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!
thats kind of wierd but like cool at the same time… 🙂
wow! That's really interesting!
Oh yes. They're all difficult to adapt, aren't they. *annoyed huff* Let's hope they keep this one boring and to the book, because really, moviemakers, we'd like it that way. 😛
"But it has no real through line"-
not sure we read the same book. Each island is distinct, but the connection is still very clear IMO.
*a little worried now*
Hmmm, I'm not sure that this is very comforting. I don't know what this says about Gael either, I mean the only "little girl" character mentioned in any other Narnia book is Gwendolyn in "Prince Caspian".
*Spoilers for Last Battle* Stolen things from the other books…I don't like the sound of that. Sounds like another dying dryad scene. (I mean that scene was directly taken from the Last Battle.)
Interesting how movie people think they have to do things that in reality they probably don't have to do.
Let's hope whatever it is won't cause any fans to think: "how ridiculous and unnecessary". 🙁
Finding Nemo had a similar structure to VDT, and it was a great film. Marlin is trying to find his son, and Caspian is trying to find the Narnian Lords. Finding Nemo is a series of eposodic adventures, VDT is a series of eposodic adventures. If it worked for FN, can't it work for VDT?
You know people need to stop compairing the book to the movie. To make a movie fun to watch they have to do things that are not in the book. So why don't eveybody go see the movie when it comes out and enjoy it and don't compair it to the book. Thats where people who read the books go wrong. I read the book and I also read HP books and saw the movies and enjoyed every book and movie, but went with a open mind when it came to the movies. I loved Prince Caspian and I can't wait to see VOTDT. no matter how it turns out I love adventure movies and I beleive this one will be one. So have fun with it and enjoy it. But don't compair it Ben, Skander, Georgie and the rest of the cast are good actors so I am not worried about the way it is going to turn out. I just wish it was this time next year.
Hmmmmm. I'm not sure what to make of that. So far I'm not that impressed with all of the "artistic liscence" that Fox and Walden Media are using. I almost think they are using too much!
I still can't wait for the movie to come out, though, hee hee.
This kind of thing is expected. Sounds exciting to me. As long as they get the key elments and incorporate Aslan and make him as important as he really is, then Im good.
It's easy to say to go into the movie with an open mind, but it's much harder to do. The first time I watched Prince Caspian I knew I wouldn't be able to help comparing it to the book, but the second time I went determined to enjoy it just as a movie… and failed. I still love to watch it, but I will always be disappointed not to really see the book become a movie.
It also makes me somewhat sad that, for many children (and others) the world over, the movies will be the first introduction to Narnia… a Narnia that's not quite the REAL Narnia. They're good movies, but it's bittersweet.
I feel the same as you do. The films are a separate piece of work as were the BBC minis and radio dramas. If I want a strict story I'll just pick up the book and read it because nothing is more faithful than the source material. But I can read those and still enjoy the films' vision of Narnia.
You are Right!!!
im with u. u r right, peopple need to watch the movies and not compare it with the books. Every movie that is based from a book it will never be the same as the book. So enjoy the movies and books. Cant wait for the movie im so exited!!!!!!!!!
Ok I was trying to think about the sceens we've seen and they can relate to the other books, but I drew a blank so I went to the website to see if there was anything else about VDT. Since I couldn't find anything here that isn't already here I looked at the website thinking it was another aulstrailian website, but no it was a Salt Lake City, Utah website. I felt like I was going to explode. Was there another narnia lover in Utah besides me? so Whoever posted this Do you live in utah? sorry I have to pull all of you in to my teen drama life.^^
Borrowing from later books sounds better than making stuff up, as long as it doesn't interfere with anything major when they get around adapting the later books in question.
I'm very curious.
Hopefully what Ben thinks is true, that the way they've borrowed elements around will be clever and unobtrusive. Maybe it'll be parallels to events in Horse and His Boy or foreshadowing later events in canon which would be interesting to me but also depressing if they're hints at Silver Chair or Last Battle, sad books. I'm curious but December 2010 is so far.
Ya thats how I fell in love with narnia was by the movies and I feel disapointed that I didn't fall in love with the books like others and I wish I could change that, but I know I can't and hopefully I will teach my kids to fall in love with the books and not the movies.
