Actually, LWW had plenty of "walking and talking" as well. That's not a problem when it's punctuated with action or twists, which it is in both LWW and SC.

Is SC really one of the least popular in opinions? My impression was that there's no consensus, except that PC tends to be lower on people's lists and VDT tends to be higher, but maybe that's just nwers.

and nothing says "light and happy" like the destruction of an entire universe and the people in it, and a boy beating up on a girl. Like most of the Narnia books, MN gets very dark in places.

I remember hearing that the film makers were going to change SC dramatically as they did with VDT. With that said, I was sort of happy that MN was next. But the thing is, they probably want to change that one too, maybe even more.

PC was a very good movie. I beleive it would have made at least $550 million if Disney didn't make the stupid descision to pit it against IJ4. Iron Man was an unexpected hit.

VDT was totally different from the book I think it turned some people off. Also, the cheesy lines and plot holes made critics and fans dislike it. The snowstorm didn't help.

I believe MN may bring in more dough than VDT, but frankly, it's not that exciting. SC is has a very strong plot with terriffic characters plus a cameo of Caspian and seeing more of Will as Eustace. The only thing MN has going for it (as a movie) is the White Witch and seeing Narnia created. Nothing more.

And since when do people hate dark children films? Harry Potter is very dark and kids clamor over it. The Scooby Doo live action films were pretty dark too. Narnia is a classic that could be one of the best film franchises in history if made right. Too bad VDT ruined the series so far.

I like SC much more than MN. It's my second favorite book of Narnia. I think that Fox/Walden should take the small risk and do MN. If they do it in chronological order, more people will see it than if MN interrupted the stories.

if that's their worry, then why should they bother claiming to want to make all of the Narnia books into movies? when will they ever branch out if not now?

They will branch out when the movies start making money in the ballpark of Harry Potter again (probably $600 million +). Until then, they have to take the series one step at a time, because any wrong step now and the series could end.

and how do they know that SC isn't marketable? Will Poulter as Eustace alone would get people to see it because that's most people's reason for wanting SC next.....

Will Poulter may be a fan favorite among the people on NarniaWeb, but in terms of drawing an audience, he's not very well known in the Americas and isn't by himself a box office draw. The 8,000 people or so who voted on the NarniaWeb "what movie do you want to see next" poll don't really matter much when the movies need to bring in millions of ticket sales.

Is SC really one of the least popular in opinions? My impression was that there's no consensus, except that PC tends to be lower on people's lists and VDT tends to be higher, but maybe that's just nwers.

In every "What's your favorite Narnia book?" poll I've seen, the list is (roughly) something like this...
1. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
2. The Horse and His Boy
3. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
4. The Last Battle
5. The Magician's Nephew
6. The Silver Chair
7. Prince Caspian

The Magician's Nephew is actually not one of the front-runners either in terms of popularity. However, since it has been branded the first book in the series by HarperCollins, Magician's Nephew is the second most read book because people usually will read the first book of a series first, and each book afterwards will be read by slightly less people, as some readers lose interest in the series after a few books, etc.

The important thing about Magician's Nephew is it's recognizable, people are more likely to go see a book adaption from a book they've read rather than a book they haven't.

.....and their main man Will Poulter is ... well.. a man.

......Meanwhile, MN is the second best selling Narnia book, not very dark at all but rather it's light and happy, and there are loads of very exciting and artistic scenes in it. So if that movie does well, they can go on to movie 5.

.....and nothing says "light and happy" like the destruction of an entire universe and the people in it, and a boy beating up on a girl. Like most of the Narnia books, MN gets very dark in places.

I also don't think "light and happy" matters very much as it most times seems like audiences prefer dark and edgy these days. What makes Walden think "light and happy" sells by itself? Agreed future films (if made) should be balanced well-scripted stories.

I also don't think "light and happy" matters very much as it most times seems like audiences prefer dark and edgy these days. What makes Walden think "light and happy" sells by itself?

