A one-and-a-half minute New Zealand TV spot with shots of the crew and a welcoming ceremony known as Powhiri.

Andrew Adamson and his crew of 40 were welcomed onto Hoani Waititi marae in West Auckland Tuesday morning.

NarniaWeb has confirmed that Weta Workshops is working on the film but that Weta Digital is not involved. This dovetails nicely with the confirmation that Rhythm & Hues has been awarded the digital effects on the film.

Rhythm & Hues has landed the role as lead special effects studio on Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media fantasy epic The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which Disney will distribute late next year.

Walden Spokeswoman Alison Lehrer has said that filming will begin this year in New Zealand and the Czech Republic. Walden also denies reports of Kidman’s involvement.

Filmmakers will be based at the Waitakere City Council-owned Henderson Valley Studios and most of the film shooting will be done in the Auckland region from July.

IMDB has published a clarification of their March 8th news article regarding Nicole Kidman. Production sources have said that she was only one of the actresses under consideration. She has not yet signed on for the role.

For the last several days the internet has been swirling with rumors that Hollywood starlet Nicole Kidman has been tapped to play the role of the White Witch in the upcoming Narnia film. Rumors seem to be turning to reality.

We’ve gotten our hands on a letter from Pippa Hall requesting a young lady to audition for the part of Susan at the end of February.

In a marketing blitz and a show of good faith, Disney and Walden have teamed up to run a color, double full-page ad in major newspapers around the country. We’ve got a picture for you and it’s beautiful!