Intriguing Detail Revealed about the Dawn Treader Storyline

In a recent interview with Examiner’s Carla Hay, Ben Barnes dropped a very intriguing tidbit about the overall The Voyage of the Dawn Treader storyline.

Let’s talk about the “Dawn Treader” movie. I know you can’t reveal any spoilers, but what’s in the movie that’s different from the book?

Barnes: They’ve stolen a couple of ideas from some of the later [“Chronicles of Narnia”] books. [It’s] a very difficult book to adapt, because it’s very episodic. It’s chapter by chapter. They go on the voyage, they go to one island, a bit more voyage, another island, a bit more voyage, another island. It’s very satisfying to read; every chapter by chapter, it’s very exciting. But it has no real through line. And so they have to kind of steal other elements to sew it all together. I think they’ve done it in a really clever, unobtrusive way.

Could this perhaps have something to do with the “unfathomable fate” we’ve heard about in the production’s written movie synopsis? It certainly seems like a strong possibility, but until we get more information, let the speculation begin!

Thanks to JadistarkilleR for the heads-up!

473 Responses

  1. Fire Fairy says:

    I didn't see it seven times, but I did see it four…

    King Skandar, I love that! Too bad most of us can't afford to see VDT as many times as we've commented…especially those of us who've contributed a good amount to just this discussion!

    Aunt Letty, I'm still here! I haven't been home all weekend, so I haven't been on the internet, but I'll talk to you (and all of us other Narnia nuts that keep coming back). I think the reason some of the conversations have died off is because most people don't realize that we're still going strong!

  2. Fire Fairy says:

    Don't get me started!! I love how Lewis understood the real meaning of character development and all that. Most people don't realize that what they might do to satisfy their curiosity or such could actually be very harmful to others. Also, in this day and age, many people take what people say to heart, especially when they weren't supposed to be hearing it and only heard part of it. A lot of relationships are ruined because one person hears only part of another person's conversations. As Lucy learned, through her experience and Aslan's gentle reprimand, we must not judge others by snippits of conversations we hear, and we should always give people the benefit of the doubt.

  3. Fire Fairy says:

    One of my favorite passages in the entire Chronicles. A beautiful and touching scene. They better do it right!!!!

  4. Fire Fairy says:

    Now that I think about it, that's just perfect! I don't know if I can add anything to that…good point, Aunt Letty!

  5. Fire Fairy says:

    Well, I remember in fourth or fifth grade being in school and watching the BBC LWW, and absolutely loving it. I also remember an acting group coming to our school and performing LWW using only two actors (that was pretty cool, I must admit). I don't actually remember reading the books as a child…I do remember I actually didn't like them at first, even though I absolutely loved the story, because Lewis's writing style was difficult for me to understand, or because it was too simple or something. I can't actually remember. Later, I found out that they were redoing the movie when I was at an indoor amusement park to play mini golf, and they had TVs playing different movie previews and stuff. My brother and I both loved the story (although we didn't like how "primative" the original BBC series was–we're big movie fans), so we decided to go see it. And thus began my Narnia craze. I loved the movie so much that I decided to reread the books…and couldn't remember why I didn't like them! I loved them so much and all of the christian symbolism and parallels that I just had to have the books. Although, the funny thing is, before I became a Narnia fan, I did an seventh grade book report on HHB, where I made it into a children's book…so I'm not exactly sure what happened with the books. It's a bit of a blur. I just didn't come a complete fan of the books until I saw the first movie. Yet, now I'm a big fan of the books…anyways, however it came about, I'm here now!

  6. Aunt Letty says:

    So Fire Fairy, it sounds like you came to the books at a point in your life where you were capable of concsiously grasping the symbolism.

    BTW, I think HHB is the book most suitable to film adaptation and it would be a shame if they don't get around to it. I've always said it was the one most likely to make a good movie.