Because they can't get PC off their minds. Lots of people complianed it was to dark and too violent.

Agreed future films (if made) should be balanced well-scripted stories.

Seconded!

Libby has a point though that I think is worth mentioning again. This isn't the first time we heard about them filming MN earlier than they would if they followed publication order. There's a video interview out there back when they were doing production for PC where they talk about the orders and they said that after SC they might do MN. They've been excited about MN for a long time...

Other than that here's some of the pros and cons of a few of the possibilities:

Film SC first
Pros:
-We don’t have to worry about Will P’s height so much.
-Continuity with VDT
Cons:
-Darker themes lead to potential for the “PC reaction”
-Likely hood for the continuity of plot changes in VDT
-Not as popular as the other books
-they may cast Tilda as LotGK (edited in)

Film MN first
Pros:
-One of the highest selling of the series
-Continuity with LWW- the movie blockbuster
-Lots of excitement among the production, possibly they’ll have more respect?
-has yet to be filmed (edited in)
Cons:
-Potential of being treated like VDT- more plot changes, and aimed strictly at the kids
-Will P. may grow out of his role as Eustace for SC
-lack of continuity with the last movie

Film HHB first
Pros:
-Also has tie in’s to LWW
-tonality is very similar to LWW
-has yet to be filmed (edited in)
Cons:
-Arguments over the “race issues” are bound to come up
-lack of continuity with VDT
-Will P is getting older

I excluded filming multiple at once or filming LB because it seems as though both of those options can be safely ruled out as happening (though I would love to see SC and MN/HHB both done at once, and released 6 months to a year apart.)

Also there has been some minor talk of doing HHB a long while back, but that has appeared to have been proven as either unreliable or mistaken, however I can see them moving in that direction and I have a feeling it may be a good idea because of the similarities to LWW (this is from both a budget perspective and an adaptation perspective.)

*sighs* NarniaWeb is becoming a depressing place to be.

I f the franchise continues on its present course ("Return to magic, return to hope") it will never be able to be taken serious be moviegoers. I mean how could it? I don't see how Walden thinks the next movie is going to make more money if they continue this attitude. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader made roughly the same as Prince Caspian. Regardless of how much actual profit was made on each movie due to the budget, VDT wasn't any more popular box office-wise with moviegoers and significantly less so with critics.

I wish Pixar would make these movies honestly. They know how to make "everyone movies".

I remember hearing that the film makers were going to change SC dramatically as they did with VDT. With that said, I was sort of happy that MN was next. But the thing is, they probably want to change that one too, maybe even more.

This is where I'm torn. Naturally, I'm excited about the possibly of a new Narnia movie, but I am also very worried about what they do to it. I'll be very upset if, if and when they make another Narnia movie and it turns out to be another VDT, or worse.

VDT was totally different from the book I think it turned some people off. Also, the cheesy lines and plot holes made critics and fans dislike it. The snowstorm didn't help.

Fox really couldn't hide the cheesy lines with snow in the VDT commericals (lol). The critics and fans picked up on the plot holes and poor script. The fans went home and cried. Meanwhile, regular movie-goers smiled and laughed at it and afterward went home and forgot about it. Huge contrast to LWW. As Fantasia Kitty said, if it's a good movie, advertising and release date shouldn't matter.

I believe MN may bring in more dough than VDT, but frankly, it's not that exciting. SC is has a very strong plot with terriffic characters plus a cameo of Caspian and seeing more of Will as Eustace. The only thing MN has going for it (as a movie) is the White Witch and seeing Narnia created. Nothing more.

I think, if both of them were done right, they could both be blockbusters. If they didn't have these concerns about the survival of the francise, I'd say do SC. SC does seem like the most ovious blockbuster material.

And since when do people hate dark children films? Harry Potter is very dark and kids clamor over it. The Scooby Doo live action films were pretty dark too. Narnia is a classic that could be one of the best film franchises in history if made right. Too bad VDT ruined the series so far.

