Opinion: Sequel? Prequel? Reboot? What now?

NEWS DROUGHT ALERT!

In the middle of a news drought, fans have a tendency to let their imaginations run wild on what the future could hold. In this video, I embrace that tendency and examine possible routes Walden Media could take for a fourth Narnia film.

Outline:

1. Sequel: The Silver Chair

  • Fourth book to be published (1953)
  • Logical next chapter
  • Will Poulter’s age
  • Set up in Dawn Treader film

2. Prequel: The Magician’s Nephew

  • More popular book
  • Clear connection to the first film
  • The opportunity to give Tilda Swinton a prominent role again.

3. Reboot: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

  • Start from scratch: New cast, new crew
  • Would need to be fundamentally different from Adamson’s version. (Animation? PG13?)

4. Reboot: The Magician’s Nephew

  • Re-cast Aslan and The White Witch

5. Prequel (to VDT): The Horse and His Boy

  • The Pevensies would likley be given bigger roles

6. Re-read the books! I have read each book a dozen times, and I’m still discovering new things.

How would you feel if Walden announced a LWW reboot? Scroll to the bottom of the homepage and vote now!

616 Responses

  1. Jack says:

    If you ask me, there is no need for a reboot. I think even if another studio picks up Narnia, they should just continue with the books that have yet to be translated to film. The reason I still visit NarniaWeb during this drought from news is because of the first three installments. I know people have their beefs with the changes made, but I really enjoyed each of the Narnia movies (particularly LWW)and I want to see the rest as movies in the near future, regardless of what production company takes over. My main interest is seeing Narnia continue in some shape or form with better marketing to ensure higher ticket sales and more success. Seems like Walden made it clear they felt Disney made a mistake when they dropped The Chronicles, but now the real test will be seeing how Walden responses. I think as fans we are entitled to know what is going on. Notice how Peter Jackson keeps his fansites informed pretty much all the time. I know everyone can't be Peter Jackson, but it would be refreshing if someone like Andrew Adamson would let us know his stance on making more Narnia films and how he feels right now.

  2. Marsh Waha says:

    I agree that they should get a better director, I personally thought Andrew Adamson was great until after I saw Prince Caspian, what was he thinking? I mean lets face it clearly LWW was advertised in such a way, that made PC and VDT look like a joke. I mean there was a Collectors Edition, an Extended Edition. But Adamson never did an Extended Edition for PC and Apted never did an Extended Edition for VDT. So that doesn't make sense at all. Besides if they rebooted Narnia, I think they should have Peter Jackson do the Narnia films, or have Peter Jackson and Andrew Adamson direct all seven movies. The only real problem would be is what company along side Walden Media would want to make the films? Well if Disney did them again then Walden and Disney would have to come to an agreement on telling the story, and that it's not just about making money. Besides they should have made William, Anna, Skandar, Georgie, Ben and Will sign a contract that they would be available at such and such time and such dates to be available for shooting the films, they should have done that in the first place. I do think the story should be told in Chronological order or better yet do what the BBC company did, with PC and VDT combined them together, besides I would have loved it if Walden and Disney combined The Magician's Nephew and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe together, I would have loved it if Walden and Disney and Fox had combined PC and VDT together as one, that to me just would have made more sense. Better yet why not put all seven movies together as one? That would be one hell of a movie to see. That is if they rebooted Narnia. oh one last thing I forgot to mention, I personally feel that one Director for all seven movies would make sense. But I would be really happy if both Peter Jackson and Andrew Adamson did this together. They are my favorite directors after all.

  3. Dylan says:

    My mistake, your right, she ran to the north in MN. My bad. I wish Lewis had explained her more than he did, the character is kinda vague.

  4. Dylan says:

    I felt that way too, that it was better the first time. At first I liked VDT better then PC, but I think im wrong. PC was definatley better.

  5. Dylan says:

    Hmmmm? I thought at the time he didnt want a live action Narnia because he thought they would ruin Aslan with the poor special effects of the time. I think he would probably not mind a cartoon.

  6. Dylan says:

    Like i said bring in Howard Shore.

