Joe Johnston to Share Directing Credit on Disney’s Nutcracker

Last December, it was reported that The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair director Joe Johnston had been brought on board to direct reshoots for Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. The reshoots were scheduled to span only thirty-two days, but it now appears that Joe Johnston may have had a greater impact on the final cut of the film than previously thought.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Joe Johnston will be credited as co-director with original director Lasse Hallstrom. This announcement signals a very unusual break from protocol in the film industry: the Directors Guild of America mandates that only one person may be credited with directing a film, unless a directing team has a past history of working together or shares a common vision.

Joe Johnston shared a statement with THR about working on the project:

I watched an early cut of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, and I saw something unique and fresh. When I was asked to direct the remaining elements, I saw an opportunity to complete Lasse’s wonderful and wildly inventive vision. I know we’ll both be proud of the end result.

Lasse Hallstrom, the original director for Nutcracker, had nothing but praise for Johnston:

It was an absolute blessing to have Joe Johnston step in when it became clear that I wouldn’t be available for reshoots. Joe is the ultimate expert in visual effects and I enjoyed collaborating with him on this film.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms hits theaters on November 2nd, 2018. Considering that the movie shares not only co-director Joe Johnston but also producer Mark Gordon in common with the upcoming film The Silver Chair, Narnia fans will likely be keen on following Nutcracker‘s success. Check out the trailer below, and keep an eye out for some snowy imagery that looks straight out of a magical wardrobe:

51 Responses

  1. FilmReel says:

    So was he just working on the reshoots or is he working on post-production as well? if he is than that could be pusing Narnia back.

  2. narnia fan 7 says:

    According to the original report it was just the reshoots and Lasse Hallstrom is overseeing post-production.

  3. Cleander says:

    Less than 25 days until the pre-production announcement for the Silver Chair!(hopefully)My countdown, as you can see, has been moved to this post. Thanks Glumpuddle for the official approval!

  4. I hope he wasn't putting Silver Chair back. I understand the need to finish the present job to clear the way for the next job. But I do need to hear news of Silver Chair soon. As do most of us, I guess.

  5. JFG says:

    Most are not concerned yet; Just patiently waiting for an announcement. If there is no announcement this month of July or in August, I will start getting impatient. 😉

  6. Cleander says:

    Less than 24 days!

  7. Just Queen, not High Queen says:

    Trailer looks awesome, but because of reshoots, I can't help but wonder how much of that footage will be in the final film, as has been the case with many recent films that had reshoots.

  8. Cleander says:

    Less than 23 days! Who wants to wait patiently when you can get excited? That's half the fun of waiting!

  9. HazHaz says:

    Why 23 Days?

  10. JFGII says:

    23 Days until we MAY get an announcement that THE SILVER CHAIR movie is starting production – with a solid release date. Director Johnston stated months ago he would start prepping the film in MAYBE JULY. We’re geeks about this movie getting started.

  11. JFGII says:

    Oh my God. Joe Johnston’s trilogy comments: I think I’ve figured it out:

    The Silver Chair (around 2020)
    The Magician’s Nephew (around 2023)
    The Last Battle (around 2027)

    That’s the trilogy.
    Then, 5 years down the line…
    The Horse and His Boy (around 2032)

    In this way, the filmmakers greatly benefit:

    3. No recasting Pevensies!
    Whom ever is cast to play Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy in The Last Battle need to be 22, 21, 19, 17 Years Old, like in the book. If you release The Horse and His Boy like 5 Years Later, then they can reprise their roles when they are 27, 26, 24, 22, like in that book.

    2. Less time in between returns.
    After the 1st one, the filmmakers can take their time developing the 2nd and 3rd films, without having to worry about Eustace and Jill getting too old to reprise their roles in The Last Battle. It’s like the books: Eustace and Jill are 9-12 in The Silver Chair and 16-19 in The Last Battle.

    1. The Problem of The Horse and His Boy.
    The Horse and His Boy is a great stand-alone adventure story. But it’s inessential as part of a trilogy, and notoriously controversial. More so than The Last Battle, in many respects.The filmmakers might want to wait before committing to The Horse and His Boy, a story deemed racist (and sexist etc) by more than a few people. I can’t completely disagree. If the other 3 films (including The Last Battle) are successful, then we might get to this one. Otherwise, they’re saving the most problematic for last.

  12. Cleander says:

    Less than 22 days! Wow, I think your trilogy idea could be right, JFGII.(Although the only problem I would have is that the HHB being released after the Last Battle might cheapen the finality of the end of Narnia.) BTW happy cow appreciation day everyone!

  13. Cleander says:

    Oh, does anyone know why Narniaweb changed their logo to a drawing?

