Flaherty: “Multiple Opinions” On Fourth Narnia Film

This Monday will mark two years since Fox/Walden’s The Voyage of the Dawn Treader hit theaters and ultimately performed below expectations in the United States, but pretty well internationally. At this point, most fans have accepted the fact that we should not expect to see another Narnia film made for some time (view our ‘Narnia 4’ summary page).

One of the reasons for the hold-up is disagreement about what the next step should be. Micheal Flaherty (Walden Media president) would like to make The Magician’s Nephew while Douglas Gresham (co-producer, Lewis’ stepson) favors The Silver Chair. Here is a clip from World Magazine‘s interview with Micheal Flaherty:

Q: So, with revenue going down and production costs remaining high, so what’s next for the Narnia movie series?
MF: There are multiple opinions on all this and a lot of different players: The C.S. Lewis estate, the studio, our companyβ€”and we’re not all of one mind. I would love to find a way where the economics work, acknowledging the decline. I’d like to do The Magician’s Nephew. Other people want to do The Silver Chair, and there’s disagreement about the economics and the overall vision of where the franchise should go next. My hope is that we may all become of one mind, but unless something providential happens there, I’m focusing on a number of other stories.

Q: So, at this moment, no deal?
MF: Nope.

Flaherty talks more about Narnia in the full interview.

Back in May, Douglas Gresham indicated there is a seven-year moratorium on producing any Narnia films outside of Walden Media. He also wants to make The Silver Chair next as an independent film.

Discuss!

427 Responses

  1. mixedfiction says:

    Taisia, have you watched THE HOBBIT already? πŸ™‚ I'm so excited to hear your opinion. (I'm trying to control my excitement.)

  2. Taisia says:

    Lol I just saw it XD

  3. Taisia says:

    No! I haven't! I can't wait to see it!!!! πŸ˜€ My sister saw it and said there were lots of part in it where she thought, "That's exactly how I imagined it!" And if my sister loved it, I'll definitely love it too πŸ˜€ I'm going to see it on Tuesday!

    And just out of curiosity…are you on the Underground? It's a forum for people who like Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper's books πŸ˜€

  4. Taisia says:

    Oops! Completely missed this conversation! I've been really busy finishing up with school for Christmas. I can't wait to see it! I've only heard good things about the Hobbit and CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT!!!!! πŸ˜€ But I have to wait πŸ™ I've got a countdown…only four more days…just wait for four days…

  5. Farsight-messenger says:

    thanks! glad you appreciated! πŸ˜€

  6. Farsight-messenger says:

    yes! I made this. And also, you can visit my youtube channel for more of my edited videos. πŸ˜€ glad you appreciated it!

  7. mixedfiction says:

    :p

  8. mixedfiction says:

    Oops, sorry for talking about the ending, Taisia. πŸ™‚ I'm sorry you have to wait so long.

  9. mixedfiction says:

    Wait, you were finishing school? Just wondering, what year are you? πŸ™‚

  10. mixedfiction says:

    Your sister already watched it but you haven't? 😐 You didn't watch it together?

  11. Taisia says:

    Can't tell πŸ˜‰ My parents prefer me to not say too much about myself.

  12. Taisia says:

    Nope. πŸ™ She watched it with her boyfriend. But we wanted to have a sister's night last night…and we were wondering what to do…and I suggested we go see the Hobbit πŸ˜€ IT WAS SOOOOO GOOD!!!!! πŸ˜€ I loved it! Martin Freeman did a brilliant job of Bilbo! The cast was perfect!

  13. mixedfiction says:

    Oh. That's sweet! I'm glad you saw it already!! πŸ™‚ Now I can talk about it. It was incredible, wasn't it! Freeman was perfect for Bilbo, both in characterization and appearance. I love how PJ was able to make one paragraph in the book into a whole scene in the movie! XD
    One of the best moments of the film was the Thorin-Bilbo bromance in the end. Ah, I'm so happy! Can't wait one more year, but we have to. πŸ˜‰

  14. mixedfiction says:

    Hey! I watched it (part by part) and it was awesome! (I'm not a flatterer, so this means it's my true opinion.) I was wondering what scenes you would mark as Top 10, and I was surprised! Yes, I did enjoy it. πŸ˜€ I do agree that the Best Scene was "Aslan's Country"; I love it the most. Thank you very much. (Or Thag you very buch if you're an LOTR fan too.) XD

  15. mixedfiction says:

    Yup! I completely understand; well, I expected that answer. Your parents are right. Why, I'd say the same! πŸ™‚

  16. mixedfiction says:

    Oh, sorry I forgot about this. I'm not on the Underground forum. I'm not familiar with Batson and Hopper.
    And I'm wondering, do you know of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea? πŸ˜‰

  17. Farsight-messenger says:

    Very Glad you've enjoyed it mixedfiction! thank you very much… I'm an LOTR fan too, but not as much as a Narnia fan….
    really thankful that you've enjoyed my Narnia best scenes video! πŸ˜€
    God Bless!!!