  7. Marsh Waha says:

    I also forgot to mention that Andrew Adamson failed to make a Digital Copy of The Lion,The Witch and the Wardrobe forgot to point that out.

  8. Matt Taylor says:

    One thing I'm going to miss if there's a reboot is Harry Gregson-Williams' awesome soundtrack. Some of you might have heard my take on the 'Narnia theme' >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kb_lTQyWlE <<< It's a guitar cover of the 'Narnia theme.'

    If there is a reboot, I want somewone really special to do the music. Howard Shore (The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit) or Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, POTC, The Prince of Egypt) would do a great job, I think. But I love HG-W's music 🙁 David A. not so much… Hmm.

  9. Anhun says:

    My problem with Peter Jackson is that he would try to turn Narnia into LotR, which it is not. In fact a complaint that critics have made about some of his non-LotR book adaptations was that he made them "epic" when they weren't meant to be. Not only that, but Adamson was clearly trying to do that with PC and it didn't work.

  10. Jack says:

    Officially depressed about now. Smurfs 2 has been given the greenlight and still no indication of The Magician's Nephew or Sliver Chair. What is the world coming to?

  11. Anhun says:

    The thing about Harry Gregson-Williams' music was that it actually provided psychological narrative. Lucy didn't have to say "Hokey Smokes! There's a forest in the closet!" The music said it for her. In VDT the music created an atmosphere, but it didn't speak a dramatic language. I would have really appreciated a "sword" theme, instead of the characters constantly saying:

    "This is a sword.
    A what?
    A sword."

    That got old.

  12. Matt says:

    I want the Silver Chair, it is actually my favorite book. Not to mention Will Poulter is the best child actor they have had, and he was an awesome Eustace. I wouldn't mind a reboot on LWW and PC, but I wouldn't bet on it. I just wish they would stop screwing up the character's characteristics. They are supposed to be Noble, not selfish in PC and VDT(save Lucy and the book). The recast of aslan, no way, but maybe the witch. As far as TMN or TSC I say do them BOTH and release them a year apart! Aslan is the only shared character, save the witch if they try to us tilda for the Lady in TSC.

  13. Семен says:

    I'm not sure that the reboot is a solution at all. I think the audience has already got used to the pevensies during five years. It is my belief that the new films loose the magic that could be felt in the first movie and so the fans, here is the problem. I am deadsure that Mr Apted is not the best variant for the next film whatever it is. If I could, I would suggest the producers to employ Guilhermo del Toro for writing the script and for directing according to his awesome work in Hobbit and in Pan's Labirynth. I suppose that he's a really one who could understand Narnia stories in the way the audience will appreciate it. P.S. Greetings from Ukraine! P.P.S Anna Popplewell sucks)))

  14. Dylan says:

    Gee, a redo? Man im so sick of reboots. Anyway, they dont need to make it PG 13, LWW and PC had plenty of awesome violence and fighting scenes. I think LWW had better battle scenes then PC, and VDT had none. I dont like the idea of a modern day version, a cartoon/animation, or making it darker (wich would be totally against Lewis' idea of Narnia). Just finish the series, and then they can do something. They could bring in Peter Jackson(YES!!!) and make Narnia reeeaaallly epic, but it wouldnt work out that way.

  15. AJ says:

    It's perfectly logical for the Lady of the Green Kettle to be the White Witch. yes, Aslan killed the White Whitch, but one could say she became the queen of the underworld (Hell), so I think it makes perfect sense.

  16. Dylan says:

    Yeah centaur dude, different cast is one of my biggest issues with a reboot. And changing the books plot, which we already have had enough of that.

  17. Dylan says:

    I guess that worked lol

  18. Dylan says:

    Popplewell sucks? Oh well. I want Adamson back, really him or Peter Jackson!

  19. AJ says:

    I just like the movie mainly for the final scene in Aslan's Country. I love how they fought to keep some of Aslan's best lines in there.

  20. High Queene Shelly Belly says:

    dylan, edmund was acting wacko cause the green mist crawled in and cast it's spell on him. that's why he looked all crazy eyed. caspian was under the spell too, that's why he wanted to fight.

  21. High Queene Shelly Belly says:

    me too, it's the only time i felt like i was really seeing narnia. also the only part that I felt any emotional connection.