  14. HermitoftheNorthernMarch says:

    Maybe the lion picture was copyrighted? I think the original might have been a picture of the New Zealand zoo lion they based Aslan off of but I'm not sure. If it was, they might have wanted to avoid any copyright problems.

  15. Glumpuddle says:

    Copyright was not a concern. 🙂 The graphic lion is intended to be more consistent with how the look of the site has evolved since 2003. (Also, a vector image is more versatile than pixels)

    AJAiken, who is also an editor on the podcast, designed the new lion. Hope you like it!

  16. Cleander says:

    OK just thought I'd ask.

  17. Cleander says:

    Less than 21 days until production begins!(Hopefully)Here's a question: If Douglas Gresham continues his tradition of making cameos in the Narnia films, who do you think he will be in The Silver Chair?

  18. Cleander says:

    Less than 20 days until!

  19. Glumpuddle says:

    An owl in the background at the parliament. 😉

  20. Cleander says:

    LOL

  21. Cleander says:

    Less than 19 days until!(HOPEFULLY)

  22. Glumpuddle says:

    Faith like Trufflehunter. 🙂

  23. Jilian says:

    I love the new Lion! It looks more like the Pauline Baynes illustrations which feels more Narnian. At least to me

  24. Cleander says:

    Less than 18 days!

  25. Cleander says:

    I intend to hold on!

  26. Cleander says:

    Less than 17 days!

  27. Jillian says:

    I really don’t see how Last Battle is any less “racist” than HB the Colormens are literally invading Narnia and they actually succeed for a while. People who are offended by HB will be just as offended by LB. I don’t see any sexism in HB either. Aravis bucks the role her society gave her (no pun intended) but she doesn’t blame Las for being a girly girl. She respects her she gets annoyed with her of course but she still lets Las live her own life. Remember the whole point of Colormen is that it is Narnia’s polar opposite. In Narnia women are free and never forced to marry someone they don’t love as Hwin pointed out. In Colormen, the opposite of Narnia, women are expected to do whatever they are told.

  28. Cleander says:

    Less than 16 days! Hang on….

  29. HermitoftheNorthernMarch says:

    I'm glad to hear that. Thanks!

  30. Cleander says:

    Less than 15 day! Maybe tomorrow… or next week… or next month…

  31. JFGII says:

    Courage and Heart…

  32. ChristianMan17 says:

    I’m gonna keep Praying that it will happen this summer.

  33. Cleander says:

    Less than 14 days! I'm gonna be busy over the weekend so I'm gonna post my countdown for those days now.

  34. Cleander says:

    Thursday: Less than 13 days! (Assuming nothing happened.)Question: If Cleander spends 30 seconds on Narniaweb for 30 days, how much time has Cleander wasted?

  35. Cleander says:

    Friday:Less than 12 days! Answer: NONE. Narniaweb is not a waste of time!

  36. Cleander says:

    Saturday:Less than 11 days!

  37. Cleander says:

    Sunday: Less than 10 days!

  38. Glumpuddle says:

    Thanks so much for your enthusiasm, Cleander! 🙂

  39. Cleander says:

    You're welcome!

  40. Cleander says:

    Hey, I'm back!(I see not much has changed.) Anyway, here's my countdown for today – less than 9 days until!

  41. Col. Klink says:

    You do realize that a countdown will make it more depressing if the announcement never comes?

  42. HermitoftheNorthernMarch says:

    It's really encouraging to keep seeing your posts. I hope we get news soon!

  43. Rick says:

    Hoping!

  44. Cleander says:

    Of, course I realize that… UNLESS another countdown begins after this one ends without seeing anything happen…Maybe other people could start doing countdown comments as well! After all, we're all waiting for this thing together, right?

  45. Cleander says:

    Less than 8 days until! I've got a feeling…

  46. Cleander says:

    OK, you know that "feeling"? Turns out there was a bug in my pants. Check out the next post for my next countdown comment!

  47. According to wikipedia joe johston hired and Indian Fella called Arpit Sadh.

    Arpit Sadh – Spivvins.

    Spivvins was one of the bullies of the experiment house who made Eustace and Jill go into Narnia in the SC.

  48. Maximo says:

    Did the auditions for the movie are over
    Because I want to do it.
    Ps: Does the page of Joe's sketches Is His real page?

  49. ChristianMan17 says:

    Before The Rumor that Millie Bobby Brown was offered the role of Jill Pole, I actually thought maybe Mackenzie Foy would be a good choice to play her, but she’ll be 18 in a few months, so she won’t be playing Jill. 🙁

  50. Maximo says:

    What was the feeling that Cleander mentioned before?
    There are new news about the cast?

  51. Wow that was strange. I just wrote an extremely
    long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn't appear.
    Grrrr… well I'm not writing all that over again. Anyways,
    just wanted to say fantastic blog!