^ So were you disappointed about Apted taking Adamson's place?

If he's the right choice for VDT, that does not mean he's the right choice for SC. Very different stories.

In related news...Peter Jackson was the perfect choice to direct LotR... but that doesn't mean he'll be a good choice for The Hobbit. Guillmero del Toro would have been awesome. So sad he left!

I will be surprised if I don't want Mr Apted doing the next one as well. It's good to maintain some continuity - and I trust his track record. We shall see.

amen to that! I was so happy when we were told that Michael Apted was directing VotDT because of having seen Apted's movie "Amazing Grace" (a must see!)
I was blown away by how well done it was and I am so excited to see him do Narnia!

I think Adamson is a nice choice. He adapted LWW perfectly. The Silver Chair is remarkable for its action and suspense, so its material could to be adapted for film smoothly. Though claustrophobics might not want to see it...

You know I keep thinking of the possibility of Tim Burton directing the movie. Now usually I would hate that since his movies are always put a dark, weird, spin on things.

But I think that those aspects of Tim Burton may be good for the Silver Chair. Because there are a lot of weird scenarios in it. The Owl Parilment, the Giants at Harfang, The Gnomes in Underland, and Puddleglum are the strangest creatures (aside from the Dufflepuds) in the Narnia series. I would like to see Burton's designs for them, as I believe they could be creative, but accurate to the book as well.

Also Tim Burton can maintain dark (sometimes gross) elements/themes and still keep the film PG and appropriate for the target audience. This is especially important when dealing with Lilliandil's murder, Rillian's insanity, and the death of the Lady of the Green Kirtle.

Now I would hope that if Burton directed that he wouldnt bring in Johnny Depp (cause their pairing is getting old). And Helen Bonham Carter should not play the Emerald Witch (though she could work as the Giant Queen or the Headmaster at Jill and Eustace's school).

You know who I think would be a good SC director? Brad Silberling. He directed the Series of Unfortunate Events movie, which, in my opinion has a fell to it not too unlike the book SC.

What do you guys think?

~Riella

Brad Silberling is an excellent choice
I will also suggestion PJ Hogan. He did a modern adaption of Peter Pan and was one of the very first in the current string of fantasy films to come out after Harry Potter.

I still think Kenneth Branagh. He's a director who takes his films seriously, but doesn't over-emphasize "darkness," as I think Tim Burton would. Narnia can be dark, but it's never weird and grotesque. At least, it doesn't love the grotesque.

My case for Branagh hinges on his Shakespeare films: here's a guy who sought to preserve the Shakespearean speech in his versions of the plays. He did change things to condense the material, but none of his changes changed Shakespeare. Watch Henry V for his best work.

So we know Branagh can be serious, but other of his films testify that he is diverse in his filmmaking: The Road to El Dorado (voice actor), Much Ado About Nothing (director), and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (brilliant as Prof. Lockhart).

He not only knows how to act and direct, but he's adapted books into screenplays. Judging from his well-respected (if not overly popular and well-known) adaptations of Shakespeare onto film, I think we could count on Branagh to deliver (if it came to pass) a Silver Chair worthy of the book. Also, he might identify the Hamlet-esque elements of Prince Rilian's situation and keep Rilian's dialogue the way it is in the book (which is, Shakespearean).

So yeah, Kenneth Branagh

Oh also, he's directing THOR, which comes out next year and might be a hit. If it is, Narniawebbers might appreciate him even more.

One thing I think movie moguls forget is that a filmmaker can't make a "blockbuster" movie. He can only make a good movie (even a masterpiece) which consumers will TURN into a blockbuster.

I'm not sure I would want Apted back, I like his work in Amazing Grace, and I hope to like his work in VDT but I don't like his Point of View on some things, if the articles are to be trusted.

According to him:

I would be surprised if they did all seven books. I suppose the fourth one might work better now after the changes we made in the third...

So The Silver Chair could only work because of the changes done to the movie? No faith in the book itself?

and he goes on to say...

...but after that it goes haywire.

If this man doesn't have faith in the source, then I don't think he's the best man for the job. He said:

With a franchise, the continuity of characters is actually quite crucial and I don't know how they are going get beyond book four. I think it is a problem.

continuity is crucial I agree, and that's why I am happy the book gradually change characters. There is continuity among the books.

http://www.imdb.com/news/ni6014898/
http://www.hollywood.com/news/Apteds_doubts_over_future_of_Narnia_franchise/7739320

Probably never happen, but my wish is there to be a director who is spiritually-sensitive, true fan of the spiritual side of the books....but that probably will never happen. Some of the people mentioned as replacements are good directorially, but who knows what they interpret the books as being about. Somewhere I recall reading or hearing Apted say that this was a "spiritual story which he liked"....don't remember where I heard that.....? .....but I did approve when I heard him say that. And of course "spiritual" means different things to different people.

Well, it's official. After the latest quote from Apted, I do NOT want him back to direct the Silver Chair. Narnia does not need a director that doubts the strength of the series on one of the very things that makes it so unique! He's right in that we don't get to see the same main characters over and over and over again, but we do get to meet fantastic new characters that are some of the best fantasy literature has to offer! I'm not saying I won't miss the Pevensies, but in losing them for a while we gain Jill, Puddleglum, Shasta, Aravis, Bree, Hwin, Digory, Polly, Tirian (my favorite character of the series), Jill, and Poggin! And perhaps Apted has forgotten about the most important character in the series, Aslan, who holds everything together.

Apted didn't say he would direct it just that he would really like to.
I'm starting to feel the same way you do, he seems to be very outspoken about the need to change the plots of the books and make all these connections. I would like to see a new director who has been a longtime fan of the books and truly understands them.

And I really hope Walden holds on to the series after SC, he seems to be very pessimistic

And I really hope Walden holds on to the series after SC, he seems to be very pessimistic

1st, we need SC to make it to the big screen.

The Apted quote is somewhat annoying. It isn't the individual characters that drive Narnia. It is the story of Narnia itself. It is something like learning about the history of a great old magical country and its inhabitants. That where the continuity lies.

Sure, we love the characters. But, I was happy to return and learn more about Narnia, even when I knew the previous characters were not returning.

To be quite frank, the characters we get SC onwards are a heck of a lot more interesting than the Pevensies. From everything we've heard, people loved Eustace, so I don't see why it would be that much of a stretch for people to come back for him in SC and LB. Heavily promote MN as the origin story for Narnia and perhaps emphasize that the Professor and Digory are the same person. Then you can use the Pevensies to sell HHB.

Bookwyrm, I couldn't agree more!

I still kinda would like to see Adamson back I've got to see VDT before I decide on Apted. I really hope Adamson does MN and HHB though