  22. Marsh Waha says:

    Yes Epic but not in a LOTR way, in a Narnia way. Look I don't believe Peter Jackson if he is chosen would ever try to turn something Lewis wrote into something Tolkien like. You have to remember Tolkien and Lewis were friends. When Tolkien wrote Lord of the Rings he read it to Lewis, when Lewis wrote Chronicles of Narnia he read the books to Tolkien. I think Adamson just wanted to make Caspian exciting, I don't think he seriously meant to copy Jackson at all. I mean he got some of it right but in the wrong way. Besides the deleted scenes with the romance between Susan and Caspian were something that was never in the book. I am not sure why Adamson never did an extended edition of Caspian. But something tells me Adamson seem to think that he couldn't make PC as big of a hit as he did with LWW. Again I still agree with the idea of putting all seven books into one giant movie. Though I have another thought, Speaking of Peter Jackson and Lord of the Rings, he is making The Hobbit into two parts, I can see why one might split the Narnia movies into two parts that only makes sense. I know the books are not very long but if it were rebooted then I can see why that might be a possibility. At this point its hard to say. I still agree with the idea of having all seven in one, or they could do what they did with the last Harry Potter book and do that with the Last Battle and split it into two movies. That would make sense besides I can see why they would do that for the last movie or do it for SC, MN, HHB,LB. Besides why do it for one when you could do it for all of them? Right? Its a thought, again I am just being open with ideas, besides you never know, Peter Jackson might not be a bad choice. You really never know.

  23. Dylan says:

    You have a point there.

  24. Dylan says:

    Yeah, I know. they really messed up by adding the green mist. And you know what, what was Caspians reson for fighting? He didnt even have a point. Hes like "Im not letting you leave Narnia with gold, so Im going to slice ur head off for no reason" lol. The green mist was such a failure.

  25. Dylan says:

    Nice name 🙂

  26. Dylan says:

    Why the chaos and destruction? Only more signs of the end times.

  27. Zach Landis says:

    Hey just drop the project and pass it to Newline cinema they would do a way better job. Walden Media loyality is terrible.

  28. Whatever they do, I hope they do _NOT_ continue to magnify the role of Jadis. While Jadis is nowhere to be found in either _Caspian_ or _Dawn Treader_, they managed to shoehorn her in anyway (along with shoehorning Peter and Susan into _Dawn Treader_ despite Aslan very clearly writing them out.)

    For the next movie, I'd take either _Magician's Nephew_ (although I despise Jadis), or _Silver Chair._ _The Horse and His Boy_ is almost a kid's story in comparison (and my least favorite of the series), but I wouldn't mind seeing it on the big screen either.

  29. Fireflower says:

    I TOTALLY agree!!!!!!!

  30. DaughterofAslan'scountry says:

    I don't think Howard Shore would be good. Narnia is not LoTR. Narnia has a different feel. Also, I've heard some of Howard Shore's other movie work(he composed the music for the Twilight Saga Eclipse), and his music is perfect for LOTR, but not Narnia. Composers have certain styles(John Williams is an exception) and certain things there perfect for. I think Harry Gregson Williams is just right for Narnia.

  31. DaughterofAslan'scountry says:

    I think that is the best option right now. I'm against doing MN next, but I think this is the most realistic thing to do now. That way everyone wins.

  32. Anhun says:

    Underland isn't hell though. It's a metaphor for a certain state of mind/soul/being (not sure what the right word is). If it was hell, then wouldn't Bism be a lower level of hell, rather than a jewelled paradise?

    Besides, if the White Witch wasn't dead then what was the point of LWW?

  33. To pass the time I've focused on the other series I enjoy. Personally I really hope that SC is made next. VDT was surprisingly bad, but who knows, another one may get a better result. MN or SC, I just hope they don't stop yet.