I agree cause my friend emily loves the Harry Potter and Twilight series of books and not the movies because they don't relate to the movies and the characters look nothing like in the book (she even glared at this backpack withedward and bella on it).
Wo Wo Wo I can live with books that take place in Narnia and the north, but not the Horse and His boy. I mean it takes place in the deseret with 14-15 year olds escaping to narnia. It just wouldn't mix. (sorry if I seem crazy I just need to get some sleep).
This worries me a little. I can handle it when they add stuff (I think), but if they're taking it from another book, how's that going to affect future Narnia movies? I hope that Ben is right when he says it's "unobtrusive."
You make a very good point, Kell, and I feel the same way you do.
The problem is, I think (and all of you diehard book fans out there, please don't shoot me for having my opinion) that many people don't understand the scriptwriting process, especially when translating a book into a movie. Several of you have pointed out that VDT makes very good sense and has a very "through plotline" that weaves together beautifully, which it does…for a book.
Let me explain. As a writer and an aspiring author, I have come to understand what goes into writing a book. I am also very fascinated with the movie-making process and have payed close attention to the way movies are put together and what makes them work. The thing many people don't understand is that what works for books doesn't always work for movies. I guess you could say it's kindof like the difference between a concerto and a sonata (sorry if some of you are completely lost, but that was the best analogy I could come up with): both are beautiful works of art, but they each have their own set of rules and expectations.
I guess what I'm saying is, books can have things like long descriptions and character's thoughts and journal entries and things like that, while movie directors have to worry about continuity, screen time, and explanations. I can definitely see why they would need elements in the movie to make the plot fit together in a way that would be easy for the audience to understand without lengthy explanations and other such unnecessary fillers that work perfectly well in a book.
In other words, please give the movie-makers some credit. They work very hard to please the diehard fans as well as the naive movie-goers (like several of my friends who thought the professor was really Aslan in human form in the first movie). They are not superhuman, and I think they've done a very good job so far.
my money is on Silver Chair and/or Last Battle stuff getting mixed into VDT. Silver Chair makes the most sense, since it essentially forms the trilogy in the Caspian story arc, and thus "sews it together". i understand what others have said about old scripts and mysterious blonde actresses popping out of nowehere, but theres something about these little telltale signs that i cant shake. somethings afoot, and Barnes just chucked in another clue on that side of the scale.
Wow, I totally wrote a mini-novel there. :S
That won't be too bad at all. Don't forget that in the first movie there were several references to The Magician's Nephew (such as the carvings on the wardrobe and the silver apple container on the professor's desk that he keeps that stuff for his pipe in).
Dare I even begin to wonder! I can't wait to just know so I can figure it all out in my head how it will play out! All I can do for now is just pray and hope!
I've always felt it would have been interesting in the books if Caspian had done something between the years of VDT and SC to give the Lady of the Green Kirtle reason, so that her treachery was more than ten years in the making.
I love those kinds of hints at canon in adaptations! Though Ben seems to imply that whatever this is is tied to the main plot. Very intriguing.
No worries, and I'll be the first to admit when I saw those pictures of Caspian in his new armor I did think he had a Prince of Persia look to him.
Wow PaigeReeder, that's just how I feel too, but I hadn't yet been able to put words on it….you saved me the trouble 🙂
Oh, sorry about that Aravis Tarkheena. At least you can fall in love with all the books that haven't been made into movies yet!
I'm gonna go out on a limb here. If they were to borrow from the later novels, it would make sense for them to set up the "order of witches" talked about in the Silver Chair.
I always felt like that was a bit of retcon in the books, and it would directly set up a sequel . . .
Thoughts?
I was thinking along the same lines as well although I don't remember it being addressed in Magician's Nephew despite it being written later than Silver Chair. Still it would make the existence of more witches fluid for the film adaptations, especially if they intend to turn Silver Chair into a movie. I would cry my eyes out because that book depresses me but would love to see the film continuity expanded anyway.
Exactly!
I doubt anyone expects a word for word copy of the book, but they screenwriters should at least try to keep loyal to what Lewis intended.
Though I must admit the hint at romance between Caspian and Susan was a bit much, in the last movie.
