Thanks for the info, King_Erlian and waggawerewolf27—I'm in the United States and I'm afraid reading Harry Potter has forever skewed my perception of what boarding school is like in the UK.

I agree with Reepicheep775 on Experiment House seeming especially terrible as a boarding school because of not being able to leave it. In a way, that would make Eustace and Jill's escape into Narnia all the more meaningful for them.

If Experiment House is a day school, though, I wonder if we'll get any glimpse of Jill's home life? As far as I can remember, Jill never mentions her parents and the story never even alludes to them, which I believe has given some people cause to speculate that Jill might be an orphan, or abandoned for that matter.

Seeing how the filmmakers present Jill as a character, and what they do with her background, is probably one of the aspects of the upcoming film that I'm most curious about.

I don't think I'd mind very much if they expanded the skirmish with the serpent, DamselJillPole—it's over awfully quickly in the book. They could potentially use the Earthmen as well, magically summoned by the Lady of the Green Kirtle to come to her aid. I really wouldn't expect Hollywood not to expand it to some degree, but if they turn it into a thirty minutes-long fighting spectacular, I will not be very happy.

I really wouldn't expect Hollywood not to expand it to some degree, but if they turn it into a thirty minutes-long fighting spectacular, I will not be very happy.

I don't think we'll need to worry too much about that. This film will undoubtedly receive a decreased budget than the previous films, which may turn out well. It forces them to show restraint.

One thing I wouldn't mind seeing, which didn't happen in the book, but was suggested in it, would be for Trumpkin to hear about their plans and send out a party to intercept them. It oughtn't to be a huge plot change, but some lurking and skulking might add tension to what is mainly a walking/talking scene. (That BBC dragon thrown in there - aaaahh!).

Imagine the irony of having to dodge the good guys, as well as the giants and other hazards. The Narnians might turn back at the bridge, because it was too risky to continue, thus emphasizing the dangers of the Northern wilds.

Thank goodness for that, Skilletdude.

I think that's a brilliant idea, aileth! I wouldn't be surprised at all if the filmmakers did that. I do wonder what would make the rescue party give up and turn back, though, especially when there are two children involved. Maybe they'll have a run in with the Black Knight? Or possibly be intercepted by the Green Witch and taken to Underland to be enchanted/enslaved there?

Speaking of which (or witch? ), something I'd also like to find out more about is what happened to the "more than thirty champions" of knights, centaurs and good giants who set off in search of the lost prince and never returned to Narnia. I really don't think it's likely that all of them fell for the Lady of the Green Kirtle's Harfang trick.

That's a great idea aileth! I'd always thought, since there's a bit of walking and talking they'd want to add someone/something chasing them along for the same reasons you stated. But I have never thought of the good guys chasing them! I kind of want them to do this!

Speaking of which (or witch? ), something I'd also like to find out more about is what happened to the "more than thirty champions" of knights, centaurs and good giants who set off in search of the lost prince and never returned to Narnia. I really don't think it's likely that all of them fell for the Lady of the Green Kirtle's Harfang trick.

I would suspect most of them never even made it that far. It's more likely they were killed by giants, dragons, or natural elements.

I would suspect most of them never even made it that far. It's more likely they were killed by giants, dragons, or natural elements.

You're probably right, and it occurred to me that prior to Jill and Eustace showing up in Narnia, nobody had any idea where to even start looking for Rilian. I'm pretty sure the signs were only ever given to Jill, so that would have left the previous would-be rescuers going off in probably the wrong direction at least three-quarters of the time. Some of them may even return to Narnia after news of Rilian's return reaches them; it's only been ten years and many may still be alive.

Of course, the fact that the signs are largely secret could impede aileth's idea of having a search party following the trio, because they're not going to have any idea of where to look, either. This could probably be worked around, though. Jill and Eustace speak of the second sign at the Parliament of Owls and there could have been a spy listening in there, or one of the owls could turn informant. It's even possible that the LotK could have something to do with it, but these are all random ideas.

I don't know if the transition from our world to Narnia needs to be so dramatic or different. To be honest, if I were to do it I would do it suddenly, taking both the children and the audience by surprise. I would most likely use color and sound. I like the idea of the dullness of our world and the sudden color of Narnia, which would work because "it was a dull, autumn day". In my head, it was rainy and probably foggy and the grass and plants were already starting to die and the buildings weren't well groomed, so there is very little color. Also, while the children are being chased by the bullies, there will probably be fast music and lots of jeering from the bullies. When they enter Narnia, it could be like turning off a radio, as described in the book. This way, it doesn't need to be complex or that different from the book but the way I visualize it in my mind it works pretty well.
I am expecting "LOTR" shots for when they're traveling (the swooping scenery shots Peter Jackson uses so often). I am also expecting them to cut out Drinian, although this goes with the debate over whether it will be a sequel or its own thing. If it's a sequel and they want to use the same cast, Drinian was very pirate-y in VDT and he would seem really awkward and out of place in the courts of Cair Paravel. I doubt they will leave him in.

