Anna Popplewell: Susan’s Appearance Will Be Brief

Yesterday, we posted a link to a short video interview with Anna Popplewell (Susan) at the UK premiere of Charlie St. Cloud, where she said: “I’m only in a teenny tiny fraction of [The Voyage of the Dawn Treader]. I just went out basically to do this one scene, and to visit. But it looks like it’s going to be really good, and obviously I’m excited to see it.” (Thanks to ‘Daredevil’ for the find)

Hours later, another short interview popped up on YouTube:

Transcript:

Q: …Looking forward to the new film. What can you tell us?

Anna: I can’t tell you very much because I’m not really in it. My character is not in the book. But if you keep your eyes peeled very carefully, then you might catch a glimpse of me. But I think everyone who I know who is involved with it is really excited about it, and it’s going to be out towards the end of the year.

Q: In the trailer, it looks big.

Anna: Yeah, well they don’t like to muck about with them really, do they? Lots of it is set on a boat this time, so it’s got quite a different look, but it’s still more of the same epic scale.

Q: Were you a bit sad not to be as involved as you were with the other films?
Anna:
Yeah, I mean of course, because I had such a good time doing them. But at the same time, it sort of meant that I was allowed to go to university, so it kind of worked out well.

NarniaWebbers have been speculating about Peter and Susan’s role in the film ever since they first appeared on a theater stand in May, and again in trailers. In the book, Peter is busy studying for exams and Susan is in America. Here an an excerpt from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Chapter 1:

Edmund and Lucy did not at all want to come and stay with Uncle Harold and Aunt Alberta. But it really couldn’t be helped. Father had got a job lecturing in America for sixteen weeks that summer, and Mother was to go with him because she hadn’t had a real holiday for ten years. Peter was working very hard for an exam and he was to spend the holidays being coached by old Professor Kirke in whose house these four children had had wonderful adventures long ago in the war years. If he had still been in that house he would have had them all to stay. But he had somehow become poor since the old days and was living in a small cottage with only one bedroom to spare. It would have cost too much money to take the other three all to America, and Susan had gone.

Grown-ups thought her the pretty one of the family and she was no good at school work (though otherwise very old for her age) and Mother said she “would get far more out of a trip to America than the youngsters”. Edmund and Lucy tried not to grudge Susan her luck, but it was dreadful having to spend the summer holidays at their Aunt’s. “But it’s far worse for me,” said Edmund, “because you’ll at least have a room of your own and I shall have to share a bedroom with that record stinker, Eustace.”

So, why are Peter and Susan wearing their Narnian clothes in the trailer? Discuss!

95 Responses

  1. Reepicheep, Knight of Narnia says:

    I've been so glad since the trailer came out that Peter and Susan will be in a little bit. I don't think it's too dramatic a change.

  2. FriendOfNarnia2 says:

    Good point Defender of the King.

  3. lucyrocks17 says:

    Looks good!

  4. nathan says:

    I agree with Glumpuddle. It's just a word game. It's kind of like if I said, "Abraham Lincoln is NOT on the 5 dollar bill; It's just a picture of him. Lincoln is in a tomb in Springfield."

    When we say that Abe Lincoln is on the 5 dollar bill, of course we don't mean that his actually body is on the bill. Of course it's just his picture.

    So,in the same way, when we say that Susan is not in the third book, we're not saying that she's never mentioned or even referred to. Of course she's mentioned at the beginning and during the scene of the magician's book. The point is that she doesn't play a role, neither a major role (like in LWW) nor a minor role (like in HBB).

    But I would prefer for the filmmakers to give her a cameo and show her going to America. That would be great.

    There is no reason for her to be wearing Narnian clothes. THAT is untrue to the book.

  5. Duffleglum says:

    Agreed, @sgk474. I think this scene is going to be neat without any wierdness or twists.

    I am more concerned about Peter's sword glowing blue… what on earth is THAT all about???

  6. Duffleglum says:

    I agree with glumPuddle, but seriously, why are either of you two debating something we all know about?

    Sure, Sommer should not have said such a general broad statement as he did, but attacking his poor logic does little to edifying the discussion.

    Just tell him what you think peacefully and leave it be, glumPuddle.

  7. If we are going based off of what was in the trailer it looks like she and William will be in it noticeably, but if we go off of what she said it seems like she may just be an extra? It's hard to tell! Guess we will just have to wait till December!!!! 🙂

  8. FrecklefaceJill says:

    Yes!!

  9. HighQueenofNarnia says:

    After giving it much thought, I'm going to have to side with gP on this one. Perhaps your definitions of "in the book" are different. My definition happens to match gP's (the character plays at least some sort of active role in the book, besides being just mentioned). I think Sommer's definition is a bit more broad (a character simply being mentioned in the book without doing anything and also a character that does have an active role). I'm not even going to enter the wordplay discussion.

    And, believe it or not, the question of how much Susan and Peter should be in the book is actually quite important to many people- more than some would think. Isn't this the whole point of Narniaweb: to discuss and debate about aspects of the books and movies with other Narnia fans? As well as informing people about the newest updates from the movies, of course.