Speaking of A horse and his boy, is there any rumore of that being made into film?
There is nothing germane to the central story of Dawn Treader that is at all "difficult to adapt", cinematically. Not to a writer with half a clue, anyway. The more I read of this nonsense, the more frustrated and angry I get. I was, at first, more nervous about whether or not the more important SPIRITUAL aspects of the book would be included in the film, because, like many others, I thought that the basic story was so good, so clearly laid out, that there was no way they'd "mess it up". THAT part, I thought, was a given. Now, I have serious doubts as to whether this thing will even be recognizable, in ANY regard. And, worse yet, by "stealing a couple of ideas" from the later books, they not only risk compromising THIS film, but any potential adaptations of THOSE books, as well. Sounds like the "unfathomable fate" is what awaits us in theatres in December, 2010.
uh oh
I don't like this at all….
Sure, we understand the difference. I know most of the changes are made to fit the book into a movie form. The only thing is, I (as well as many others) grew up with these books, literally. When I heard they were being made into movies, I was (and still am) ecstatic. Why? Because I wanted to see my favorite stories which to some extent defined my childhood on the screen. I don't want to see some other movie with the same name and a few similarities. Now I'm not saying VDT is going to be changed /that/ drastically, I'm just trying to make a point: after seeing other books completely botched by movie attempts, that extreme haunts me just a bit. When I see a new change, I think I'm entitled to be a bit apprehensive – after all, it's almost like their messing with a good friend or something, that's how important these books are. If the change is necessary, and sticks to the basic theme of the book I'm absolutely fine with it. No problemo. But if it's not… *sigh*.
Let's all calm down here. Frankly, the book is meant to be a book, not a movie. I would prefer a couple changes here and there, and the general essence of the book to be present. And if they are stealing from "later books", it's not entirely untrue. Now some of you are going "Yes it is!" right now. I have one word for those of you: the kiss. Can't get much worse then that.
I have to agree with what Crimson Dragon said.
I still like to watch the movies, but it's saddening. It wasn't how I hoped or expected. As I watched the news and then the clips that came in, I was very excited. It looked really fabulous and exciting. I went into it with a open mind you might say. And came out disappointed… So I'm a little apprehensive as I watch the news this time. Oh sure, I'm still excited and I can't wait to see the finished project, but worried when they mention later books and changes. Besides, I don't like that much some of the later books as some of the others.
I really believe this is good news! We were pretty sure that they added this "unfathomable fate" thing, but if they took it from another narnia book, it makes me feel a lot better. After all, it ìs from the books, so it'll probably be OK.
Puddleglum,
Walden Media has repeatedly said that they are committed to making movies based on all the book as long as the series continues to receive adequate support from movie goers.
Borrowed from other books? It's better than making stuff up, but it will take away from the other books. And yes, VDT is rather episodic, but it is tied together quite well with finding the lost lords, and Aslan's country.
It sounds like the filmmakers think that there isn't enough grand scale action for modern film viewers, so they want to add pitched battles and unfathomable fates. I don't mean to rant, but what ever happened to just telling a good story?
*makes toilet flushing noise* Grrr…VotDT has a VERY clear "through line" – the quest for the seven missing lords!!!! I really hope that actors, as usual, have no idea what they're talking about in terms of over-arching plot.
No kidding! I am not too happy about the idea, but I guess we'd better wait and see what they mean. But this could be really bad…..
I am so excited for this movie. All I know is that it is going to be very interestint..with all this plus the MLG. I can't wait.
Im just hoping that they dont mess up this movie too much…Hmm..imagine if *cough* Disney *cough* was still doing this. I bet they would mess the whole thing up.
I agree. I would like to see at least one movie that sticks to the story line of a book without changing anything..which may be a little difficult with the Narnia series..but It is still doable!
Yes, but the kiss only took 5 seconds, and another 5 seconds of odd flirty glances. You can ignore that – but structural changes to a story, or tacking on some fake urgency with some danger of Narnia being destroyed, is much harder to ignore.
That's very true..ive never thought of that before.
When I first watched LWW I had only read three of the books. So I fell in love with the books and movies at the same time. Plus I was only eleven at the time, so it all felt very magical.
Hi, everybody!
