Submit Questions to Joe Johnston, The Silver Chair Director
Joe Johnston, director of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair, is taking your questions! Post them in the comments section below or on Joe’s Facebook page. Joe will record a video response at a later date. (UPDATE: Please include your real first name and location)
Joe is pretty active on social media and already has quite a following due to his work on Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park III, and Captain America. View Joe’s YouTube channel and website.
UPDATE: Now accepting video questions! Upload them to YouTube (public or unlisted) and post the link in the comments below or on Joe’s Facebook page.
UPDATE: No longer accepting questions.
Do you have any ideas about locations or who the costumer will be? I'm always blown away by the costumes in these films!
Feel free to use whichever question(s) you'd like. Thank you for interacting with us fans, it's awesome to have a director reach out and engage the fan base.
1. You've directed many films across many genre's over your long career, why choose The Silver Chair and why now for you personally?
2. How has it been working with David Magee been thus far?
Question from Andrew (Ontario, Canada)
Chloe Williams (Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina)
What aspect of The Silver Chair are you most excited to bring to life?
Hi Joe! Well, let's start from the beginning… When did you first read the book(s)?
– Brian (Minneapolis, MN)
What compelled you to choose to direct The Silver Chair?
Is the Silver Chair your favorite book from the series?
Name: Tyler
Location: Dickinson, ND
What are your thoughts on the character of Puddleglum?
-Marcus (Millersburg,OH)
What do you consider to be the overall message or theme of "The Silver Chair", the heart of the story?
Julia from Indiana
What are you most looking forward to in directing "The Silver Chair"?
Julia from Indiana
Will you be designing any of the visuals? Since you designed so many iconic characters, spaceships and machines for Star Wars and the Iron Giant, it would be awesome to see your personal vision of the Narnia landscape.
Will you also be directing The Magician's Nephew? They are my two favorite Narnia books. If so, what order of the rest of the films will be coming and will the Magician's Nephew be part of your work on Narnia? It seems like it would also be a perfect fit for you.
Where are you filming? When does filming begin?
Will Alan Silvestri be joining the Narnia series too?
When are you start making a film?
Of all the movies you've directed so far, which one is your favorite and why? (Is that like asking which child is your favorite?)
What made you decide to direct The Silver Chair?
-Rachel from Kansas
Hello, Joe! Thanks so much for doing this Q&A. What do you think makes the Chronicles of Narnia so unique and special? Why do these stories have such enduring appeal?
-Elizabeth from NC
Will there be a cameo role for the Pevensies?
Who is your favourite character in The Silver Chair and why?
Name: Jordan
Location: Ontario, Canada
How will you craft this movie in such a way that it stands out from run-of-the-mill, big-pointless-battle-at-the-end, believe-in-yourself fantasy films?
-from Texas
The teaser poster on your FB page includes the tag line "Four Signs. Three Heroes. Two Children. One Prince." Is this an official tag line or one used for that post only?
The term "reboot" has been branded about a little bit in regards to The Silver Chair, but obviously it is the fourth book/film. How different will this one be from what we've seen before? Is it your intention to retain Liam Nesson as Aslan? Thanks so much, and good luck! I can't wait to see the film when you're finished.
How do you expect The Silver Chair to compare to some of your previous fantasy films like The Pagemaster and Jumanji? How do you expect it to be different?
What are you most excited about in regards to diving into the Narnia universe? Is there anything in particular that you can't wait to work on in the film? I'm especially excited to see your vision for Puddleglum and the scene with the giants.
What do you think is the most challenging think about directing a reboot?
So happy you're directing this! Needed another Joe Johnston blockbuster! What did you think of Jurassic World? After being attached to direct for so many years, did it turn out the way you hoped it would?
Are it you talking on your twitter and facebook or is it someone else? and what do you think the rating might be for the film, I am personally hoping for a pg-13 rating but it may not need that.
Luke (British Columbia, Canada)
It varies. A creative of Joe's calibre obviously has a team working for him, but he's the one running the show. He often replies to FB posts himself and sometimes Tweets. This is not him responding to you right now.
How sophisticated will Silver Chairs plot be? Dawn Treader seemed aimed at a younger audience while Prince Caspian skewed older.
I'm in New Braunfels TX
Would you ever consider holding open auditions for casting or offering the opportunity for unknowns to send in self taped auditions? I would love to be in the Silver Chair, I grew up on the books and BBC versions of the Narnia series and am training to be an actor and I loved Joe's work on Captain America and Jumanji ! Good luck with making the film and I thoroughly look forward to watching it!
Name: Joanna Mance
Location: London, UK (represent )
Hello, Mr. Johnston my name Manise I live in Northern Michigan. As Jill Pole is the main character of "The Silver Chair" how are you planing to coach the actor who will portray her?
Soy de Huelva España ¿para cuando comenzaría los casting ? Gracias
Translation for Luis Alfonso: when will casting begin?
