The Chronicles of Narnia (film series)
The Chronicles of Narnia is a fantasy film series and media franchise based on The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of novels by C. S. Lewis. The series revolves around the adventures of children in the world of Narnia, guided by Aslan, a wise and powerful lion that can speak and is the true king of Narnia. The children heavily featured in the films are the Pevensie siblings, and a prominent antagonist is the White Witch (also known as Queen Jadis). The franchise also includes short films, digital series, and video games.
For the British television series, see The Chronicles of Narnia (TV series).The Chronicles of Narnia
Andrew Adamson (1–2)
Michael Apted (3)
Ann Peacock (1)
Andrew Adamson (1–2)
Christopher Markus (1–3)
Stephen McFeely (1–3)
Michael Petroni (3)
Mark Johnson (1–3)
Philip Steuer (1–3)
Andrew Adamson (2–3)
Sim Evan-Jones (1–2)
Rick Shaine (3)
Harry Gregson-Williams (1–2)
David Arnold (3)
- Walt Disney Pictures (1–2)
- Fox 2000 Pictures (3)
- Walden Media (1–3)
406 minutes (1–3)
United Kingdom
United States
English
Total (3 films):
$560 million
Total (3 films):
$1,580,364,900
From the seven books, three were adapted—The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Prince Caspian (2008), and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)—which collectively grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide. The first two films were directed by Andrew Adamson and the third film was directed by Michael Apted. Plans for a fourth film were abandoned when it was announced in 2018 that new adaptations would be made for Netflix.[1]
Development[edit]
C. S. Lewis did not sell the film rights to the Narnia series during his lifetime, as he was skeptical that any cinematic adaptation could render the more fantastical elements and characters of the story realistically.[a] Only after seeing a demo reel of CGI animals did Douglas Gresham, Lewis's stepson and eventual literary executor, give approval for a film adaptation.
Although the plan was originally to produce the films in the same order as the books were published, it was reported that The Magician's Nephew, which recounts the creation of Narnia, would be the fourth feature film in the series, instead of The Silver Chair. It was rumoured that The Magician's Nephew was chosen in an attempt to reboot the series, after The Voyage of the Dawn Treader grossed less than the two previous films.[2] In March 2011, Walden Media confirmed that they intended The Magician's Nephew to be next in the series, but said that it was not yet in development.[3]
In October 2011, Gresham stated that Walden Media's contract with the C. S. Lewis estate had expired and suggested that Walden Media's lapse in renegotiating their contract with the C. S. Lewis estate was due to conflicts between the companies about the direction of future films.[4]
On 1 October 2013, the C. S. Lewis Company announced a partnership with The Mark Gordon Company and announced that The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair was officially in pre-production.[5]
Future[edit]
The Silver Chair[edit]
After Walden Media's contract of the series' film rights expired in 2011, The C. S. Lewis Company announced on 1 October 2013 that it had entered into an agreement with The Mark Gordon Company to produce an adaptation of the 1953 novel The Silver Chair. Mark Gordon and Douglas Gresham, along with Vincent Sieber, the Los Angeles based director of The C. S. Lewis Company, would serve as producers and work with The Mark Gordon Company on developing the script.[5] On 5 December 2013, it was announced that David Magee would write the screenplay.[19] In July 2014, the official Narnia website allowed the opportunity for fans to suggest names for the Lady of the Green Kirtle, the main antagonist. The winning name was to be selected by Mark Gordon and David Magee for use in the final script of The Silver Chair.[20]
The film's producers have called the film a reboot in reference to the fact that the film has a new creative team not associated with those who worked on the previous three films.[21][22] On 9 August 2016, it was announced that Sony's TriStar Pictures and Entertainment One was set to finance and distribute the fourth film with The Mark Gordon Company (which eOne owns) and The C. S. Lewis Company.[23] In April 2017, it was announced that Joe Johnston had been hired to direct The Silver Chair.[24] During an interview with Red Carpet News TV, producer Mark Gordon revealed scarce details about the new technologies and setting that would be used for the upcoming film.[25]