  7. Polly Plummer says:

    Gosh yes HHB would be so exciting in a film, with the race across the desert, the city of Tashban, King Lune meeing Shasta for the first time – it'd be great. It would also be great to see Edmund, Susan and Lucy back as grown ups in the middle of the golden age of Narnia

  8. Fire Fairy says:

    No kidding! HHB is not my absolute favorite (MN and LB are), but I love the storyline and being able to see what Narnia was like during the Golden Age, with the High King and his brother and sisters ruling and sailing and everything! It would be a magnificent film!

  9. Fire Fairy says:

    Yeah, that about sums it up. I'm glad I decided to revisit the books…if I hadn't, I would still be in the dark concerning all of the wonderful things of Narnia!!

  10. Long Live King Skandar says:

    Oh man oh man where do I begin?? Actually, the very first Narnia book I read was LB. I was pretty young, not really old enough to understand all the symbolism. But I remember really loving the part where Aslan brings them all to a new world where you're always happy and content. Of course, that's the part where CS Lewis mentioned all the old characters from the rest of the series, and so of course I read the rest pretty soon after that; one book per sitting, almost. I remember loving the characters, the language that Lewis wrote in, etc. Couldn't put the books down. They all made sense and fit together, I don't really know how to say it. But I'm sure other Narnia fans know what I mean:) Then I saw LWW a while later and LOVED it. Obviously. I really felt like it captured the theme that Lewis was trying to get at throughout the series.

  11. Fire Fairy says:

    A very interesting place to start! But that's okay…sometimes the best place to start is at the end (contrary to Maria's advice in Sound of Music).

  12. Aunt Letty says:

    And by the time they get around to making it, the actors will be pretty much the right ages…

    And what an interesting directorial challenge; figuring out how to have a main character that happens to be a talking horse which can be taken seriously, and doesn't in any way invite Mr. Ed comparisons. Whew. Better them than me…

  13. Mark Hunt says:

    Before I comment, please forgive I have not read any of the comments or replys on this subject it would take to long to do so. But I used to be huntisnarnia once ago, and I used to talk about this topic alot.

    First of all I have not problem with them making changes of the book so that it make film-sense. The biggest example is a scene from the LOTR Fellowhsip. When Gimli asks Galadiel for one strand of hair from her golden head. That sounds great in a book, but try to visualize this clumzy dwarf trying to hold onto a piece of hair. Thats almost impossible to do on film. The same goes for the Nanria books, but their are certian things that just do not fit for a film. And that is the problem when you are making a film out of a book, especially a book that is very popular as this one is.
    Now of all the books, this is the one that I would have a hard time letting go of anything. The book itself is almost perfect for a feauture film, except for one thing. The story lines keep changing in the book. The plot never changes the plot is simple "get to Aslans country" But along the way they run into these islands. And all of them have their own story-line. Now I do not understand why they have to the other books and "steal" certian ideas and plot lines for, that just makes know sense.

    I usaully have not problem with the film-makers adding and subtracing to and from the books when they turn it into a film. But on this one I do not see why they would even have to do that. Its been a while since I last read the book, but I remember it very well, and their really is not anyting to add or take away from. Now Prince Caspian and the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe films I understand some of the changes (the books are quite boaring in my view they are and were my least two favorite) But Voyage is my third favorite behind the Horse and His Boy and the Last Battle.

    The one island I can see them changing around is the island where what ever touches the water turns to gold. That one is a very intersting one. And I can see a little sword fight between Caspian and Edmund there, just to get some action in and some humor.

    Well thats all for now, to Narnia and the North!!!!!!!

  14. Aunt Letty says:

    Except, if I remember right, the High King is conveniently off-stage for the entire book, fighting giants, or something (yet another example of an intriguing story only hinted at by our favorite author). So, no High King Peter in that one. Rats. But everyone else would be there, and even Tumnus would get to come back for a reprise.