Since you have done a lot of work in some major film franchises such as the Marvel film series and Jurassic Park, I must ask: how do you intend to ensure that the Narnia franchise will stand out from other major film franchises such as the Lord of the Rings series and the Harry Potter series? I ask this because I recall criticisms of the previous Narnia films for too closely resembling the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and such. -Leah, MN
Are you planning on staying true to the original story and dialogue? I know for Voyage of the Dawn Treader they really went off the book with a lot of things.
Hey Joe Johnston! Here are three short questions from a young filmmaker and longtime fan!
Follow the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjKPPsoJciU&feature=youtu.be
–Andy (Wichita, KS)
Likes! A person from the Sketchbook is also from Kansas. Hi. Thanks for taking the time to make a video. That's fun!
What is your favorite scene or moment in The Silver Chair?
(Stephen, Kentucky)
How are you planning to deal with the fact none of the previous actors and actresses will be in the movies coming next?
Who in the world would he even want to come back other than Tilda Swinton? We imagine he'd be delighted with a whole new cast? Swinton is the only loss there. Will be interesting to see if he answers that one. Doubtful.
I think you misunderstood his question. Also, this isn't for you to answer, but the director. Try not to bring the joy level down. 🙂
Are you kidding? We're beyond joyful to see Narnia in the hands of Joe Johnston! He's the master of visuals in cinema. The question just reads like that "fact" is a big deal or something that Johnston wouldn't be delighted about. He's being given a gift by having an all new cast. That's not negative on its face, just another FACT… although we'll miss Tilda!
Pevensy kids aren't in this one
He said "in the movies coming next." I would imagine he's referring to the fact that Skandar and Anna won't return for HHB (Lucy's role isn't big enough to worry about), and Tilda won't return for MN.
The Silver Chair is the darkest story in the Chronicles. There are the owls, the Lady of the Green Kirtle and her snake transformation, the bullying, the warped mind of Prince Rilian, the giants, the Earthmen. It is more Brothers Grimm than Harry Potter in tone of its text. How will you deal with that? It's not a sweet story and it shouldn't be made to seem like it is either. The reality is, there is real darkness to it. So much darkness, there's the Underland! Will it be super kid friendly and overlit like the first trilogy, or will your visuals encompass the true visions C.S. Lewis gave us in his text. Can you give it a more realistic yet fantastic, dirtier kind of darkness Star Wars vibe? I guess my question is: Will your vision of Narnia be "edgier" or darker than the first three films? I'd like to know if you will also direct "The Magician's Nephew" and is the tone of this film going to be better than the first trilogy? The first trilogy was a complete disappointment.
Is the production team still planning on potentially using one of the name suggestions submitted for the Lady of the Green Kirtle? I submitted one a while back, and was wondering as it has been some time since the contest.
Richard – Seattle, WA
Will you by any chance be using Jack's homeland (Nr. Irland) as a shooting location?
Semen A., Ukraine
Ireland lol
What is your favorite quote from 'Silver Chair?' Also, do you even like Turkish Delight?!
Maria – Chicago, IL
Two questions: Since your favorite film you directed is October sky,
Have you seen the film Little Miss Sunshine? If so, you should consider working with it's screenwriter Michael Arndt on a project someday. I've seen his movies and I think you two would make a great team and be lucky to have him.
Also, In some of your films, you had children as the main characters, I have to ask, How is it directing Child actors vs adult actors and how do they react when they find out you created Boba Fett? PS: I hope you talked to Kathleen Kennedy about the Boba Fett movie.
Jeran (Los Angeles, California)
Man, I have a lot of questions! Here are the most important. What is the thing that made you want to direct this movie? What is/are the main messages that you want to get across to viewers? Where are you thinking to film this movie? Who are you're top picks for the actors? Will Puddleglum be more of an actor-with-make-up-on kind of character or more of a CGI/Motion Capture guy? What is the budget for this film and what are your priorities concerning using it? – Special Effects? Big name actors? Advertising? The Art Department concerned with all the costumes, weapons etc? Could you try to get Harry Gregson-Williams back to compose the music? When is your projected release date?!!!
Sorry, I'm getting over excited… I should stop before my computer explodes.
-Joseph Simmonds PE Canada
I sure hope your questions get answered!
My questions are:
1. What's the budget???!!!
2. Who will the composer be?
3. Will Liam Neeson voice Aslan?
Tim (Chicago, Il)
It was announced that original casts will not reprise the roles because age difference.well that makes sense for the children but what about aslan?.. to help audience understand this is not a reboot it will be easier to transition to the new cast with liam neeson reprising his epic voice… Q will the owls be motion capture or practical effects?….Q the giants be motion capture or forced perspective? FINAL QUESTION if there is a last battle or horse and his boy the pevensies family are grown ups in their stories. it would be possible to use the original casts?
Are you going to pace Silver Chair the same as you did in October Sky, an excellent film?
What rating will this film have, PG, PG-13 etc. ?
I honestly feel that a PG rating can hold back a film from staying close to the book (i.e. Voyage of the Dawn Treader) but a PG rating worked REALLY well for Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
Daniel Kuehn, Albuquerque, New Mexico,
I have a couple questions:
1) Is there still a way to bring back Will Poulter? I feel that if the script is written in a way that it's unclear how long it has been since VDT, then I think Will could pull it off. Adults have played teens in films in the past before, so I don't think it would be a stretch.
