[UPDATE: Disney has notified us that they do indeed plan on bringing ALL the remaining Chronicles of Narnia movies to the big screen. According to them the source on this is completely wrong. - Vic]
We knew it was in development. But according to our buddies at Jim Hill Media, Disney and Pixar are moving forward with a film-trilogy based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars series for 2012 at the earliest… if not sooner than that.
Mark Andrews (Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Ratatouille) has already written a draft that both Disney and Pixar executives went bonkers over; crazy enough that they’re seriously wanting this to become their next big franchise instead of adapting all seven Chronicles of Narnia books(!?!)
The second Narnia installment Prince Caspian will open this coming May with the third outing, and Voyage of the Dawn Treader slated for a May 2010 release. Beyond that, there are no current plans to bring the remaining four novels to the silver screen. In fact, Dawn Treader might even be in jeopardy unless Caspian does killer box-office.
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Now I can’t comment on the John Carter of Mars novels since I’ve never read them (although I’ve only heard great things). But I do think placing Narnia in the summer instead of the more-reliable Christmas release is questionable… at best.
I don’t doubt there is some truth to this. The further they go along with the Narnia films; they’ll get more-and-more expensive. But as long as they make solid box-office numbers, Disney will continue to churn them out. This is the Mouse we’re talking about here, folks!
Source: Jim Hill Media
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22 Comments
Seriously, After 3 Cinderellas, are we supposed to believe they wouldn’t make at least the 7 existing books into movies. If Disney didn’t I don’t doubt Walden would try and team up with someone else. Fantasies have been tough sells (see Eragon, Spiderwick, and The Golden Compass). Narnia is about the closest to a sure thing you can get in the genre (aside from a boy wizard named Harry).
Aaah the toxic wake of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in action…
I would absolutely LOVE to see a Pixar CGI version of John Carter of Mars!
It would be fascinating to see Pixar unleashed on a non-kids movie IMHO.
Vic
Prince Caspian was the most boring of all the Narnia tales, including The Horse and His Boy. The trailer for PC, especially the battle scenes, looked so similar to LWW that I wondered if I had clicked the wrong link. I’m gonna see it, but I wonder if it will have the gravitas to merit the third installment.
Tom Baker, Puddleglum reprise, straight to DVD?
I was actually pretty disappointed by the first Narnia movie and I’m wondering if this one will be any better. I know it’s going to be darker than the first one, whatever that’s worth.
Vic
there are so many books I would like seen made into movies. I think the riftwar saga by Raymond E Feist would blow LotR out of the water, and the books based on the planet of Pern could be pretty good if done right as well.
It all depends on the director attached and the vision he presents. I dont really doubt any movie until i start to understand what the director is trying to do.
kyyle, I would LOVE to see Stephen R. Donaldson’s Thomas Covenant trilogies made into a movie. I doubt it’ll ever happen, but it too a half century to get LOTR made, so maybe the best fantasy this side of Tolkien will get big screen time one day, too!!
As for Prince Caspian, it’ll definitely be a rental for me. Too much other stuff to spend my money on this summer. Probably IM, Indy and TDK twice…
“the books based on the planet of Pern could be pretty good if done right as well.”
Agreed. It’s a shame WB dropped the Pern TV series (the day before it was to start filming as I recall) 7 years ago. A series of well done movies, though, would definitely be the next best thing.
Other books I’d like to see done, and done well, are the first two Dragonlance trilogies. Too bad all they’ve gotten so far is a mediocre, at best, cartoon of the first book.
I believe there is SOME concern on behalf of the Disney executives. But as Chip Chief pointed out, the Mouse has produced God knows how many DTV sequels to 30+ year-old films.
Jamie
LW&W was awesome, Prince Caspian will also be and make plenty of money. Dawn Treader is no way in jeopardy. Narnia has many fans the world over.
Flamestrike I couldnt agree more about the Dragonlance trilogies. When the D&D travesty with the Wayans brother came out years ago, i walked out of the theatre 10 minutes into the movie I was so pissed off.
Apparently Disney has been contacting various media to try to dispel the rumor started by Jim Hill. They are committed to continuing the series as long as they have fan support. I should have a entry about this tomorrow at Hollywood Jesus’ Narnia News Blog.
{{continuing the series as long as they have fan support}}
This is no different than what has already been said. No franchise will survive without fan support. (OK someone will probably mention a series, like Scary Movies, that have gone on despite the box office returns).
Jim those Scary Movies cost very little to make and they usually more than break even after dvd sales are in.
Ps
Watched Resident Evil , Extinction today on dvd. I would give it 4 stars on the Screen Rant scale.
Deffinitly the best film in that franchise by far.
Since some of you subscribe to comments I thought I’d post this here so you’d see it:
Disney has notified us that they do indeed plan on bringing ALL the remaining Chronicles of Narnia movies to the big screen. According to them the source on this is completely wrong.
Vic
So Vic, they’re saying that they will make The Silver Chair even if Caspian & Treader tank?
Maybe so, but the budget will be gone. I can see The Horse & His Boy as a one man stage act narrated by Gilbert Godfried. The Last Battle’s cast will consist of sock puppets.
Considering the first one made almost a Billion dollars worldwide I seriously doubt these are going to “tank.”
Vic
Since The Passion of Aslan, there have been new movies in that genre about every 6 weeks. Polar bears, spiders, bridges, talking animals, magic books, children as heroes, fairies (some with wings).
This genre is killing me.
Make it stop
Make it stop!!!!!
Well I went to go see Narnia LWW on opening night and it is the only movie that i have ever been to that got a standing ovation so obviously people liked it, and I don’t know why they wouldn’t want more…
Now, look I know a lot of you are against The new Narnia film but I do have to say that this film will do better then the first one. I do have some friends who have work an the next Narnia film and even worked on the third Narnia film, and they say the same thing that Narnia 2 will be one of the best summer films for 2008. I was impressed at what I’ve seen so far.
Also the SFX looks way better then any other summer 2008 films so far.
Well, rottentomatoes have it at 69%. The concensus is that it had a great ending battle but before that, it was kind of boring. I guess we will have to see.
What's your opinion? Leave a comment!