  34. Seiko says:

    The step that is reached with simple logical is and always will be "The Silver Chair." It is straightfoward and one of the better stories. "Magician's Nephew" should be done afterwards as it is also one of the better stories. "Horse And His Boy" should sort of be like a latter sequel with a lower budget, as it is sort of an inner prequel and is much slower paced. Let them just do the next 2 best and all should be well. In case my words are confusing, this is my opinion:

    Best To Wors:
    1. Lion, Witch, And The Wardrobe
    2. Voyage Of The Dawn Threader
    3. The Silver Chair
    4. The Magician's Nephew
    5. Prince Caspian
    6. The Horse And His Boy
    7. The Last Battle (don't like this one at all)

  35. farsight-mssngr says:

    I know your point. Really interesting. Me as well wanted to see The Silver Chair next.

  36. Ancientdogma says:

    Long time no visit; thanks for the nice updated Puddlegum.

    The Horse and his boy would seem to be the best bet to do all the things mentioned, i.e. reboot the series, include the pevensies, and add some magic back into the series. Also, it is a great stand alone story! I can't wait to see shast being scared by the cats as he prepares to head out over the desert.

    For the fun of it, you could throw a cameo in for Peter starting the film out with him fighting giants in the north before spanning across narnia in 60 seconds showing panoramic views of everything we loved to see in LWW before winding up on a quiet beach in complete contrast. Doesn't really change the story at all just adds to the fun.

    You could always go back later and recast eustace and do the silver chair and no really issues in The magician's nephew. Given the diverse settings of the Silver Chair I can't help but think to do it right it would be very expensive.

    I've always held that The Last Battle may be impossible to make for popular consumption. However, if done as dark and depressing and true to the book with all the messages, similar in ways to The Passion of The Christ a truly talented and motivated director could pull it off. It is only in how dark and depressing it is that it is so wonderful in the end.

    No offense to Ben Barnes; but the writers, director, and Gresham essentially dropped the ball when they cast someone his age for a part that was meant for a boy. In one fell swoop the eliminated 1/2 the magic from Narnia. Writing PC as a action flick did the rest. The tried to bring magic back into VOTD, but they did the opposite in the exceptional poor adapation skipping from one action scene to the next and the US audience was even less impressed.

    Do The Horse and His Boy next. Pull the magic forward from LWW and leave behind the awful adaptions of PC and VOTD. Make the movie again true to the book inclusive of the young ages, the magic, and let the money come in because people fall in love with the movie (thus becoming a box office success much like LWW). The relationship between Shasta and Aravis is MAGIC! do not write it out of the script. Don't have a kiss at the end between them, if you must have an extended ending inclusive of the future that is in the book but not part of the story really.

    I have hope that with a new focus back on the magic of the books and in the books that we can see a couple more wonderful movies.

  37. freya says:

    Didn't Skandar throw his acting career out the window after VDT? Would be weird seeing anyone else playing Edmund alongside Anna and Georgie, unless they turn it around a little bit and put Peter in Edmund's place so they can cast William instead. Then Edmund would be the one off fighting giants in the north. Worse alterations have been made.

  38. Семен says:

    my favourite book is horse and his boy because in this story the main characters of LWMW are adult.

  39. Семен says:

    Who knows, are there any news about VDT PC game?!

  40. coracle says:

    It isn't perfectly logical at all. Lewis was writing from a Christian world view, in which there is no reincarnation. So one colour of witch does not come back as a different sort or colour of witch. In fact she does not "come back" at all!
    We discussed this with the Estate of C.S.Lewis early on in NarniaWeb, and it is very definite that they would not accept Tilda playing LOTGK because she is not the same person. There is a spiritual link, in that the same evil force is behind or in both women, but not an identity one. The whole topic used to be banned here, after some people insisted that the mods and the Estate could not be right on this!

  41. dominiclovesnarnia says:

    I would be happy if they reboot the "Narnia" series, and start with "The Magicians Nephew", and after finishing it, make "LWW, PC, VDT, SC, HHB, and LB". And I hope they could find a very good director that can understand what "Narnia" is, and find a new script writer that can adapt the book very well, like Steve Kloves who did "Harry Potter". And I would be happy if they will release it on November or December either 2014 or 2015. That's one of the many reasons that I want them to reboot it or start it all over again, the first and second movie that Andrew Adamson did are both awesome, but "THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER? it's rubbish! SO START REBOOTING IT WALDEN MEDIA AND 20TH CENTURY FOX. PLEASE! 🙂

  42. Just a voice in my head says:

    Yes, I will heave to agree. I think It was a good idea to have Tilda come back in the second and third movies, but not as a totally different character that I think C.S. Lewis meant to be a new new new person in the script. As my Mother would say, "We need to try to figure out what the author originally intended!" Which is…..Tilda is probably not TLOTGK. That's my opinion.

