Disney won't make the Third Chronicles of Narnia film

[3D Master]

Anyways the Narnia movies just aren't that good, that's the problem. Someone called them soulless, which I think is more or less a good description. I mean, yes they are watchable enough, but I forgot about them a day after I watched them.

That's because the books are soulless themselves. Seriously, Aslan, you saw Prince Caspian? This is in the friggin' book too.

All through the movie where our heroes are busy fending for themselves because Aslan isn't around, Aslan actually IS around. But the thing is, our heroes are doing the sensible thing, and fight alone in lue of absence you see, and that's wrong and evil. Truly, for the right thing to do, is lie down to your knees, do nothing and proclaim your faith, love, that a guy who isn't around will come to swoop in and save you out of nowhere.

And hey, if you don't, even if you're outnumbered 10 to 1, desperately fighting for his life and all that's right and good in the world, that guy, Aslan, (metaphor of Jesus) who actually is around and could save you instantly is going to let you die, and let the world be plunged into death, famine, pain, suffering and terror.

What a guy! He's such a sweetheart, I'll believe him in right away and get on my knees and proclaim the righeousness that is he who will let you die in abject misery unless you drop to your knees and worship him!

 

[Neroon]

As always this is all a matter of persepctive and opinion, with no absolutes to settle definitively just what these films and books are. I'd have a hard time calling at least "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" soulless, given how successful it was in the first place. Studios don't green light a sequel after the opening weekend of its predecessor, if said film wasn't more than a little successful.

Personally, I was disappointed in "Prince Caspian" though for reasons that are somewhat difficult for me to pin down. However, I was immensely impressed with "...Wardrobe" feeling that while it did vary somewhat from the book it stayed true in the most critical ways. While "Prince Caspian" was visually a step up and more mature looking, there was a change in the way the Pevensie kids were portrayed that I did not care for. There also seemed to be an overreliance at times upon special effects. The whole attempt to attack Miraz' castle was out of place and though some interesting little bits with the centaurs, it felt "horned in" and not a part of the story I know. That may just be me, though.

 

[Trent Roman]

...having Aslan swoop in and save everyone at the end with his reinforcements. (...) He's literally a deus ex machina on four legs.

Actually, you can skip the 'ex machina' part; he's just plain deus. It's always been one of my central dislikes of this series: the characters don't actually do anything to solve their own dilemna, they just tread water until they are Saved--capital 'S'--by the Christ archetype. Exercises in uselessness have no appeal to me. Also, since 'tis the season, I was seriously discomfitted by the whole Santa bringing weapons to children sequence; like some kind of NRA Christmas special. Nasty.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Orintho]

This, children, is why you don't give a movie with questionable long-term or seasonal appeal a 200 million dollar budget. Neither movie used that budget well and now they've lost a pretty solid franchise to milk for a decade.

Another problem is that Narnia is far more a children's film and will not get all the movie fans who prefer more adult fare like Lord of the Rings. Also, I am not knocking Lewis or anything, but the Narnia films themselves did not do as good of a job in getting me into this particular fantasy world.

 

[Captain Craig]

It was noted then and been repeated now but Disney really screwed the pooch when they pulled this off of the Holiday '07 calendar and pushed it into May '08. The biggest miscalculation by Disney, and to be fair 80% of people talking movies, was just how well Iron Man was going to become. When it seemed like they were going ahead with VotDT I viewed it as a ballsy move. A type of admittance that "Hey we messed up but realize the franchise has potential" type move.

Hollywood Reporter isn't known for publishing rumor so I tend to believe the piece. Maybe something can change cause the franchise does hold potential. The number crunchers need to tell them to make the movie for less than $125m cause the budgets were crazy. If Caspian had a budget of $125m then the third entry likely would still be a go.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

292 million to 141 million is one hell of a drop for the sequel, for is essentially a preplanned series. That's literally half.

I think Caspian was always going to be a hard sell. The reason is that, for all intents and purposes, it's a completely different universe than the first film. The viewpoint characters are the same, but the passage of a thousand years of Narnian history means it's a new setting, new characters, new everything. It's unfortunate you can look at it this way, but Lewis' Prince Caspian really is a reboot in all but name.

Ironically, after making Caspian I think they were in a good position to make Dawn Treader, as it's a direct sequel to Caspian where Caspian is not a sequel to Lion.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I did not find any of the kids likable or memorable. Not sure if that the characters or actors. Probably a mixture of the both.

