On one hand, I think that a "disagreement" is a rather ridiculous reason to stop making the Narnia films. However, on the other, if continuing with Walden Media will only produce mediocre Narnia films like VDT, I'd rather wait the seven years in order to get quality retellings of our beloved books. And judging by this supposed seven-year waiting period, it appears that Douglas Gresham may feel the same way.

On one hand, I think that a "disagreement" is a rather ridiculous reason to stop making the Narnia films.

I too would like to see more Narnia films made, but if the scale isn't balanced, making a movie, especially an adaptation, is very difficult. I would rather they halt production until I'm an adult than have some movie makers work on a mediocre disappointment.

In a dream world, the cost of making feature films would be so low we'd have the remaining four books being adapted right now, thus settling all disagreements. Unfortunately, that is not so.

I have a strong feeling that Douglas Gresham will definitely try to have the remaining books adapted by an independent studio as he desired. I just wonder how Walden Media would be able to get the rights back, considering how upset Gresham was about how VDT turned out.

On one hand, I think that a "disagreement" is a rather ridiculous reason to stop making the Narnia films.

It's not the only reason...

The reason there is disagreement is because Dawn Treader's box office was disappointing, so now there is a huge lack of confidence in future films. The parties involved are less willing to take a risk, and less willing to compromise on what to do next. Everyone thinks they know the best route to take... and they are terrified of taking the wrong route.

I say they ought to do SC......admittedly because it's my personal favorite in the series........

But, yeah.......they want to make the most economically sound choice if the series is to make it to seven......seven overall profitable franchise that is.

My opinion is still the same on these disagreements going back and forth. I say wait a few more years, like 10 and reboot the whole thing.

I personally hope that more films are coming, preferably HHB. (Okay, that's one of my favorite books!) But I don't have confidence in their adaptation abilities, and I think that would be one of the easiest books to butcher.
What if they surprised us all and did LB? I'm not hoping for that, but that is an interesting "what-if" I doubt that they would, mostly because it seems like that would "end" the Narnia movie series in most people's minds. And, I have no idea how they could make it true to the book and still have a PG rating.

Personally, I'm still disappointed that Walden is so determined to do The Magician's Nephew next. In my opinion, if revenue for Narnia films really is expected to continue to decline, then the movie that makes the most economic sense would be The Silver Chair. One could make a very descent adaptation of that book on a low budget. If done well, and perhaps in a dramatically different style, it could be the surprise hit of the Narnia franchise.

It also continues the overall story arch as it has been told so far (publication order) and so is the logical next step if audiences want to know what happens to Eustace, Caspian, Trumpkin, and Lilliandil.

Also, it would be the only way to clean up the mistakes they made in Dawn Treader. With a little imagination, and a lot of tact, the green mist could finally be explained, Caspian & Lilliandil's romance could be depicted, and we can put some of the heart back into the Narnia series.

Of course, they also have the benefit of two extremely well loved characters in The Silver Chair: Jill and Puddleglum.

So, if they want a low-risk investment, I think The Silver Chair is the way to go.

Basically what I think it will take though is a director/producer who is passionate about the project and who has a vision so amazing that it will get all the players back to the discussion table. The question is, will somebody step forward before the moratorium ends?

I think that at this juncture, most NWers would agree that they don't care so much about which movie is made, as long as it's done well. There are advantages and disadvantages to making both, so I can see both sides of the argument. The real question is whether they would be willing to take a risk and do SC next, since MN seems to be the safer choice. SC could be incredibly successful-if it was done well. (I also think that a lot of NWers want to see Will Poulter back as Eustace.)

Don't hold your breath for Walden... Gresham knows they messed up VotDT big time and that was the reason it didn't do well, so he won't let something like this happen again, even if it means having to wait for the moratorium to end.

I don't want any more Narnia movies from Walden. LWW and PC followed Andrew Adamson's vision more than they followed Walden Media's vision. VDT, on the other hand, was pretty much Walden's movie (making sure to compromise with the other parties). I don't think Michael Apted even had a vision. If Walden continues to make Narnia movies, every movie will be an attempt to recapture "the magic of LWW", each more pitiful than the last, (hence their desire to make MN next; it has the White Witch!, the lamp-post!, the wardrobe!) instead of embracing the unique quality of each book and taking the series in a new direction.

If Gresham waits out the moratorium, this franchise is still a big question mark. An independent studio could be a very good thing or a very bad thing.

the movie that makes the most economic sense would be The Silver Chair. One could make a very descent adaptation of that book on a low budget.

Depends on what you mean by "low budget." On the one hand, SC would probably be the least expensive movie to make well, especially if they decide to deviate from the book and make Puddleglum a make-up and costume creation, rather than CGI. So much of the movie is character-driven. But if its actually low budget, rather than lower, I wouldn't be interested because we already have a good low-budget version courtesy of the BBC.

It also continues the overall story arch as it has been told so far (publication order) and so is the logical next step if audiences want to know what happens to Eustace, Caspian, Trumpkin, and Lilliandil.

What audiences? VDT was very poorly attended for a movie with a blockbuster budget, and of the relatively few movie goers who saw it, many of them just thought of it as a diversion, and have already forgotten about it.

No one will show up if "Come see the sequel to VDT!" is the thrust of their marketing campaign.

Something came to mind when I was talking to my friend yesterday who is also a huge Narnia fan. We were talking about this situation and I told him that i'm in favor that they just reboot the whole thing.

He agreed with me and made a new point on why they should and I had never thought about it until he told me so he said that the first two movies ended with hope for Narnia and that everything felt happy and ended in way for a conclusion he said otherwise about Voyage.

He said that VOTDT ended in a depressing and non conclusion way and said that it felt like the end of the trilogy when Eustace started to narrate. I have to agree after I saw the last scene again.

However Eustace didn't say a word about himself going back to Narnia because the war ended after that happened, so I thought they probably would make Eustace a few years older if they do continue.

But i still find my friend to be right. The narration made it sound like VOTDT is the last in this trilogy.

That's a good point about the narration, DamselJillPole. I definitely see how someone could get the wrong (or is it correct, at this point?) impression from that.

To be honest, I don't think I see Walden Media making another Narnia movie anytime in the next 20 years.

I agree with Anhun - there is no existing audience for future Narnia movies. Any further movies can not rely on LWW's success in any way [shape or form].

So the main question is, apparently, which has more intrinsic value - the possibly higher profit margin of MN or the likely lower production cost of SC? While they might come to an agreement on that question, I think that, plot-wise, Walden and Mr. Gresham can only agree to disagree on which is more valuable -chronological order or the White Witch?

But if its actually low budget, rather than lower, I wouldn't be interested because we already have a good low-budget version courtesy of the BBC.

Ditto. The Silver Chair is the only BBC Narnia film I've seen, and while it was good, it was by far not at all top notch. What I enjoyed about the Walden Media film series, particularly LWW, was seeing quality adaptations with stunning visuals. So regardless of what happens in terms of studios and legal matters, I'd prefer the movie to be made with the highest quality and care possible. I think Narnia deserves no less. Then again, I am, perhaps, slightly biased.

That's a very, very good point, DJP, and an interesting one. I hadn't thought about that. It's actually true, though it makes me very sad to think about it.