  15. De says:

    dude have you ever seen a real duel? I mean when you are fighting to the death you don't think about making it pretty

  16. narniafan4ever says:

    Yes, I agree with you. 😀 And, I love those 3 books too! ;D

  17. JadistarkilleR says:

    uhh folks, if that review from LV is about the same one i have… i dont think its the movies script, defunct or otherwise. going through it its much like whats called "casting sides", which doesnt necessarily mean they're from from the actual script. casting sides live up to their name– they're for casting, to be given to actors auditioning for roles. and it looks to be that the one that made the rounds are casting sides for the secondary characters (Bern, Drinian, Stargirl, Uncle Harold et al). depending on how fastidious they are with security they could have a completely made up casting side that bears no resemblance to the actual script, or that they are simply cut and paste extracts from one of the permutations of the real script.

  18. Fire Fairy says:

    No kidding! But at least we'll get to see Edmund and Lucy in battle (and for Lucy, I have to say, FINALLY)! That'll be very interesting to see. And I wonder how they'll do Tumnus fourteen years older (doesn't it say in the book something about how he was a little bit chubbier or something? Imagine, a chubby James McAvoy…not a pretty picture). I also want to see Queen Susan and her dealings with Tashbaan… 😉

  19. Fire Fairy says:

    An interesting thought. I never thought about that. But, yes, that would be very tough. The only talking horse we've seen in the movies was Phillip, and even then he was used for comic relief (although Edmund should NOT have been riding him in a time of peace…totally unNarnian-like). Like you said, Aunt Letty, I'm glad I don't have to worry about that.

  20. Fire Fairy says:

    Wow, I'm totally out of it right now. I meant to say Rabadash. Sorry.

  21. Polly Plummer says:

    Yes I can't see them resisting the temptation to have some kind of physical confrontation between Caspian and Edmund when there's a verbal one in the book. I mean in PC there was no hint of a confrontation between Caspian and Peter in the book and yet they made it a major theme in the film. I imagine they'll also add more drama to things like the slavers and the island of dreams (perhaps by making the things that they are dreaming of visible rather than having the sailors just talking about them)

  22. SkandarLover45 says:

    WOW! Yea for extra info! So I'm thinkin that they write things for the actors to say. Hmmmm….. wonder how they secretly avoid our probing questions? SCRIPTED INTERVIEW!

  23. Jill Pole says:

    Jeez SkandarLover45! You make it sound like they can't think for themselves. You don' deserve to call yourself a skandarlover!

  24. narniafan4ever ♥ says:

    I agree, Jill Pole 😀

  25. Aunt Letty says:

    Fire Fairy,

    Good thing I wasn't drinking anything when I read that last post of yours. It would have come out my nose…(TMI?).

    Gads, a chubby James McAvoy. Poor fellow, he's not even allowed to get fat like the rest of us…

  26. Aunt Letty says:

    Reading your comments took me right back to the weeks I spent reading these books for the first time. Oh, the magic of it!

    I'd keep whichever one I was working on hidden in my pillowcase so my mom wouldn't detect it when she tucked me in at night, then I'd take it out and read late into the night by the light of the streetlamp outside my window. For some reason, they just felt like books that had to be read like that.

  27. narniafan4ever ♥ says:

    HAHA!!!! Oh my gosh. I almost choked when I read that…haha. Yeah, it was a TMI moment…lol. wow. 😀 Disturbing visuals going through my mind. :-/

  28. Fire Fairy says:

    Not to sound ignorant or anything, but could you tell me what TMI stands for?

  29. narniafan4ever ♥ says:

    yeah….it is short for "Too Much Information". 😀 And I didn't know that until last year, so your okay. 🙂

  30. Aunt Letty says:

    Well, in my day, it stood for "Three Mile Island", but I actually meant the other definition. Does this mean I knew some contemporary slang that you didn't, Fire Fairy???

  31. narniafan4ever ♥ says:

    Okay, so…..what did you mean for it to say when you used it, Aunt Letty?

  32. Fire Fairy says:

    Yeah, you did. But, then again, I'm really ignorant when it comes to "contemporary slang". The only slang I know is stuff I hear at school.

  33. TheScribblingScribe says:

    Hmm… the actors might be TOO old for the parts by the time they get around to making HHB.

    And yes, good heavens, no Mr. Ed please! That would be awful.