I know right? PC was a little more violent than LWW and some people had issues with that (not including me), but I don't see why they had to blame the darkess for the lower turnout. Some of highest grossing movies of all time, like LOtR, make PC seem very light.

As a side note: some people walked into LWW expecting to see another LotR-type fantasy. They were turn off at how light and relatively childish it was. 2 1/2 years later PC is critized for being too dark and violent.

*sighs* NarniaWeb is becoming a depressing place to be.

I f the franchise continues on its present course ("Return to magic, return to hope") it will never be able to be taken serious be moviegoers. I mean how could it? I don't see how Walden thinks the next movie is going to make more money if they continue this attitude. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader made roughly the same as Prince Caspian. Regardless of how much actual profit was made on each movie due to the budget, VDT wasn't any more popular box office-wise with moviegoers and significantly less so with critics.
".

I agree with you! Making a lighter tone film didn't actually make a positive differents, but a negative one. I think that right now they need to stop trying to guess what people want and actually go out and ask us- the fans. This site is full of opinions and common sense, two things that VDT lacked. They needed to think about creating a faithful pleasing adaptation, not a film that they thought might appeal to 5-10 year olds. I mean yes, of course people that age will be in the audience, but how many people are on this site are actually in this age group!? probably few to none. and there are a lot of people here.
I think that SC should be next. And if they actually thought about it they would see that it makes the best sense to make SC next. (In my opinion).
At the moment the poll says that (approx) 69% of fans want SC next and 18 % want MN. I think that says it all really!

After thinking over this a bit I think it would be best to go with The Magician's Nephew as the next film. As it is the 2nd bestselling book out of the Narnia series I think it will bring in more money and that is what this franchise needs. Another thing as well is it's fresh start. The tone of the film when I imagine the look of the trailer will look and feel like we are being brought back to the LWW.

There was something that Disney channel did in 2004 when they gave out this wide landscape off LWW of a battle and etc. Everyone at school after Christmas break were talking positively about it and couldn't wait to see the film. I think if they advertised a wide landscape of Narnia and a few scenes from the film itself a lot earlier rather than later people will be interested. That is all I have to say.

So it’s amazing because I think a lot of us, in our minds, have this perfect image of these Narnia books because we grew up with them. But there are some elements in there that are a little tough... -Michael Flaherty

True, but if you do it right the darkest elements go over the kids heads. And some of the dark elements are things kids are worrying about and dealing with already. For example, in LWW, Aslan's death is scary. But kids have probably experienced and have been scared by death of loved ones in real life also. Another example is that the destruction of Charn relates to our real world because in the real world there are weapons that exist that have potential to destroy our entire planet. Its scary and awful to think about, but death and nuclear weapons are things that kids are finding out about and having to grapple with. That is part of what makes the Narnia series so great. It removes it just enough-by making it in other worlds- to let kids work through it.

After I saw LWW, I'd hoped that MN would be next. They had a teaser at the very end with focusing on Professor Kirke. So far I have only purchased LWW. If MN is well-made, I might buy it and in my own home viewings just watch those two and stick with the BBC versions of PC and VDT.

I know at this point, it will disrupt the series to do MN. But still I am more excited to see MN than SC. I worry that SC will have some of the elements from VDT that I most did not enjoy.

Some things about the article concerned me for either SC or MN. I wish he had sounded more focused on adapting the themes as faithfully as possible since this next film may well be the last hurrah and they have a smaller budget. So why not just focus on good story-telling and hope for the best. That's what I wish the attitude was.