2) If Will can't come back, could Ben Barnes, Peter Dinklage, and Liam Neeson come back? I feel that a total reboot will not help with the promotion of the film, since people only familiar with the films might be confused, and a reboot might lose those fans and hurt the box office revenue. There are some fans, including myself, who are fans of the films first and foremost and want to see these actors return. Besides, there characters wouldn't be on screen for a long time, at least based on their appearances in the book.
3) Who will be doing the music and will there be any themes from the previous films? Even though David Arnold replaced Harry Gregson-Williams for VDT, he still managed to maintain the main theme for three instances in the film, helping to maintain a sense of continuity that other franchises are known for. It might be difficult, but I feel that repeating this for The Silver Chair will help appeal with fans of the films as well as fans of the books.
4) VDT seems to imply that there is a connection between the Green Mist and the Lady of the Green Kirtle. Will The Silver Chair address this?
5) The first three films did a good job of retaining most of the Christian messages and values of the books while also expanding on them and addressing themes and lessons on their own that were not in the book, such as the raid on Miraz's castle emphasizing the importance of waiting on God in Prince Caspian. How will you continue this trend with The Silver Chair?
Thank you and good luck with filming.
-Tivoli from Tampa
Please create this film like the BOOK! Thank You!
Aslan is the connective tissue throughout the chronicles. How will you reflect the importance of Aslan in the film? How will you keep him at the heart of the story?
David Kelly, alabama
How much of the Narnia world do you plan on being practically realized? Will you be collaborating with Shelly Johnson again? Also, what is happening with Lumen? Will there at least be a DVD release of the pilot you shot in the near future or will it just sit in a vault for eternity?
– Justin Thormann (Noblesville, Indiana)
1. Will any of the previous actors be making cameos/re-living their roles?
2. When will casting begin, and are you accepting taped auditions?
3. How "dark" are you planning to make the movie?
4. How many of the characters will be CGI, and how many will be real actors in make-up?
5. Are you going use past productions of the Silver Chair, like the BBC mini-series, for references?
Five questions should be good enough. Thank you for directing!
~Liesa from Milwaukee
What is it about the story, The Silver Chair, that made you want to take on the project?
Andrew Harmon, Kalamazoo MI
Is there one specific thing you wish to accomplish with The Silver Chair and, if so, what is it?
What do you see as Jill Pole's and Eustace's character centers that you want the movie to portray? Thank you!
– Elizabeth (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Hi! Narnia'a been a huge part of my life since I was able to read, so my questions are:
A. How do you see this film differing from the previous films created (Including the BBC versions and the Disney/Walden Media versions)?
B. Who's going to be the casting director and how can we (the fans) attempt to be in the film?
-Victoria V., South Carolina
Have you ever kept in touch with actors you worked with on previous movies and what advice would you give to people wanting to be a filmmaker?
How deep do you dig Narnia? (Tonga, South Pacific)
Hi Joe. I've been a fan of your movies since I was a kid (and still am). Thanks for the good memories and welcome to Narnia!
My question is:
1 Do you plan on combining CG with practical effects, animatronics or even miniatures in The Silver Chair? And in your opinion is that style of film making feasible anymore (from a financial perspective)?
Thanks! From Nicholai in New Zealand.
It was announced that original casts will not reprise the roles because age difference.well that makes sense for the children but what about aslan?.. to help audience understand this is not a reboot it will be easier to transition to the new cast with liam neeson reprising his epic voice… Q will the owls be motion capture or practical effects?….Q the giants be motion capture or forced perspective? FINAL QUESTION if there is a last battle or horse and his boy the pevensies family are grown ups in their stories. it would be possible to use the original casts?
Before i start to ask anithing, i would like to thanks you to bring Narnia back on screen again !
Narnia Books was my medecine after my mom' s death and the silver chair is one of my favorite.
I would like to know how would you see the film's atmosphère ?
Me, i see a darker version of the book with a terrible underground land, …
Who would you see as eustache to re take the poulter' s role ?
Thanks a a lot !
Sorry for my bad english 🙁
Jonathan Minsart-Belgium
Looking at your work it looks like you don't use the same composer for every movie, it would be awesome if you could get Harry Gregson-Williams to do the score for The Silver Chair. What are your plans for the music?
Luke (British Columbia, Canada)
Will the Narnia reboot be a "mild reboot"? Can we recognize characters or is everything new?
Armin W. Arndt, Fuerth, Germany
Would you consider returning as director for the next Narnia films?
Emily G. (Boston, MA)
Many fans feel that the last two Narnia movies altered core elements of the books, to the detriment of the movies..what are your thoughts, and how will you adapt the book for the screen while staying true to the spirit of the story?
I agree with Chris, the last 2 movies are bad because they strayed from C.S. Lewis story. Please stick as closely to the book as possible (I beg you!). I know a lot of people want to see Narnia films true the books CS Lewis wrote and not a twisted Hollywood version. I love Puddleglum, he's my favorite Narnia character. Don't change his character one bit. Please.