  34. Nuts4Narnia says:

    Any1 Here!!!!
    o and whoever is in charge of the script DONT CHANGE THE BOOK!!!! please?

  35. Nuts4Narnia says:

    sooo right fire fairy (no comment on what part tho lol)I just really hope they dont change to much

  36. Aunt Letty says:

    Narnia4Ever: I meant it to imply the "too much info" meaning, just like you said. I just thought it funny that, since you all seem to be somewhat more (ahem!) youthful than myself, that anyone would ask the meaning of my slang. That's all.

    The only reason I know any netspeak/slang, whatever, is because I am now raising my fifth teenager. 🙂

  37. narniafan4ever ♥ says:

    Aunt Letty….How do you know that I am not like an 85 year old woman who is such a Nut about Narnia? lol. jk, very funny, though…. 😀

  38. Digory says:

    I always seem to feel the book was better than the film; BUT surely VODT is aching for stunning scenery of seascapes and islands??

  39. tolkienlewisfan says:

    I knew they would have to face this problem eventually. They are right, The Dawn Treader doesn't really have a connected storyline. In fact, while the beginning is quite fascinating and humurous (Eustace) the 2nd half was a little boring. We should probably expect some somewhat big changes.

  40. Aunt Letty says:

    Just guessing… for all I know, you could be 85, right? But, you don't sound more than twenty-ish at most. Most of you don't, anyway. When you've spent the past twenty five years of your life with kids, you kind of get an intuition.:)

  41. Lillyput90 says:

    The first time I ever heard these wonderful stories, my Dad read them to my brother and I, in published order, rather than chronological order. I loved the LWW and PC but at that point in time I found HHB and VDT boring and long-winded (I was 9). When I re-read them for myself at a more mature age I loved VDT and HHB and they are now my absolute favourites (I can almost recite the whole book from memory for both). I love all of them but for some reason those two stand out for me. I read them all at least 2-3 times per year (My faves 5-6 time per year) and I'm not joking!

  42. Jill Pole says:

    Yes. There are some people who really don't give actors enough credit!

  43. SkandarLover45 says:

    OMG! Do you really think that they can just say what they want on interviews? There is some scriptation in them. I'm not trying to devalue them or anything.

  44. TheScribblingScribe says:

    I come from a church where the Narnia series is greatly promoted and loved. That along with my dad's obsession of Lewis had me growing up on those books since I was old enough to understand 🙂 He read them to me and my siblings almost every night. We now own all the book-on-tapes and Radio Theatre CD's, and movies as well. I LOVE NARNIA 😀

  45. tolkienlewisfan says:

    I have to somewhat agree w/Skandar lover (even though I don't…love Skandar….) Anyway, how else do you think that the directors and writers keep them from giving away vital info?? Sure they can think for themelves, but that doesn't mean that they can talk for themselves!! I give actors plenty of credit Jill Pole….but they are restricted in their speaking like skandar lover.

  46. Jill Pole says:

    Gosh you people are weird! I'm not saying that they are all scripted, they just can't speak for themselves. It's like you people fricken eat sleep and breath these people.

  47. SkandarLover45 says:

    You shouldn't be on this site if you're gonna be like this.

  48. Dufflepudd12 says:

    Why would The Lady of the Green Curdle be in VOT? I've heard those rumors too, but I don't like the idea of changing the reason for the Voyage.

  49. Dufflepudd12 says:

    Well, the Narniaweb people were talking about it on the Podcast.

  50. Dufflepudd12 says:

    Though December 10 2010 is a little long to wait. Did anybody hear that the oringonal relese date was May 2009?????? That's a long way to be pushed back.

  51. Dufflepudd12 says:

    Do they really have to add romance to every movie? Come on, hollywood, what about us? We Narnia fans are not really happy with you right now!

  52. Dufflepudd12 says:

    When Wladen Media did Bridge to Teribithia, I didn't really notice any changes from the book. But, some changes are good. Ever seen the BBC versions of Narnia. Little boring, hmmm.

  53. Dufflepudd12 says:

    Not to worry, the podcast definatly mentioned the dufflepuds being filmed.