The mention that they wait around to be saved made me think of this. There is nothing special about these characters. They just stumble into this situation. I guess they follow in the tradition of characters like Alice and Dorothy. Ciphers which are the point of view for the audience. But both of them were the solo focused p.ov. While in Narnia its spread out over a undefined group. Without the fun interpersonal dynamics of that the original Star Wars had.

 

[CaptainCanada]

The books are charming little tales that elucidate Lewis' theological points without being overly preachy. The movies (well, movie, I didn't bother with the second one) don't have any of the passion that either Lewis put into the writing or that Jackson or Cuaron and the directors put into LOTR or HP.

 

[Trent Roman]

The reason is that, for all intents and purposes, it's a completely different universe than the first film. The viewpoint characters are the same, but the passage of a thousand years of Narnian history means it's a new setting, new characters, new everything. It's unfortunate you can look at it this way, but Lewis' Prince Caspian really is a reboot in all but name.

I strongly doubt that had anything do to with the film's poor performance, because I doubt most people noticed or cared. Narnia the fim was fairly generic fantasy with little world-building to speak of; having an already inchoate magical realm appear different from one film to another isn't going to alienate audiences any. Fans will know the history, and general audiences won't give a fruit.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Crooked Halo]

I'm not surprised but I am disappointed.

I think Walt Disney himself would frown heavily upon the decisions the company he founded has been making over the last many years. They're just another megacorporation who doesn't care about their products or audience, only how much money they can rip out of their pockets.

The fact that they were a major force for why Pushing Daisies has been cancelled -- which is particularly fascinating since ABC's other executives seemed to want to keep it going despite its current numbers -- says it all for me. This Narnia news is just icing on the cake.

 

[Falcor5]

Argh this stinks. If it is still going to be made they better find a new partner soon since if they wait to long the actors from the first two movies will be all grown up.

 

[Canadave]

Considering what kind of result they needed to see for it to be a success, $141 million in North America is kind of pitiful. They would have needed at least $200 million to do well... if you don't break even on your North American totals, then chances are you're sunk overall.

 

[DigificWriter]

I'd like to point out that this doesn't necessarily mean that the Narnia film franchise is finished... merely that Disney has decided to abandon their support and distribution of it.

Hopefully Walden can find another disributor for the franchise, and keep Douglas Gresham and Andrew Adamson, as well as the cast, on board, without more significant delays.

 

[Neroon]

A good point to keep in mind. I think what concerns folks here is just that can they find someone with the abilities that would bring to the table? That's a huge thing to have to achieve in this timeframe. Whatever one feels about Disney, they know marketing. Whoever Walden does team up with - and I'm confident they will - I have to wonder just how much it will affect the final product. Disney had deep pockets to draw upon.

 

[MNM]

I'll be disappointed if Dawn Treader doesnt end up getting made, as in my opinion that is the best of the Narnia books.

That said, Prince Caspian was not a great movie, the best thing about it being how hot the chick who played Susan looked in her armour!

 

[Orintho]

It really helps to have a director or creative team that truly loves the source material. The audience can always tell. I don't think the same care went into crafting the Narnia films that went into the LOTR saga, or even something like the Hellboy franchise.

 

[CaptJimboJones]

I enjoyed these novels as a kid, and I recall that Dawn Treader was my very favorite. So it's a real shame that's the movie that's being canned.

 

[Neroon]

I enjoyed these novels as a kid, and I recall that Dawn Treader was my very favorite. So it's a real shame that's the movie that's being canned.

It isn't "being canned" as DigificWriter says, or more precisely we cannot tell from this that the film isn't getting made. Certainly with Disney pulling out things are tougher, but it doesn't mean that "Dawn Treader" won't be getting made.

 

[suarezguy]

I liked Wardrobe but was very disappointed with Caspian-focusing too much on the lackluster villain, Edmund being completely tamed and pure while Peter was now annoying, the girls didn't have much to do, Caspian wasn't too compelling, the whole thing felt much more padded out.

 

[Starfleet Engineer]

I'm surprised at some of the responses. I didn't care for Wardrobe. I thought it was just going through the motions and there was never anything to attach your emotions to or to care about. It just went from A to B to C and The End. On the other hand, I really liked Caspian and plan to buy it, and I rarely buy movies these days. I thought it was much better and I could relate to the allegories.