Ben Barnes on ‘The Silver Chair’

Edward Douglas from ComingSoon.net recently posted an interview with Ben Barnes (Caspian) about his upcoming film The Seventh Son which releases in February 2013. Here is a clip from the end:

“Hopefully it will hold me in good stead,” he quipped when we mentioned his previous experience with literary action epics from the last two movies based on C.S. Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia.”

As far as that franchise, he feels two movies might be it for him as his character only appears in one more book, “The Silver Chair,” and in that one, he’s in his 70s.

“No more opportunity for me to go back and swashbuckle at 30 I don’t think but we’ll see,” he said. “It’s possible, but I think they might go and do ‘The Magician’s Nephew’ next anyway, which is like a prequel.”

Ben turned 30 in August. Caspian is 66 at the beginning of “The Silver Chair,” but his younger self makes an appearance at the end. Read the full interview here. Thanks to ‘Darin’ and ‘Karen’ for the alert.

23 Responses

  1. Physchoe says:

    They could always go "old make-up" on him and without at the end of the film.

  2. glumPuddle says:

    I always liked the idea that Caspian essentially became a child again in Aslan's country. So Ben will be too old to play Caspian at the end in my opinion.

  3. Low Queen B. says:

    Cool!

  4. Freya says:

    By the time they get around to do "The Silver Chair", Ben will probably be in his 70s, so he'll make a fine old Caspian.

  5. Aslan's BFF says:

    Ha-ha Ha! Absolutely. I mean, logically speaking…

  6. Not Of This World says:

    He needs to come back for Last Battle.

  7. Braden Woodburn says:

    Yeah, they could always have Ben be an elderly Caspian with a lot of make up and effects.. look at what the results were for the Harry Potter stars in the "19 years later" ending. Then yes, Caspian is young again so he can just look like himself. I honestly had no idea he turned 30 in August, he looks so much younger, like, 22 or 23. Agreeable though, with this whole delay now on the films that by the time The Silver Chair is released, he and Will Poulter will be old! Haha.

  8. Anhun says:

    I prefer that they go with the book, and show him as a young man. It makes more sense because Eustace knew him as a young man.

  9. Leolani says:

    Caspian isn't 66 in The Silver Chair, Eustace says that about 70 years have passed since he was last in Narnia. That would make Caspian around 85. I've always thought it kind of odd… If Rilian is around 30ish, give or take, then Caspian would have been about 55 when he was born. Even though he got married when he was 15.

  10. Tradition says:

    I always thought he was too old to play Caspian right from the beginning. Way too old. Poor casting, if you ask me.

  11. narnian resident says:

    Ben is incorrect. if they do make the Silver Chair (please oh please!) Caspian appears at the end as his young self again, which they would need to use Ben for. dont be sad, Ben, they may yet still need you!

  12. Anhun says:

    I thought he was absolutely perfect in VDT, but as for PC, I agree with you, they should have hired someone who could pass for mid-teens, like Moseley. Barnes looked like he was in his late teens at the youngest.

  13. glumPuddle says:

    According to Lewis’ timeline, Caspian was 20 when he got married, 35 when Rilian was born, and 66 when he died. (Rilian was 31 when he was rescued)

    Sounds like Eustace was just estimating, and perhaps exaggerating due to his shock.

  14. Leolani says:

    Ah, okay, thanks! I don't think I've seen the complete timeline before. *looks it up on google* Neat!

  15. Thee Narnian Meerkat says:

    Well, ya, if they ever do make The Silver Chair, (I hope they do!!!!) they can always put makeup on him to make him look old. I hope they do that. I like Ben Barnes as Caspian. 🙂

  16. Secrets of Excalibur says:

    Exactly.
    And all of us fans will take our grandchildren with us to see it. 😉

  17. Dylan says:

    Nice.

  18. Skandar Keynes's Wife says:

    Sorry I'm a little bit behind here, but are they doing the silver chair? Is it confirmed or anything? 🙂

  19. Freya says:

    Nope, not at all unfortunately. I just pointed out that WHEN they eventually get around to do it, Ben will be just about the correct age to play the part of the old King Caspian, without the need of make-up. So yeah, in about 30-40 years time… hehe 🙂

  20. Yeah, I was thinking of them doing the exact same thing to Ben Barnes if The Silver Chair was ever made into a movie. Put a bunch of make-up on him to look like an old man.

  21. lysander says:

    There were hardly "a lot of make up and effects" used in the Harry Potter epilogue; in fact, their "old" look in the final film was severely toned down from the first shooting attempt. And if you asked me they looked horrible — like kids trying really badly to dress up as their parents — making the whole scene corny. I'm not saying that they can't age Barnes (although it wouldn't be my first choice), but please, let's not use that scene as a model!

  22. Marianne says:

    There's always the art of amazing Make-Up…
    I'm sure Ben Barnes can play himself at 66.. He can try anyways. (: It will be great to see him again, actually ALL of them in the movie together again… Last Battle just sounds too far away. D: