I always liked Bratty!Eustace, so I don't really mind him being bratty for longer. I don't see it as being something that would really negatively affect the movie.

if Eustace was transformed at hte end of the movie, then how will scenes like Deathwater Island or The Dark Island play out? hmmm.....

Was Eustace even involved in Deathwater? I thought he was busy sulking on the ship or something.

in the book, Eustace has already been transformed by the time deathwater comes around. he is changed by then and has some good lines!

I don't remember Eustace being much a part of Deathwater Island at all other than he's present when Caspian and Edmund get into a fight. At the Dark Island, he hears scissors opening and closing, not something that he has to be a good kid for. Without looking at the book, I know he has lines at the Island of the Dufflepuds, but I don't remember any of them so I can't imagine they're that spectacular. Same with Ramandu's Island (though he'd better be a kid by that island in the movie).

I'm sure if I were to actually look at the book, I'd find some lines by Eustace after he's transformed that I'd like, but none of them come to mind without looking.

I don't really mind much about Eustace getting transformed farther along into the story, as long as the most important scenes (Aslan helping him peel the dragon skin, the conversation with Edmund) are there. As long as those scenes are pretty much what they are in the book, I'm fine.

Thoughts?

After seeing Son of Rambo, I have no doubts that Will Poulter can pull the role off very convincingly.

I suspect Eustace as a dragon is going to be more prominent in this adaptation. Got to admit that it is a very cool part of the story and beloved by many. Why not play it up a bit?

For me, when Eustace is converted by Aslan is by far the single most memorable event of the entire Chronicles. Don't let me down, Mr. Apted.

I'm loving how they have nailed Eustace’s character thus far, from what they have said in interviews, so far I'm confident his bratty attitude will be great.
I'm actually hoping we have enough time to see the new Eustace after he has been transformed back into a boy. Like when Edmund changed it was a little more then halfway through LWW (I think), from there they were able to show how Edmund had changed.
I think it's easier for us who have read the books to like Eustace because we know what he is like in SC, for those who have just seen the movies, I think it's important that the new Eustace be likeable enough, so that when (God willing) SC gets made, people will want to see SC sense they liked Eustace in VDT.
Oh, and they definitely need to keep that part with Eustace and Edmund, great character moment for Eustace and Edmund. I’ve always loved how Edmund never forgot how Aslan changed him.

I'm not sure what I think about this, but I am not as worried as I thought I might be as regards a reworking of the storyline. It would be drawing out Bratty!Eustace (TM ) through several of the islands, but I don't think that could be a major problem unless they make it one.

For example; We don't notice Eustace much at Deathwater or Dark Island, scenes after he has been redeemed, in the book- but how would his part change if he were a bratty kid then? At Deathwater, would try to sneak some gold onto the ship, or else whine about how he was thirsty and almost take a drink of water. (I can see the epic "NOOOOOOOO!" sequence now. )

At Dark Island he could be a brat to Lord Rhoop, or else jump overboard. I know that's rather far-fetched, but it could happen. We thought that a romance between Caspian and Susan was laughable, remember?

I hope most of all that Eustace isn't turned into a dragon early on and then towed behind the ship. Or made to keep up by flying. Or brought along with any of the other ideas the mates on the dawn treader had.

^^ alright, you asked for it: nooooooooooooooo!

okay, I had to let that out!

^^ you are right, sweeetlilgurlie! it wouldn't really effect any of those scenes if Eustace was a bratty little kid for longer than the book!
so now I am calm again and I am not worried about that part.....

So the comments about not really remembering Eustace’s role certain places after his transformation seemed to me to be a challenge to go to the book and find out exactly what his role was. I went to the book and here are my findings. After Dragon Island, the next adventure was the Sea Serpent. Eustace was just beginning to regress to his old self when the Sea Serpent appears and he does his first brave act. Next comes Deathwater. Eustace agrees with Caspian, Ed, and Lucy that they should go to the other stream. He also supplies the information that a dragon could not remove a man’s armor.

At Deathwater, would try to sneak some gold onto the ship, or else whine about how he was thirsty and almost take a drink of water.

In the book, he actually does almost take a drink of water. He doesn’t take part in the argument that Caspian, Edmund, and Lucy have. At the Dufflepuds’ Island, he comments that they have machinery and that they have come to a civilized country at last, points out that they can’t hide from invisible people, mentions that the others would just think they were swinging their swords around for fun, and points out that the Dufflepuds aren’t very clever. He also doesn’t want to eat with them and spend the night. At dinner, he tells Ed that he feels inquisitive about them and wonders if they huge grasshoppers or frogs. He is also sorry afterward that he drank mead. He mentions that the magician should have made them inaudible instead of invisible and is annoyed when they tell him he isn’t as good as their chief at explaining. He is in mail like Caspian and Edmund when they enter the darkness. At Ramandu’s Island, he suggests the tall things are towers, wonders where the guests are, says that the lords are asleep, agrees to stay with the rest (Lewis mentions that was brave of him because he hadn’t read of such things so it was worse for him), asks about the knife, wonders how the food keeps, asks Ramandu if he was flying in the air, mentions that stars in his world are balls of flaming gas, asks the people who want to stay on the island what they will eat, and suggests to Lucy that they don’t think about the terrible times Rhoop had on Dark Island. I’m not going farther than this because I am really hoping that the transformation, battle etc. will happen before Ramandu’s Island. (I’m in denial that it could happen afterward ).
Now for my opinion on the matter, I would really really prefer it if everything was exactly like in the book. Of course, that won’t happen so there are some things that will ease my frustrations. Looking at Eustace’s role on the Island of the Dufflepuds, it could easily be played with him either being a brat or reformed. I don’t think the lines would have to be changed at all, just the way they are said. As long as Eustace does not detract from Lucy’s development on that island, I would be willing to live with it. With minor changes, (i.e. no armor for Eustace), Dark Island could also happen when Eustace is a brat. Eustace doesn’t say or do much on Deathwater, but that is very significant: gold no longer has poor over him and he does not stoop to name calling like Lucy. Also, if Eustace had not already met Aslan, Aslan’s appearing to them would cause complications. Eustace wouldn’t know who he was and that would change the feel of the scene. I love the way the BBC handled Eustace in this scene. He sees Aslan first and calls out in joy. (Yes, you read that right. I actually like something that was changed from the book. *hopes no one fainted* It would not feel right for Eustace to be bratty past Ramandu’s Island because that is supposed to be so wonderful. So much happens on Ramandu’s Island already (finding the sleepers, Caspian meets Ramandu’s Daughter, and there is nearly a muntiny) that it would be too much to cram Eustace’s transformation on to it. Like Pyxis, I want the important scenes of his transformation to be like in the book. So, if the conditions I stated are meet, I won't mind too much if the transformation happens later.

Eustace doesn’t say or do much on Deathwater, but that is very significant: gold no longer has poor over him and he does not stoop to name calling like Lucy. Also, if Eustace had not already met Aslan, Aslan’s appearing to them would cause complications.

As I read that particular quote I just thought of something -- if it is the case that Deathwater and Dragon Island have been combined in the movie, then that could have some bearing on the islands being switched. If that is what happens, Eustace might not even be present at the Deathwater scene because he would still be a dragon!

I guess I'm musing "out loud". I just think I might be on to something. After the Dragon/Deathwater mix could come the sea serpent, perhaps.... Though, going by this theory, I'm not sure what would happen to Eustace at Dufflepud Island!

It will be really interesting to see what they've actually done in the movie, after all this speculation!

Well, if Eustace is still a dragon when they reach the Dufflepud Island, the question would naturally arise of whether or not Coriakin could turn him back into a boy. This could be a good chance for them to finally acknowledge Aslan as more than a friendly immortal talking lion. But that creates complications with the Duffers. Honestly, the more I think about this, the more I'm convinced it's a bad idea to just randomly pick up elements and move them around for the fun of it.

Agreed, Bookwyrm. So many complications arise when the filmmakers switch things around that the author already worked out and were in certain places for certain purposes as he wrote his story.

I'd just rather they not switch things for the sake of switching them. The movie is going to be different from the book whether or not they change the plot; they're very different mediums, for crying out loud! Can't they just let the story be?