TSC is probably my favourite of the series, too, and so it's rather special, but there are a few things here and there that I think can be trimmed when transitioning the story from book to film.
One example of a scene that works really well in the book but could be shortened in the film is when Jill and Eustace spend time in the Narnian castle before Glimfeather comes to take them to the Parliament. I need to re-read the series, but I don't remember their time in the castle having any significant effect on the story. In the book, it serves the function of painting a very comfortable picture, which is then shaken when Glimfeather carries Jill away. Something like that can be depicted much faster in film, I think.

I can see the benefits of keeping Rilian's identity a mystery. I also am inclining towards any type of film that will remove Drinian and Liliandil, mostly for the sake of having a fresh start with this film. A flashback would be a little awkward, I think, so I think that an interesting way to portray it could be some kind of art, like a history book with pictures of what happened to the queen and then what Rilian did? I'm not sure who would narrate the events. Was it Glimfeather who did so in the books? Obviously, the art wouldn't be framed. Originally, I was thinking stained glass or something, but it makes no sense for Caspian to allow pictures of that around the castle... I would like the story of Rilian disappearing to be visually interesting, rather than the story just being narrated. It's an important part of the plot and, personally, it would stick with me longer if I saw what happened in some way rather than just heard about it. A montage with art, Prince-of-Egypt style, maybe, would be my suggestion.

A transition much like the Pevensies being chased by Mrs. Macready would work well, except it would be the Experiment House kids chasing Jill and Eustace.

In the film "The Miracle Maker", which is an excellent stop-frame puppet animation telling the story of Easter, they used the 3D stop-frame animation for the real events and went into 2D drawn-cartoon animation when Jesus told a parable, or when they went into someone's imagination. I thought it worked really well. Perhaps they could do something like that for The Silver Chair - if the main action were live action, use cartoon animation (not cutesy a la Disney!) for flashbacks such as Rilian's disappearance?

A flashback would be a little awkward, I think, so I think that an interesting way to portray it could be some kind of art, like a history book with pictures of what happened to the queen and then what Rilian did? I'm not sure who would narrate the events. Was it Glimfeather who did so in the books? Obviously, the art wouldn't be framed. Originally, I was thinking stained glass or something, but it makes no sense for Caspian to allow pictures of that around the castle...

In the SC: Predictable Twist Ending? thread, Reepicheep775 posted about the possibility of showing Rilian's backstory in the opening credits with art in some way, and stained glass windows was one of his suggestions. I had a thought that they might be windows in the Dark Castle in Underland, which would get around the problem of Caspian not wanting to be reminded of such a tragic event in his life! That was a very good point.

I don't know if telling the story in the opening credits could end up hurting the scene in the Parliament of Owls, making it seem redundant, but I do love the visual of stained glass windows being illuminated by a lone lantern Underland, the light bobbing by each of them as the story is told. They could even be windows in the chamber of the Silver Chair (normally too dark to discern their design), with the opening credits ending as the ominous throne comes into view.

I'm not sure who the narrator for that would be, though. Maybe one of the hopeless voices of the gnomes, just to make it extra chilling and indicate the despair of the quest? Possibilities!

I don't know if telling the story in the opening credits could end up hurting the scene in the Parliament of Owls, making it seem redundant, but I do love the visual of stained glass windows being illuminated by a lone lantern Underland, the light bobbing by each of them as the story is told.

The thought I had is that the Parliament of Owls could be a lot briefer than in the book. It wouldn't need to deliver as much information in the book, because much of the information would already have been given via the prologue. The audience would connect the information the owls are giving to the prologue and they could work out things for themselves. Either way, you don't want a long scene of exposition in a movie.

I agree with you Dryad. I think they should drag out the scene with the gigantic serpent but I don't want to see a huge battle similar to VDT or something. It should be creepy and more long winded but also jumpy. It's a snake and big giant green snakes deserve to be creepy.

Also, I think they could show the scene with Aslan blowing Jill and Eustace to Narnia with taste. I don't think they should take it out but just tweek it or abbreviate it or something. Maybe he breathes on Jill and the world begins to spin and Jill finds herself standing by Eustace in Narnia. I'm not sure if that's the best way. I would prefer a closer adaption of the scene but it's an idea.

The scene with Jill and Eustace going through the door into Narnia probably shouldn't be changed. Yeah, underline the bullies, the horrible school, and maybe show some extra scenes to make the bullies more terrible and dreaded. But I don't think a iconic entry to Narnia should be changed altogether.
One of the rare things I loved about the movie VDT was the Picture scene. They didn't change the sequence but emphasized it and tweeked it to be more visually pleasing. It was one of the most memorable sequences of traveling into Narnia.

Also, I think the scene with the stupid giants throwing the stones should be another action scene that's emphasized.

None I can think of right now.

I want them to show more of Aslan in general. He is just so amazing.

I totally agree! They shouldn't take out any scenes with Aslan. He's the series icon and they should treat Him as such. I know they'll have to abbreviate stuff but they need to keep those scenes at least.

I hope they don't abbreviate them. I think this book had the very best moments with Aslan interacting with the other characters, especially with Jill and later with a renewed Caspian. The dialogue is great too. In this case, his scenes are the ones I would not like them to change very much at all. Though he is a very expensive character to animate, maybe they will have to.