  10. Leolani says:

    Yeah, about the sword…. It reminds me of Excaliber in "Dragons in our Midst" O.O

  11. Leolani says:

    Aww, she looks so pretty and natural and REAL without lipstick! They sooo should have had her play Susan like that!!!

  12. Purbita says:

    Flashback is the most appropriate idea that came up, I guess :s I know there's every chance I'm wrong,and it's the lamest of all the opinions, but maybe they just show Susan and Peter with Lucy and Ed, since it's mainly their story, right?
    I don't think it's the magician's book, since Su is supposed to appear in the "book" looking murderously (er, no) at Lucy if she uttered that beauty spell, but here she's walking with Narnian clothes with Peter, and he's not supposed to be in the spellbook.
    Yeah, maybe Lucy has a flashback about their old times in Narnia, when they were fighting, but again, maybe not.

    I have some other confusions, I think I'll have to go through the story thoroughly once more to check if there's any other appearance/memories related to Peter/Susan or the four Pevensies altogether. Or maybe they come as different people. But don't bother about this, I'm just blabbering excitedly. 🙂 Can't wait for the movie….

  13. Queen Emily the Valiant says:

    Oh I really wished that Susan and Peter would have at least more than one scene in the film! It must be really hard for them not getting to act in the film! That doesn't mean it won't be good though!!! CAN'T WAIT FOR THE FILM 🙂

  14. CoriaKing says:

    I love debates.

  15. ONOchemistry says:

    Speaking of Anna, she closed Elliot J. Frieze S/S 2011 show in London Fashion Week yesterday. You will be surprise with her make-up and dress but i think it's beautiful cos she done something different this time.

    http://www.life.com/search/?type=images&q0=Anna+Popplewell&page=1

  16. ONOchemistry says:

    Narnians must be proud of her 🙂

  17. Good heavens! Apperently December needs to get here quickly. We are all like children bickering about presents before Christmas 🙂
    Kind of funny.
    I am slightly worried but excited…we will see!

  18. Reepicheep says:

    I'm happy they didn't bring Susan for the romance in PC.

  19. Omac the centaur says:

    80 days left!!! 8D

  20. Queen Elizabeth says:

    Yea. Caspian has to get married to Rammadu's daughter (pardon my spelling) anyway, and bringing Susan back for that would just be wrong.

  21. NarniaHannah says:

    Roger, I agree with you 100%!! 🙂

  22. Purbita says:

    Yep.

  23. narnian at heart says:

    goodness,this is a mystery but im glad she has a tiny scene!:)))

  24. anjali bose says:

    i just can't wait 4 da movie !!!!!!!!! wanna watch em all back 2gether !!!!!!

  25. annapoplewell says:

    Totally agree….

  26. annapoplewell says:

    I 'm really puzzled, everyone. The phrases "in a teeny tiny fraction" and "keep your eyes peeled" sound like they are referring to the scene in the magician's book. It certainly doesn't sound like referring to that scene in the trailer where the 4 pevensies are walking….you wouldn't have to 'keep your eyes peeled' to spot her there….So I'll wager that this scene isn't in the movie, but they just used it to attract attention to the movie in general????? I don't know what to think!
    Really excited about the movie though :):)

  27. narniafan#1 says:

    Did you two (Sommer and Glumpuddle) even read the above question? We're supposed to be discussing why we think they were wearing Narnian clothes in the trailer. NOT what our opinions are about whether Susan and Peter should be considered "in the book or not in the book", "in the movie or not in the movie." I am totally disinclined to talk anymore about it after this discussion has taken such a rediculous turn. I will say this, I am very excited about the movie and can't wait to see it, regardless of how much screen time Peter and Susan may or may not have.

  28. Narniamad says:

    I think that that scene in the trailer is from Prince Caspian, i reckon it was a tie in shot. I have a sneeky feeling that susan could be at the start of the movie along with peter.. they are going to have to acount for their absence not everyone has read the book!!

  29. Galadrielle says:

    In Coriakin's book, Lucy sees Susan in both countries, Narnia and England, as she casts her spell to make herself beautiful beyond the lot of mortals. In the pictures in Coriakin's book, she upstages Susan, even though she has done so already! Unbeknownst to her, she already is more beautiful than Susan, and the only thing she desires is what she has already.

  30. Queen Elizabeth says:

    She only gets glimps of what she should look like. She doesn't actually cast the spell. And all she is seeing in the book is Herself more beautiful, in which this case is portrayed as Susan.

  31. Bethany says:

    I agree with glumPuddle, but I had forgotten about the scene that Caspian mentioned, in which Lucy sees herself being more beautiful than Susan. I suppose that when you're making a book into a movie, showing that Susan and Peter are gone works so much better visually for audiences than just saying it.

  32. Bethany says:

    @icarus-
    Amen! 🙂

  33. Queen C The Gentle says:

    You're right. I mean she's like my favorite character. I know people who have read the book didn't like the relationship between Caspian and Susan but I haven't read the book and I loved the relationship.I really want it to continue in some way. Is there any Caspian and Susan fans on this web?

  1. September 18, 2010

    […] Anna Popplewell: Susan’s Appearance Will Be Brief In a short video interview, Anna Popplewell says that she is only in a “teeny tiny fraction” of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Read more on Narnia Web […]

  2. September 19, 2010

    […] Thanks, Narniaweb. […]