I'm one of those people who HATES them to change the books, but I did enjoy the Prince Caspian movie. My only real problem with it was that they didn't show enough "pro Narnian" Telmarines, so the ending, with all those celebrating people, didn't make quite as much sense as I would have liked.
I think that whether you find a "through line" in Dawn Treader (the book) depends a little on who you think is the hero of the story. A lot of the book is from either Lucy's or Eustace's perspective. But, having read "Planet Narnia" (great book, BTW!), I've become convinced that Reepicheep is the "hero" of the story. But I don't think they're going to film it that way. 😉 (Actually, filmmakers tend to misidentify the hero a lot — look at LOTR! —but that's another story).
If they do make Reepicheep the hero, they don't need to change anything much. He's the driving force of the story in a lot of ways, and a great foil for the boys, and sometimes Lucy.
But if they center the movie on the human characters, I can see them bringing other elements in.
Jargon, what you say about the "order of witches" makes a lot of sense. And, personally, I think they could bring that in fairly easily, especially in the Dark Island scene — which could be expanded.
There are already references to The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe on Ramandu's Island — but am I alone in thinking that they could also bring elements from The Magician's Nephew into the story, both on Ramandu's Island and later on?
BTW, Aravis Narnia, that's really cool that your friends thought Professor Kirk was another form of Aslan!
*Hopes they aren't stealing LotGK from SC*
The first time I tried to read "The Chronicles of Narnia", I didn't get all the way through. After that, I kind of forgot about the books. Then I heard that "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" was to be made into a movie. I, of course, went to see it, and instantly it became one of my favorite movies. Then I read the books, all seven of them this time. I very much enjoyed all of them this time around, and that's how I became a Narnia fan.
I counted the days until "Prince Caspian" came out, and I'd been looking forward to it so much that I didn't let myself be disappointed, at least not too bitterly. I tried to think of the things that I did like, and then the next few times I saw it, even the things I hadn't liked at first seemed all right to me. After all, reading the book, I tried to picture myself a screenwriter or director or whatever, and really, I would have had a tough time with it. Not even BBC could make that story into a movie that was word-for-word like the book.
Now, if possible, I am looking forward to "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" even more than "Prince Caspian". I fully anticipate the movie being different from the book in some ways, but that's all right. The one complaint about "The Lion, the Witch, and Wardrobe" that I've heard in person is that the movie is too much like the book. I don't really agree, but whatever. However, they did have a point. If a movie and a book are exactly alike, then why read the book when you can watch the movie, or why watch the movie when you can read the book? You get the same thing out of both! As for myself, I like a lot of the things they changed in "Prince Caspian". To me, it brings out the meaning of the book that I could never see before I watched the movie. Now I can see it in both.
In conclusion, I like them to stay very close to the book, but a few differences are okay.
I totally agree with you!
There are Narnia lovers everywhere. Are you just wanting a Narnia friend on this website who also lives near you? I wouldn't feel isolated just because you like Narnia and everyone one this site seems to be from somewhere else. You'll find out how many actually are really excited about this where you live if you go the first night this comes out. (Near SLC myself)
I couldn't have said it better, Reepicheep. My story about becoming a fan of Narnia is very similar except I watched the BBC versions as a kid, but I didn't really become a fan until LWW came out. I like some changes too, because I like some surprises. Like the Castle Raid in PC was a big surprise, but I really like that scene. I LOVE the gryphons! I have always been a fan of uncommonly used mythical creatures. But I am definitely excited about a more desperate reason why they are searching for the seven lords. Because just finding them to find them (to me) isn't that big of a drive to complete their quest. Now if finding the lord to find them because they have some sort of special information to save Narnia to something and if they don't find it something bad will happen to Narnia. That's much more desperate. I am waiting until the movie comes out the pass my judgement and they haven't really let me down yet (though a little in PC), so I'm going to trust the movie makers and anxiously await 12/10/10. I also wonder what exactly their stealing, but I just gotta wait. *grumble grumble* So with that said. Sail on VDT and long live King Caspian! Long live Aslan! 😀 🙂
*Has a flash back to the early concept art with the green snake and the creepy cave that looked like a snake's mouth*
(O.o) what if they combined VTD and SC?? that would be just creepy!