Film SC firstPros:
-We don’t have to worry about Will P’s height so much.
-Continuity with VDT
Cons:
-Darker themes lead to potential for the “PC reaction”
-Likely hood for the continuity of plot changes in VDT
-Not as popular as the other books

Never mind about Will Poulter. He has already grown to adulthood and it is too late for him physically even if SC is done immediately. What makes it a bit easier, is that SC Eustace is a different sort of character to VDT's original Eustace, and that SC Eustace is much less self-centred and more aware of other people and their problems. I know doing SC would provide continuity, but how much continuity is provided from SC to do other films?

Although I am not doubting that Fantasia Kitty was right about SC's problems, I think what is most worrying about SC is that it was also the last one of the BBC TV series, after which they decided not to do MN, HHB or LB at all. If SC provides continuity from VDT, it only provides more continuity through a song sung at a Cair Paravel dinner, and a snatch of song Rilian whistles to connect it with HHB. Even what Aslan has to say at the end, to Eustace and Jill, would preclude any more films other than LB, if they were to decide to skip HHB.

Other characters, besides Eustace, who are affected by continuity problems include King Caspian, who in the BBC series was played as an old man by a third actor before being resurrected at the end as their PC Prince Caspian. I know that King Caspian is a bit part in SC, and it depends on how and if Walden/Fox do the flashback to explain why Rilian is missing, plus whether or not they do the resurrection afterwards. Ben Barnes as he is right now would be a reasonable resurrected Caspian, but can he also play a very old man at the beginning and the end of SC, plus an older man for the death of Lilliandil flashback? And there is also Trumpkin, a third character, who returns from PC as Narnia's elderly regent. How much continuity then does SC provide?

BBC SC was extremely dark in places, easily comparable to any of the darkness complained about in Walden's PC. The bad feeling between Caspian and Peter in Walden PC was created by the filmmakers to reveal some of the backstory about different attitudes to the Pevensies' LWW disappearances, to give more of a sense of the time lapse, the mythology and the antagonism the Telmarines under Miraz had engendered. It wasn't random at all to try to explain the point of view of Nikabrik's character, or why the Pevensies might be as suspect to the Old Narnians as Caspian, himself, or why he might turn to the White Witch. However, BBC SC portrayed Rilian as being randomly touchy, violent and dangerous, in which Tom Baker's Puddleglum was threatened with a sword beside his head in a way that neither Peter nor Caspian in Walden's PC would have considered for a second. Of course Rilian had been bewitched at that point.

However, the BBC SC also had LOTGK being portrayed by the same actress who played their White Witch. They couldn't go back to play MN after that. Despite Doug Gresham's reassurances, there are still those who would worry about Tilda Swinton being cast as LOTGK.

Film MN firstPros:
-One of the highest selling of the series
-Continuity with LWW- the movie blockbuster
-Lots of excitement among the production, possibly they’ll have more respect?
Cons:
-Potential of being treated like VDT- more plot changes, and aimed strictly at the kids
-Will P. may grow out of his role as Eustace for SC
-lack of continuity with the last movie

There is also the point that nobody has yet filmed MN, not even BBC as a TV program. I agree that MN provides continuity from LWW, in particular. It also reorients the series into a more chronological order, now that there is no further need to worry about the Pevensies growing up. And it is a chance to do a movie that hasn't been attempted beforehand.

I disagree that there is lack of continuity with VDT the movie, since the way this VDT film has been done leaves an open ending where MN could be filmed easily to fit in. What did Eustace say? Oh yes, they talked often about Narnia whilst Lucy and Edmund stayed with Eustace until the war ended.

If it isn't done first of the series, MN is only going to be one giant flashback, whenever it is done. However, in book VDT, Peter had been lodging with the Professor who was tutoring him for university entrance. I don't think Walden VDT alluded to Peter's whereabouts at all, only Susan's and that of their parents. So that might be a chance to show how MN could be done. Eustace, Lucy and Edmund visiting the Professor and Peter before Eustace goes back to school in SC might be a good way to begin this movie.

Another point about doing MN first is that Tilda Swinton can rightfully play the White Witch. Then that is done and over with.

