Josh said, I don't see the problem with just making Jill and Eustace teenagers.

The one and only problem I see with having them teens is they are going to try their best to squeeze some dumbe cheesy romance in there

There are, unfortunately, enough hints of best-friendship that can be taken as romance in the book (don't shoot me, it's there!) that I wouldn't be surprised if there was some amount of chemistry between Eustace and Jill. I'm not at all sure what I think of that.

'Cause I can't figure out if I would push it that direction if I was writing the script. Going that way would add some extra tension, but then again, there's already plenty of tension between the two.

And sadly, in America anyway, it's practically impossible for a guy and a girl to be really good friends without somebody assuming romance.

And sadly, in America anyway, it's practically impossible for a guy and a girl to be really good friends without somebody assuming romance.

Well, look how they did Caspian and Lilliandil. (After seeing what a non-existant romance got turned into for PC, I was horrified at the prospect of the romance in VotDT. What a pleasant surprise- basically nothing!) Maybe they'll shock us!

Here's some hope:
If the Lord of the Rings cast/crew could make adult men 3 feet tall, maybe the Narnia cast/crew can make Eustace the correct height!

If they did re-cast him, the new Eustace must be just as good if not better then the current one. But it will be very sad if they do...

I'm not going to sweat over this one. I'd rather worry about global warming.

They won't recast Will because he's too old... The filmmakers aren't stupid, he's done an incredible job in VDT (best child actor in the movie) + the audience would be confused if they chose a new actor. I would be a stupid economic move.

There are, unfortunately, enough hints of best-friendship that can be taken as romance in the book (don't shoot me, it's there!) that I wouldn't be surprised if there was some amount of chemistry between Eustace and Jill. I'm not at all sure what I think of that.

It might not be too bad. it could be good if it was done right. There isn't much tension between characters in the books -- which is a good thing for a children's story book. But a movie is different. If there isn't tension in a movie, it seems, people lose interest.

I'm really curious to see how they portray Eustace and Jill's relationship... It seems like they should build off the fact that he used to bully her. But I don't know if they will or not.

~Riella

I disagree that there isn't tension between the characters in the book. There's tension between all three. The two kids get mad at Puddleglum because he's such a 'wet blanket' and Jill doesn't like Eustace at the start of the book, but by the end, they're friends. There's absolutley no need to add Jillstace.

Agreed. Definitely no Jillstace, they cannot ruin another film of the book for me , it has to be true to the book with SC. Besides there's much more fun to be had with relationship tension without making everything romantic....

I disagree that there isn't tension between the characters in the book. There's tension between all three. The two kids get mad at Puddleglum because he's such a 'wet blanket' and Jill doesn't like Eustace at the start of the book, but by the end, they're friends. There's absolutley no need to add Jillstace.

I don't mean they need to add Jilstace necessarily. Just something to make it more interesting.
The tension that is there was fine for a book. But not for a movie, in my opinion. Quarreling and getting mad at eachother is typical with anyone on any adventure. And though C.S. Lewis made it unique in his book, it would not look unique enough on the big screen. Especially to non-book fans, who don't know and love the characters as much as we do. A book is longer, and so we have more time to get to know the characters. But a movie is fairly short. There isn't much time to get to know them. So a lot of times, film makers have to put in certain parts to make it more dramatic in order to better bring out the character's personalities more.

~Riella

Ah, I'm not for Jilstace either, but I see what you mean, Ithilwen. Getting relationships across (and I don't mean romance relationship) isn't as easy as it is in a book. Like I said, I want a close friend relationship by the end, which I've seen in the relationship between my sister and her friend (who's a boy). Could it be mistaken for love? Yes, but not a love that means "Ooh, let's get married!" but instead a "I really care and respect that person." If they could achieve that with Eustace and Jill (along with Digory and Polly + Shasta and Aravis) by the ending, I will be very happy and overjoyed!

I don't mean they need to add Jilstace necessarily. Just something to make it more interesting.
The tension that is there was fine for a book. But not for a movie, in my opinion. Quarreling and getting mad at eachother is typical with anyone on any adventure. And though C.S. Lewis made it unique in his book, it would not look unique enough on the big screen. Especially to non-book fans, who don't know and love the characters as much as we do. A book is longer, and so we have more time to get to know the characters. But a movie is fairly short. There isn't much time to get to know them. So a lot of times, film makers have to put in certain parts to make it more dramatic in order to better bring out the character's personalities more.

~Riella

Wait, so you're saying the film-makers should add things to Jill and Eustace's relationship becasue the film medium is shorter? I can't say I follow that logic.

As far as originality goes, I could definitley see Jill and Eustace's relationship (using the term relationship lightly) as coming across as cliche on-screen. That's why it's so important that the filmmakers get Jill and Eustace's characters right. If they do, it shouldn't come across as cliche because the two of them, along with Puddleglum, have such a great, original dynamic.

They bicker a lot, but if there was a way the writers could still have them do the bickering in a fresh way and not have it come off cliche that would help. They have to be given a proper script and direction for the tone of the relationships between the three of them to come across.

The relationship, in the book, is unique. If the filmmakers try to add to it, mark my words, it will become cliche.

Wait, so you're saying the film-makers should add things to Jill and Eustace's relationship becasue the film medium is shorter? I can't say I follow that logic.

Not quite what I meant. They don't have to add anything to the relationship exactly. But they may have to add new scenes to the movie, that make their relationships/personalities comes across more clearly to the audience, since we don't have as much time to get to know them. And not just Eustace and Jill, but any of the characters.

~Riella