Filming on "The Chronicles of Narnia" Reboot to Begin Next Year
A completely new approach is to be pursued
Back to Narnia: 15 years after "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader", the eagerly awaited reboot of "The Chronicles of Narnia" is finally on the horizon. Filming under Greta Gerwig is set to begin next year.
To be precise, in July 2025, as producer Amy Pascal revealed in an interview with industry magazine Deadline.
The announcement suggests that pre-production – including the selection of actors, the search for locations and the design of the sets – is already at an advanced stage or will soon be underway. According to reports in the Times, filming is to take place at the renowned Shepperton Studios in England. Blockbusters such as "Avengers: Age of Ultron" and Ridley Scott's "Alien" have already been filmed there.
However, another statement by Pascal is causing discussion among fans. She hinted that it will be a completely new interpretation of the "Narnia" story. Quote:
"A very new Take. It's all about rock'n'roll."
Sounds a bit like they want to take a kind of meta approach, as in "Barbie".
The screenplay was written by both Greta Gerwig and Matthew Aldrich, who worked on the Disney films "Coco" and "Lightyear", among others. Nothing is yet known about the cast. However, we should be able to report on one or two names by the time filming starts at the latest.
The Previous Narnia Films from Disney: An Epic Journey into the World of C.S. Lewis
"The Chronicles of Narnia", written by C.S. Lewis, are one of the most popular fantasy book series of all time. With their timeless blend of magic, adventure and profound themes, they have delighted generations of readers. Between 2005 and 2010, Disney teamed up with Walden Media to bring three films in the series to the big screen. These film adaptations, based on the first three books in the seven-book series, represented a significant milestone in the history of fantasy films. In this article, we take a look at Disney's three Narnia films to date: "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (2005), "Prince Caspian" (2008) and "Voyage on the Dawn Treader" (2010).
1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) : The Magic Begins
The first film, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe", marked the beginning of an epic journey. It was directed by Andrew Adamson, known for his work on the "Shrek" films. The movie was based on the book of the same name by C.S. Lewis and brought the magical world of Narnia to the big screen for the first time.
The story is about the four Pevensie siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy – who are evacuated from London to the countryside during the Second World War. There, through an old closet, they discover access to the magical world of Narnia, which has been shrouded in an eternal winter by the White Witch (played by Tilda Swinton). Together with the majestic lion Aslan (voiced in the original by Liam Neeson), the children wage a battle against the dark forces to free Narnia.
The movie was a huge success. With a budget of around 180 million dollars, it grossed over 745 million dollars worldwide. The impressive visual effects, the atmospheric music by Harry Gregson-Williams and the acting performances, especially by Georgie Henley as Lucy and Tilda Swinton as the menacing White Witch, were particularly praised.
2. Prince Caspian (2008): Darker Tones
Three years later, the franchise returned with "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian". Once again, Andrew Adamson directed. The film was based on the second published book in the series and showed a much darker and more action-packed side of Narnia.
The Pevensie siblings return to Narnia and discover that several hundred years have passed since their last visit. Narnia is now ruled by the Telmarines, a human race that has suppressed the magical creatures of Narnia. Together with the rightful heir to the throne, Prince Caspian (played by Ben Barnes), the siblings fight against the tyrannical King Miraz to restore the kingdom.
Although the film was more ambitious and featured larger battles and a more complex plot, it was unable to match the financial success of the first part. With box office takings of 420 million dollars, it fell short of expectations. Critics praised the epic battles and Ben Barnes' acting performance, but criticized the less magical and more military setting.
3. The Voyage on the Dawn Treader (2010): A New Course
The third part, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader", marked a turning point for the film series. Disney withdrew from the project and 20th Century Fox took over production together with Walden Media. This time the director was Michael Apted, known for "Gorillas in the Mist".
The story is based on the book of the same name and follows Lucy, Edmund and their reluctant cousin Eustace Scrubb (superbly played by Will Poulter), who embark on a perilous sea voyage with Prince Caspian aboard the ship Dawn. The aim of the journey is to find the seven lost Lords of Narnia and defeat the darkness that threatens the lands.
Although the movie appealed to many fans with its adventurous tone and fantastic locations, it also fell short of expectations. With worldwide box office takings of 415 million dollars, it was a moderate success, but not enough to secure the future of the film series. Critics praised the visuals and Will Poulter's performance, but criticized the episodic narrative structure.
The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Disney Narnia Films
The Disney adaptations of "The Chronicles of Narnia" offered breathtaking images, epic stories and an impressive cast. The first film in particular set the standard for fantasy films and captivated millions of viewers. Nevertheless, the later movies struggled with challenges: The darker direction of "Prince Caspian" and the weaker narrative structure of "The Voyage on the Dawn Treader" caused the series to lose traction.
Nevertheless, the film series remains an important contribution to the fantasy landscape. It brought the magic of C.S. Lewis' books to the screen and sparked interest in the world of Narnia among new generations.