  43. Hiking Peter says:

    I think the Music on VDT was pretty bad. I didn't get the feeling of "Oh, this is the magical Narnia!" Now I get the feel,"Oh. This music is awful." But I have learned to live with it. Harry Gregson-Williams is their best choice if they want the music lovers to be ecstatic about it.

  44. Hiking Peter says:

    Will Poulter doesn't win.

  45. Hiking Peter says:

    No it would not be great. Lewis wrote these books for children, not violence lovers!!!!! (No offense, please!)

  46. Hiking Peter says:

    Has anyone though of this????? SC…LB (because Poulter and some Jill girl need to be about the same age for this LB) THEN HBB then mn? Bad Idea, I know, but why not wheigh in all the options?

  47. Hiking Peter says:

    Sorry, I misspelled "Weigh". Typographical error.

  48. Hiking Peter says:

    DITTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  49. Hiking Peter says:

    Hello????? What about William Moseley for Peter????? (((Look at the name on my comment)))

  50. Hiking Peter says:

    Good grief! Have they done that? An 11 year old kid. Boy have they sunk low. No offense to the British using this site.)
    How about Christ returns right about……..now.

  51. Hiking Peter says:

    Yeah, try thinking of how the actors would feel. Like, they worked so hard, and now people think they aren't good enough!

  52. Hiking Peter says:

    And why would that be the solution?

  53. Not Of This World says:

    Yes of coarse! I know a great part to! When Aslan gives Fledge wings, Aslan starts singing "You can fly, You can fly, You can Fly, You can Fly!!!!!" Boy that would be TERRABLE!!!

  54. Not Of This World says:

    They cancled it a long time ago. I was dissapointed but in a way not really. The other two games were lame. I think they shouldn't reboot the movies, but they should reboot video games. Have you ever played Star Wars Battlefront? I think a Narnia version of that game would be cool.

  55. LOVENARNIA!99 says:

    I love the narnia movies they wrer great and many, many, many people including me fell in love with them, i don't think they would get many fans at all by making another narnia i mean that would be 3 DIFFERENT VERSION! they made some a long time ago and then they made these and these were great they were not perfect but they should NOT!!! make them again, reasons are
    1. They were awesome movies but not perfect
    they could have done better by following thebooks
    2. The cast and crew did an excellent job!!!!!!!!!
    3. many people including me fell inlove with the movies

    just forget about the boos. yes i agree they could have done better, but they didn't! making another narnia just wouldn't be the same! if you had watched the movies and had not read the books you would love them movies! the books are great and there is nothing we can do about them not following the books!!!!! just watch the movies anbd forget about the books!!! you can'tr just remake thing 'casue they didn's follow the books that doesn't solve anything!!!!! just watch the movies!! i think they should just make all the books and then let people have their oppions, but i'm sure the directors did what they thought best, and well i think they should just make all the books then finish!

  56. farsight-mssngr says:

    NO REBOOTING Please!
    Narnia Production team should realize their mistakes in making the films. For some reasons like: Adding new scenes not from the book. re-arranging scenes from the book. Not showing the real messages from the book, and much more.
    They just need to have the focus points from the book. Remove the not-so-important scenes, give a big focus on the-very-important scenes, make it fantastical and always remember the true message and storyline from the book.
    Just make all Narnia books into the big-screen. 4 more to go!

  57. Aslan's BFF says:

    Oh, phew! I thought you were *for* a redo. Gosh, I feel so much better!

  58. Aslan's BFF says:

    Then why would rebooting be a good idea?

  59. Aslan's BFF says:

    Last Battle should be after Silver Chair because of Eustace and Jill's ages.

  60. QueenLucy says:

    I'm going to be blunt. I think rebooting the series would be very dumb. I hope they the common sense to NOT do that! The series is wonderful right now. 🙂