I think continuity would always be a problem with filming the Narnia series, especially as the main child characters are always in that late childhood, early adolescent age bracket. Even the Pevensies only provide a limited continuity, since of the five books in which they appear they are sometimes children and sometimes adults. The main continuity is shown by Narnia, the White Witch, to a degree, and by Aslan, himself.

LOTR could be done in three parts, but it was the same story with the same main characters right the way through. There was a cohesiveness about LOTR which Peter Jackson exploited to the fullest by filming all three parts at once. Harry Potter never had any continuity problems since again the three main child characters were retained throughout the series, and because again there was an overarching story which is only now finishing.

1) VDT's box office
"People are just so busy at Christmas time."

Yes, exactly. I think that this remark of Michael Flaherty is saying a lot, really. They did produce the movie at the right time at Christmas. But Narnia is never going to have the same clout as either LOTR or HP, however well it is done because of the continuity problems.

The marketing for VDT was especially bad in that advance ticket sales were not allowed for, unlike LOTR or HP, stopping people from planning when they would like to see the movie over the Christmas period. That is, if they hadn't already been deterred by lukewarm newspaper reviews and Disney having dropped the series. Instead, as Michael Flaherty is implying, the filmmakers were arrogant enough to think that everyone would simply drop whatever they were doing, to go to see this movie.

From go to woe, marketing for VDT's release dates has been terrible, badly coordinated, and almost non-existent, especially in Australia. No wonder that VDT had a poor start to its run. And lukewarm reviews did it no favours either. VDT should have been released in Australia on Boxing Day, as a better alternative to Fox's Gulliver's Travels.

BBC SC was extremely dark in places, easily comparable to any of the darkness complained about in Walden's PC.

True, but besides the killing of the serpent and the destruction of the underworld, it wasn't as violent. PC was essentially battle after battle and attack after attack. In SC the only battle really is between the witch as a snake and the kids, Rillian and Puddleglum.

BBC SC portrayed Rilian as being randomly touchy, violent and dangerous, in which Tom Baker's Puddleglum was threatened with a sword beside his head in a way that neither Peter nor Caspian in Walden's PC would have considered for a second. Of course Rilian had been bewitched at that point.

Hmmm... I actually hadn't thought of that... I guess because even though he's suppossed to be on the brink of insanity I always thought of BBC's Rilian as a bit to over-the-top and prefer not to remember it

Despite Doug Gresham's reassurances, there are still those who would worry about Tilda Swinton being cast as LOTGK.

There is also the point that nobody has yet filmed MN, not even BBC as a TV program.

I also forgot those two points, permission to add them to my list above?

I think continuity would always be a problem with filming the Narnia series

I actually agree with this a lot... I always thought of the continuity argument for SC as rather weak, since we are bound to run into the problem anyway by the time HHB comes around, but I wanted to list some of the main points brought up by people, even if I don't necessarily agree with them Good idea about the tie in with MN to that line at the end of VDT... That could actually work really well. I had thought of flashback of Digory telling his story, but I always pictured it with Lucy, not Eustace. But that is an excellent point

Thank you. I know others have thought there could be a tie-in with Lucy. But I also wondered if there was any reason why Lucy couldn't be accompanied by Eustace, especially if she was running errands to see her brother Peter, who, according to book VDT, was being tutored by Professor Kirk. It would also explain how Eustace seemed to know the Professor so well in LB.

And by all means please include any good points I manage to make in your list. You are most welcome to do so.

True, but besides the killing of the serpent and the destruction of the underworld, it wasn't as violent. PC was essentially battle after battle and attack after attack. In SC the only battle really is between the witch as a snake and the kids, Rillian and Puddleglum.

However, SC's darkness is in other ways. It is a more psychological darkness, dealing with loss, old age, death and maybe the sort of depression Harry Potter's dementors also deal with. Possibly insanity and addiction as well.