  18. mixedfiction says:

    πŸ˜› You're an LOTR fan?! Then, did you watch THE HOBBIT? ;P

  19. Farsight-messenger says:

    not yet…
    and I still need more movie reviews before to watch the movie… have you watched it? was it good? πŸ™‚

  20. Taisia says:

    I know! It was amazing! Did you know that they've already filmed everything for the next two?! And they aren't releasing them until next year and the year after that?

    Hmmm…which Ursula? Whenever I hear Ursula, I always think of the Little Mermaid…

  21. TheeNarnianMeerkat says:

    Silver Chair, Silver Chair, Silver Chair, Silver Chair, Silver Chair…PLEASE DO SILVER CHAIR 'CAUSE WILL POLTER IS GETTING OLDER AND OLDER! That would be the WISE decision…And pllllllllllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeasssssssssssse….Peter Jackson DIRECT THE REST OF THE NARNIA FILMS!!!! The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was AWESOME…

  22. TheeNarnianMeerkat says:

    Oooooh they should DEFIANTLY make The Door Within Trilogy into movies…Another Peter Jackson film request please!!! haha

  23. TheeNarnianMeerkat says:

    I thought King Thranduil riding that BIG elk was like OMG THAT IS SO AWESOME. I was like, "What…" Haha can't wait for the next two! It's going to be sooo long…Or either that maybe not since this movie came up so fast!

  24. TheeNarnianMeerkat says:

    YES!!!!!! I can always trust Peter Jackson with a film…He has to be the BEST director…

  25. TheeNarnianMeerkat says:

    Yes, I agree. STOP ruining it by stuffing more stuff into it that wasn't even in the books in the first place, and STICK-TO-THE-ORIGINAL-STORY. I thought LWW was great. The best Narnia film. It would be awesome if someone could make the other Narnia films like that one, or possibly even BETTER. >:)

  26. TheeNarnianMeerkat says:

    *Poulter

  27. Taisia says:

    Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you too!

  28. Lonely Mountain says:

    Yes, Peter Jackson please!! ^^
    I can't wait to see THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG and THERE AND BACK AGAIN, I hope they just releasethem now!! ^__^

  29. Lonely Mountain says:

    Don't wait for the reviews, see it for yourself, don't follow others feeling, it's yours, go to see it and feels it for yourself. Before the movie was released, I heard many negative reviews from the top critics, but everyone is different, this is just what they thought, I go to see it on the opening day of this movie. I won't care about the critics or others review, this is the spirit of Middle Earth and Bilbo Baggins!! πŸ˜€

  30. Farsight-messenger says:

    great point you have!
    still, I think I'm going to see part 1 anytime….
    just so, I really want to read the book first before seeing the movie.
    btw, when did the part 1 ended in the book?

  31. Farsight-messenger says:

    if Peter Jackson will direct the rest of Narnia films, he'll be able to return the magic of LWW or better. and he can make MN magical! SC and HHB epic! and as for the LB, the movie phenomenon will do! as for Adamson, he 'can' return the magic of LWW if he'll do the rest. for Apted, he just made VDT a little childish and why did he jumbled the islands?

    all is well…..

    THE SILVER CHAIR! please do it now! I hope, you guys will start to film SC next year!

    happy holidays Narnians!

  32. Ainran says:

    I have searched the site repeatedly, but can't find a place to create an account… I hate to post this here, but how do I create an account?

  33. Farsight-messenger says:

    me too!
    I want to make an account here but I can't make one….
    for anyone who knows, please help us… πŸ™‚

  34. mixedfiction says:

    πŸ˜€

  35. mixedfiction says:

    @Taisia: Yes, I know that. And I'm keeping up with the video blogs/ vlogs. Are you doing the same? They've released vlog#10 recently. πŸ˜€
    Haha! About Ursula Le Guin, she wrote the Earthsea Cycle: The Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore, Tehanu, The Other Wind; and Tales From Earthsea.
    @TheeNarnianMeerkat, I'm glad you're an LOTR fan too! And I'm glad you already watched THE HOBBIT! I remembered this: http://images.wikia.com/avatar/images/c/c4/Saber-tooth_moose_lion.png when I saw his elk.

