I know it might sound like sacrilege to suggest it, but I'd really like to see Digory and Polly have a bit more fun with the Wood Between the Worlds before hitting Charn. Like just have them go through a couple of different pools into worlds that are unobjectionably fun first, before then going to the major downer of Charn. Feels like it would heighten the impact if we've already lured the audience into a false sense of security first.  

Posted by: @icarus

I know it might sound like sacrilege to suggest it, but I'd really like to see Digory and Polly have a bit more fun with he Wood Between the Worlds before hitting Charn. Like just have them go through a couple of different pools into worlds that are unobjectionably fun first, before then going to the major downer of Charn. 

Now I'm just having visions of the Wood Between the Worlds being like a kind of downwards-rather-than-upwards version of Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree... which probably is sacrilege, but I like it.

(My main concern, if they did do this, would be that including other worlds that are nicer and more fun wouldn't advance the actual plot — unless they make even more changes to it than they're apparently doing already — and it would take up valuable running time that could be better spent on aspects of the story that are more important. It'd work better if this was, say, a 6-part series rather than a movie that can't afford to be too long. But it's an interesting thought all the same.) 

Posted by: @courtenay

My main concern, if they did do this, would be that including other worlds that are nicer and more fun wouldn't advance the actual plot — unless they make even more changes to it than they're apparently doing already — and it would take up valuable running time that could be better spent on aspects of the story that are more important.

I think if you did it as a montage, it would only need to take up like a minute or so of actual run-time. Just enough to give the audience the gist of the underlying dynamic behind the Wood Between the Worlds without diverting the plot in any great significant deal. 

Maybe it would end up being a bit too "Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" but i still think it would be a moment of fun to indulge the audience in before going super dark and creepy with Charn.

I think Greta Gerwig wants to make her own “improvements” on what C. S. Lewis wrote so I won’t make any recommendations on what should be done better than in the books.  So far it looks like she wants to make her own Narnia so I will probably not even watch her movies.  I understand that some changes are necessary for adaptation, but if she would have any respect for the author she would at least try to make a somewhat faithful story. There are some things that Lewis could have gone into more detail in the books, but Greta Gerwig should leave those alone and not conjecture on how they should have happened.  She doesn’t seem much interested in preserving the intentions of C. S. Lewis. Why would I want her to improve on what C. S. Lewis already accomplished so well?

Posted by: @icarus

I think if you did it as a montage, it would only need to take up like a minute or so of actual run-time. Just enough to give the audience the gist of the underlying dynamic behind the Wood Between the Worlds without diverting the plot in any great significant deal. 

Maybe it would end up being a bit too "Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" but i still think it would be a moment of fun to indulge the audience in before going super dark and creepy with Charn.

Hmmm, the problem I can see there, though, is that it would make them look like they're just superficially hopping in and out of different worlds without staying and exploring them to see what they're like. I can only see it being something like this: "Oh wow, look at this world of beauty and wonder!... Yeah, nah, it's pretty, but we don't want to spend all day here when there are so many other worlds to see, do we, so let's try another one. .....  Ooh, and this one's all weird and wacky and hilariously funny! But no, sorry, we can't stay for tea. Next world! ..... Oh. This one's all dim and dark and creepy and sort of, well, dead. But hey, come on, let's stay and explore it until we discover something that gets us into SUPER trouble that we can't get out of..."

You see the problem? If they've just been briefly diving into worlds that are fun and amazing and beautiful, and then switching rings to take them back to the Wood between the Worlds because there are so many more to discover... why on earth(s) would they then stay and explore the one that is, as you put it, a major downer?? It doesn't make sense, as far as the overall plot is concerned, and I can't think of any way to make it make sense. So, amusing though it is, I really can't see that it's a good idea.

I don't know if I'd qualify this as "improving upon" the book, but for a movie adaptation, I'd love to see Charn in its former glory and then the battle leading up to the Deplorable World. This could easily be achieved through flashbacks without slowing down the story. Plus I don't think anyone would object — even Douglas Gresham himself suggested it.

Another would be getting to see more of Jadis and Uncle Andrew's rampage through London. The book only describes some of their experiences, so I think getting to actually witness them would be hilarious! 

Posted by: @narnian78

I understand that some changes are necessary for adaptation, but if she would have any respect for the author she would at least try to make a somewhat faithful story. There are some things that Lewis could have gone into more detail in the books but Greta Gerwig should leave those alone and not conjecture on how they should have happened.

Even ignoring this specific upcoming adaptation, are there any moments, storybeats, or characters you'd like see more of or expanded upon? My suggestion would be not to let your feelings on Gerwig's film spoil your fun in imagining another big-screen adaptation — just my thoughts 😊  

@impending-doom 

The first Walden film had the wolves chasing the Pevensies onto the ice.  That didn’t slow the story down too much even though the scene was only a few minutes long.  But the scene wasn’t intended as an improvement on the original story even though it was not in the book.  It didn’t alter the plot at all or change the outcome of the story.  Generally I think Greta Gerwig should avoid making additions if possible.  If she needs to make additions like that she shouldn’t the change the original story to accomplish it. And such a scene if it is needed shouldn’t last more than a few minutes or it could be considered a digression. 

What do people think the core of The Magician’s Nephew is?

@oathkeeper That's a great question! I feel like there are so many themes in The Magician's Nephew though that it's hard to say which make up "the core." Going through the story, these are what stand out to me. 

• What you said about magician's (metaphorical or otherwise) not caring about the rights of others when they interfere with their interests. I also feel it's important that Jadis and Uncle Andrew be somewhat eloquent in the way they defend themselves. (Well, eloquent in a somewhat classist and, in Andrew's case, sexist way.) The audience shouldn't end up agreeing with them of course. But, like Digory, they should be momentarily fooled by their talk of "a high and lonely destiny" before realizing that it just means "(they) think (they) can do anything (they like) to get anything (they want.)" 
• Adventure is fun (we enjoy Digory and Polly's adventurousness) but it should be kept within limits. The book seems to take the position that there are some things (like the Wood Between the Worlds and the Deplorable Word) that people shouldn't explore. Uncle Andrew and Digory's curiosity about other worlds and Jadis's curiosity about the DW lead to disaster. Polly, the cautious one, comes out looking like the wise one. I don't think the book necessarily means people should never be curious though. The wonder Digory, Polly and Frank show for the world of Narnia is positively contrasted with Uncle Andrew just caring about how to get money and fame out of it.
• OK, now I'm getting into minor themes but since I wrote the above about Jadis and Andrew, I can't resist mentioning how Frank is a foil to them. He doesn't see himself as above ordinary rules and his humility is part of makes him a good first king of Narnia.
• Speaking of rules, the climax revolves around Digory obeying Aslan even when it seems like that will mean letting his mother die. (The book stresses though that this isn't because Aslan doesn't care about Digory's mother. He may actually be more pained by her illness than is Digory.) What's really important is the revelation that if he hadn't obeyed, it wouldn't really have benefited him or his mother. But because he did the right thing, he actually receives the miracle he thought he had to sacrifice. It's a great twist. 

A while back, the Talking Beasts podcast did a series analyzing The Magician's Nephew. Honestly, the filmmakers should just listen to that. It does a great job laying out the main themes of the book.