue seven lost lords to save Narnia from a corrupting evil that resides on a dark island.[3]
Production was put on hold when Disney chose not to produce the film after a budget dispute with Walden Media, who then negotiated with 20th Century Fox to replace them.[4] Fox officially joined Walden Media on January 28, 2009.[5] It was released on December 10, 2010 in Digital 3D in select theaters, along with its wide 2D release. It grossed over $415 million worldwide.
Future
As there are seven books in The Chronicles of Narnia, each book could potentially become a theatrical feature film.[6] Although they originally produced the films in the same order as the book series' original publication, 20th Century Fox, Walden Media, and the C.S Lewis Estate selected The Magician's Nephew, which recounts the creation of Narnia, to be the basis for the fourth movie, instead of The Silver Chair.[7] Shortly before Perry Moore's death in February 2011, he told his family that he had secured funding for such a film. In March 2011, Walden Media confirmed that they intended The Magician's Nephew to be next in the series, but stressed that it was not yet in development.[8]
In October 2011, Douglas Gresham stated that Walden Media's contract with the C. S. Lewis estate had expired, with Walden Media no longer having exclusive purchasing rights to any further Narnia films. Thus any production of a future film is on hold indefinitely.
It was originally assumed that 2014 would be the earliest that production on another Narnia film could begin, according to the moratorium placed on the C. S. Lewis estate's right to sell the books' film option.[9][10][11] However, in May 2012, Gresham confirmed that technically any studio still has the option of making a Narnia film during the moratorium, but without the involvement of Walden Studios it cannot be released until 2018 at the earliest (the actual end year of the moratorium).[12] Gresham also hinted that Walden Media's lapse in renegotiating their contract with the C. S. Lewis estate was due to internal conflicts between both companies about the direction of future films.[12] Contrary to Walden Media's initial plan, Gresham stated that he plans for The Silver Chair to be the next film to be made, hinting that future films might be made independently.[12]
Main cast
Children
- William Moseley as Peter Pevensie, title: King Peter the Magnificent, the eldest Pevensie child and the High King of Narnia.
- Anna Popplewell as Susan Pevensie, title: Queen Susan the Gentle, the eldest Pevensie girl and Queen of Narnia.
- Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie, title: King Edmund the Just, the youngest Pevensie boy and King of Narnia.
- Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie, title: Queen Lucy the Valiant, the youngest Pevensie child and Queen of Narnia.
- Will Poulter as Eustace Scrubb, the Pevensie children's cousin.
Other recurring characters
- Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan, the magnificent and powerful lion who helps govern Narnia, his own creation. He is the only character to appear in all of the books.
- Tilda Swinton as Jadis, the White Witch, the former queen of Charn and a witch who ruled Narnia after the events of The Magician's Nephew and during the events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
- Ben Barnes as Caspian X, the Telmarine prince who becomes King of Narnia after overthrowing his evil uncle Miraz.
- Eddie Izzard and later Simon Pegg as the voice of Reepicheep, the noble and courageous mouse who fights for Aslan and the freedom of Narnia. Izzard played the character in Prince Caspian, and Pegg took over the role in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
Reception
Box office performance
| Film | Release date | Box office revenue | Box office ranking | Budget | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Foreign | Worldwide | All time domestic | All time worldwide | ||||
| The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | December 9, 2005 | $291,710,957 | $453,302,158 | $745,013,115 | #48 | #44 | $180,000,000 | [13] |
| Prince Caspian | May 16, 2008 | $141,621,490 | $278,044,078 | $419,665,568 | #259 | #143 | $225,000,000 | [14] |
| The Voyage of the Dawn Treader | December 10, 2010 | $104,386,950 | $311,299,267 | $415,686,217 | #470 | #145 | $140,000,000 - $155,000,000 | [15] |
| Total | $537719397 | $1042645503 | $1580364900 | $545,000,000 - $560,000,000 | ||||
Critical reception
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Top Critics | ||
| The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | 76% (210 reviews)[16] | 75% (40 reviews)[16] | 75% (39 reviews)[17] |
| Prince Caspian | 67% (186 reviews)[18] | 62% (39 reviews)[18] | 62% (34 reviews)[19] |
| The Voyage of the Dawn Treader | 49% (156 reviews)[20] | 48% (29 reviews)[20] | 53% (33 reviews)[21] |
See also
- The Chronicles of Narnia novels:
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
- Prince Caspian (1951)
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
- The Silver Chair (1953)
- The Horse and His Boy (1954)
- The Magician's Nephew (1955)
- The Last Battle (1956)
References
- ^ Disney opts out of 3rd 'Narnia' film
- ^ A general dislike of cinema can be seen in Collected Letters, Vol. 2, a letter to his brother Warren on March 3, 1940, p. 361; see also All My Road Before Me, June 1, 1926, p. 405
- ^ Alexonx (November 10, 2010). "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader-Spectacular trailer". filmissimo.it. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
- ^ Borys Kit (2008-12-24). "Disney jumps ship on next 'Narnia'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2008-12-24. [dead link]
- ^ Emily; Martin, Paul (2009-01-28). "Fox To Pick Up Dawn Treader". NarniaFans.com. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "NarniaWeb — Walden Media Outlines Narnia Series".
- ^ Moring, Mark (April 7, 2011). "The Lion, the Witch, and the Box Office". Christianity Today. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
- ^ 'Narnia': Walden, Fox in discussions on 'The Magician's Nephew'
- ^ Gresham Confirms: Walden’s Contract Expired
- ^ Walden Media’s Option for a Fourth Narnia film Expires
- ^ Narnia 4?
- ^ a b c http://www.narniaweb.com/2012/05/gresham-shares-plans-for-next-narnia-film/
- ^ "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
- ^ "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
- ^ "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
- ^ a b "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
- ^ "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
- ^ a b "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
- ^ "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
- ^ a b "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
- ^ "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-10-13.
External links
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at IMDb
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian at IMDb
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader at IMDb