  36. mixedfiction says:

    Yes, I have seen it. It was GREAT! I couldn't imagine enough. And yes, don't listen to the non-fan critics. Lonely Mountain is right. It ended after six chapters. πŸ˜›

  37. mixedfiction says:

    Me too! Haha, XD. It's a relief that the wait after The Desolation of Smaug is only half a year. πŸ™‚

  38. mixedfiction says:

    πŸ™‚

  39. mixedfiction says:

    Well, sorry, but I don't know how to make one. However, is there any need to? If there is a way to post a comment without creating an account, why make one?
    Well, I also need a little help. Are you guys on TheOneRing.net? One has to have an account to post a comment there, right? How do I make one? I've been longing to post comments these past months but I couldn't.

  40. Farsight-messenger says:

    there is a forum here that we can't access if we won't log in…

  41. Lonely Mountain says:

    And there will be great opportunity for Narnia to grabs some honorably award, and even Academy Awards. πŸ˜‰

  42. Taisia says:

    Howard Shore is very talented, but I'd love to see Harry Gregson-Williams do it. It just wasn't the same in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader πŸ™

  43. Taisia says:

    Yes! I've seen all the production videos πŸ˜€ No! I've never heard of her! I'll have to look her up πŸ˜€

  44. mixedfiction says:

    haha πŸ™‚

  45. mixedfiction says:

    Oh, I see. Sorry, but I don't have answers. πŸ™

  46. 2lost4words says:

    I think they need to make SC next and cast Tom Hiddleston as Prince Rilian. He could be a big draw in, after his amazing performance as Loki in Thor and Avengers. Also, after watching The Hollow Crown, I just can totally picture him as Rilian.

  47. mixedfiction says:

    What?! I agree that Hiddleston's a great actor. But to be cast for Rillian? I wholly respect your opinion but I honestly don't think he's for Prince Rillian. Besides, he looks too old for the role.

  48. Not Of This World says:

    Speaking of Peter Jackson, I have a LOTR question. I haven’t seen LOTR yet or the Hobbit but I’ve been looking it up. It says that Gandalf is a wizard. Is he a "wizard" in the sense of being something that practices witchcraft or a wizard in the sense of a "wise person -a wiz" ?

  49. Taisia says:

    I've never imagined Prince Rillian to look like Tom Hiddleston, but I guess it could work. Like I didn't imagine Elrond to look like Hugo Weaving. I think Liam Hemsworth would fit the part better.

  50. 2lost4words says:

    I'm confused how you think Hiddleston is too old for the role. I mean no offense by this and I respect your opinion as well, but that just threw me for a loop.

    I always thought Rilian was about 30 in SC (I could be wrong, but that's what I always thought). And Tom Hiddleston is in his early 30's.

    It was not until after I saw the BBC mini series the Hollow Crown and read the books again that I started picturing Hiddleston as Rilian. There was just something about him in that mini series that really made me think he could pull off Rilian.

    But we all have our own opinions and envision different things while reading the books. So what do I know besides what my imagination paints for me?

    I just hope that if they do make another movie it's SC.

  51. mixedfiction says:

    Taisia, I agree (except with the last line). But I honestly don't think Liam Hemsworth would fit either, he looks too much of a jock to me (no offense though!).

  52. mixedfiction says:

    2lost4words, right after I posted that comment, I thought about Rilian's age; and I think you're right. My estimate ended up with him being late twenties; and Hiddleston's 31, I think. Sorry for throwing you in a loop.

    I didn't see the Hollow Crown, sorry. But I do understand why you picked Hiddleston for Prince Rilian now. However, I don't want all his fangirls watching SC just because of him.

  53. Taisia says:

    <quote>I don’t want all his fangirls watching SC just because of him</quoute>

    Yes! *rolls eyes*

    I'd have to actually see it before I can say whether he'd make a good Rilian or not. I've always had a hard time changing from what my imagination already has pictured.

  54. Just Queen, not High Queen says:

    Hey, where's the Santa hat on Aslan??????? It's Christmas Eve and no Santa hat! What's wrong with this picture?

  55. Christine says:

    What was their expectations?

  56. Farsight-messenger says:

    Happy Christmas and Happy Holidays Narnians!!!
    Let us not forget the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
    God Bless Us All!!!

    And this video is a special holiday video….. please do watch it!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbn6F74Q5HI

    Happy Christmas Narnians!

  57. mixedfiction says:

    Merry Christmas too!
    But I liked your other video better. πŸ™‚

  58. Farsight-messenger says:

    Thank you very much mixedfiction!
    merry Christmas!

  59. mixedfiction says:

    Hey, you're right! Maybe they forgot, or they've grown lazy. πŸ™