I don't agree that PC is 'battle after battle and attack after attack'. This is wartime in Narnia, and Caspian after the somewhat realistic birth of Miraz junior is fleeing for his life. Though I agree that Andrew Adamson did emphasize the fighting a bit more than is necessary for an accurate adaptation of the book. The final battle was overlong. I thought at the end of it Lucy might have to patch up more than Reepicheep. Whilst the Night raid, which was nothing but Trumpkin's fleeting reference in the book, became a reality in the movie. What also made PC dark was the White Witch incident, and those Telmarines stomping around in unison, especially over the bridge.

Besides there are plenty of battles in other books. In MN the destruction of Charn was alluded to - Jadis and her sister 'poured out the blood of their armies like water' after all. In HHB it was the siege of Anvard, plus Bree's reminiscences of battles past, which Shasta liked to listen to, plus Corin's pugnaciousness. And in LB there is the Last Battle.

After reading Michael Flaherty's interview for myself, I also wanted to add that if he claims there isn't a script for MN yet, he is only referring to MN, not to both MN and SC. Reading between the lines, do you get the impression that with MN they have the finance arranged but haven't yet got a script or the idea for a script let alone about how they would do the film, but have the opposite situation with SC, with script, or at least ideas for a script but no money?

The solution to this issue is simple. Really it is. From a business perspective. From a creative perspective. It isn't that complicated. For the most part, people who aren't big Narnia fans don't know one book from the other (with the exclusive exception of LWW, which is a classic novel separate from the chronicles). What they recognize is the label. They recognize the label "The Chronicles of Narnia." They think, "Oh remember that movie we saw a few years back?" or "Remember that book we read when we were kids?" Or they think, "What is that?" In any case, as far as recognition, which book (beyond LWW) doesn't make a noticeable difference.

The plan all along was to film in published order. Not a bad plan. Stick with it. It helps with continuity for the few people who are keeping a close eye on the series. Don't worry about light/dark. Just embrace the written material for what it is. If your worry is with light/dark, the end product will be terrible. Guaranteed. Look at VDT. They tried to force this concept of lightheartedness all over it, even where it didn't fit. If you're adapting a work, look at the tone of the piece. Get at the essence of what the book is, tonally, thematically. Go back to your training as STORYTELLERS. Embrace the material or don't adapt it at all.

Finally, and this might be controversial, don't pay too much mind to people like us. We are bias toward these books and think this or that shouldn't be changed, when, honestly, it is a minor concession and the result might be much greater than a perfectly faithful adaptation. With Prince Caspian, everyone was clamoring to get their opinion heard about why it failed in this way or that. Enough people said that it was just, simply, too dark. And, unfortunately, Walden and co. listened. The result of their listening to people like us was VDT. Admittedly, VDT wasn't as bad as it could have been, but neither was it a portion as good as it could have been. In any case, don't listen to people like us. If you think it would be smart to keep continuity with the prior films as well as a smart marketing decision to have Tilda Swinton play the Green Lady, then do it. We can all make arguments about why she should or shouldn't. But, the point is, she could. And it doesn't seem like a bad idea from a filmmaking perspective. We shouldn't get all bent out of shape when the filmmakers make changes that might be creatively interesting on some level. I don't want to see a movie pandering to me. I want to see a good movie. I want to see the hired creative artists tell me a story the best way THEY KNOW HOW. To an extent, in reference to filmmaking, there is a visible line between good and bad and mediocre. Know that line. Understand it.

Moral of the story: Don't worry about book popularity. Don't worry about tone. Don't worry about Narnia fans (the group is so small, you needn't pander to us). Just you worry about making a good film and selling it in a way that makes the brand look enticing and exciting again. Then, if it doesn't make money, you can still say, "Well, guys, we gave it our best shot and these times are not the right times for Narnia movies."

I didn't know that anyone wanted to see the WW again. I thought that most people were sick of seeing her in every movie. Why would they want to make MN right now when so many people are sick of seeing her?