The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair

[Timstuff]

With Voyage of the Dawn Treader seemingly on schedule to make a profit, I figured now is as good a time as any to start a thread for the next installment in the Narnia series, The Silver Chair, which could be released as soon as Thanksgiving 2012 if things go well. The overall tone of Silver Chair is a little different from the previous films in the series, being a bit more of a dark fairy tale than an epic fantasy adventure. The plot revolves around King Caspian X's son, who is held under a spell by the Emerald Witch, a sorceress who rules "Underland," or Narnia's equivalent of the underworld. Eustace is brought back to Narnia to help find the lost prince.

This is the first Narnia film that is not about the Pevensie family, and as such several new characters are introduced, along with some returning ones. It is possible that some of the pevensies may make cameo appearances in the film, as Peter and Susan did in VOTDT. The returning characters are:

Aslan: It wouldn't be a Narnia film without him, after all.

Eustace Scrubb: The cousin of the pevensy family, he returns from Voyage of the Dawn Treader with an expanded, more prominent role. His prior time in Narnia has matured him significantly and he is now a respectable young man.

King Caspian X: The king of Narnia. He has a minor appearance in the film as a much older man.

Liliandil: The daughter of Rimandu, the star. After the events of Voyage of the Dawn Treader she married Caspian, and became the queen consort of Narnia.

Trumpkin: The red haired dwarf who aided the Pevensies in "Prince Caspian". He serves King Caspian as regent, although he has aged considerably.

The new characters, whom have yet to be cast:

Jill Pole: The female lead character of the story. One of Eustace's classmates, Jill initially dislikes Eustace due to his past alliance with the school's bullies and overall repugnant demeanor, but is brought with him to Narnia and later comes to recognize that he is not the boy she once thought. She was briefly mentioned at the end of the previous film.

Puddleglum: A humanoid, swamp-dwelling amphibian who helps guide Eustace and Jill on their journey to find the lost prince. He is generally a pessimist, who serves as comic relief (hopefully, he escapes unfavorable comparisons to Jar Jar Binks).

Prince Rilian: The lost prince whom the plot is centered around. He is the son of King Caspian X and Liliandil. He is a handsome man and has an otherworldly quality about him, since he is the partial descendant of celestial beings.

The Emerald Witch: The queen of the Underland, who keeps prince Rilian as her slave. She is a separate character from the White Witch, although there are similarities between the two. It is possible that she became the ruler of the Underland around the same time the White Witch became the ruler of Narnia, although not much is known of her history. Like the White Witch she is very beautiful, but malicious.

I sincerely hope this thread becomes busy within the next few months with news of the film's production, like the director, casting information, and of course, the all important green light announcement. I rather enjoy this particular chapter of the Narnia saga and I think that it has potential to be one of the better films in the series, if handled properly. As I said before, it's very much a fairy tale and I think it should lend itself very well to celluloid.

 

[Ponyboy]

I have to say... I'm at a bit of a loss with these movies. I adored the books as a child... I still have a large HC of the entire series.

The movies though? I would give the first film a 7.5. But the 2nd film seemed nothing more than one giant battle, sacrificing the story and (for me) causing a lack of interest in the characters and their fates. I saw The Dawn Treader over the Christmas holidays with my wife... And I was sorely disappointed. The series to me, seems a shallow representation of the books and lacks any kind of depth to immerse me (the viewer) into that world.

They've also made a huge mistake... In my view they aren't playing up the "larger world" aspect of these films in a way that Harry Potter actually has managed to achieve. There's no real flow from one film to the next. This is also the case with the books but I think with the liberty of film they could make it feel much more cohesive by doing so. Anyway, going back to the last film, I was pleased with Eustace's portrayal and I felt he almost carried the film. And what was with Ben Barnes all of a sudden speaking in a British accent?

 

[Donut]

They will probably re write the ending a bit differently & get one or two of the original kids in the ending when Caspian goes to the real world with Eustace & Jill to help make things right

 

[Spider-Fan]

I am still unsure whether or not this is going to happen.

 

[chaseter]

If the next one happens, which I am pretty sure it won't, then the budget is going to be scaled way back.

 

[Octoberist]

If I was a betting man, I would say there won't be another one. I'm sorry, but barley, barely, barely making end's meet at the box office doesn't mean another greenlight.

 

[superhero]

never cared for these moive .

 

[Ponyboy]

yes they are boring to some degree. they're missing something... that movie magic. I don't think the non-Christian community is any more confused than people who like the material and are willing to give these movies a go... The Christian themes are present but I don't think that they are hindering to the story. I think the rub is really what the directors/producers are deciding to leave out of the source material. The sum of each of these films should be much greater than they are.

 

[Speedball]

I feel like they could wait a few years to film this. Caspian is older, and I think Eustace should be recast. I don't that kid could hold his own film, or wait a few years, because that kid hasn't aged since 12.
I would actually like to see the Magician's Nephew made first. It's my favorite book, and I think it has a stronger story than the others.

 

[Lord Blackbolt]

I'm sure without a doubt Fox will do another Narnia movie...especially the prequel story. As soon as they see the money the Hobbit makes, they'll want to jump on the fantasy prequel craze.

 

[Lord Blackbolt]

I'm sure without a doubt Fox will do another Narnia movie...especially the prequel story. As soon as they see the money the Hobbit makes, they'll want to jump on the fantasy prequel craze.

 

[Octoberist]

Sure, sure.

After this, Eragon, and Percy Jackson*, Fox will FOR SURE go for another fantasy film (but this time as a prequel)

* (biting sarcasm)

 

[Timstuff]

I wonder if they're going to end up putting Tilda Swinton in this movie. The Emerald Witch is a separate character from the White Witch, however the background details for her are kind of ambiguous, so it's possible that they could interpret her as being the sister of the White Witch, in which case they could cast Swinton as her. Even though it's not a necessary change per say, but Swinton has been in all of the movies thus far and the producers seem to like working with her, so I could see them interpreting the character that way. As long as they don't make the mistake of re-imagining her as being a reincarnation of the White Witch I think it could work.

 

[flash13]

I guess we'll here if they are going to make this when the Dawn Treader DVD is released. Fox would be stupid not to considering it was their first movie since Avatar to break 100 million.

 

[Octoberist]

I don't know. There's a difference between making a profit and just breaking even.

Especially when you look at the decline at the BO with each Narnia movie, regardless of the studio.

 

[Rac]

I really don't think they are gonna continue making these.

 

[cronosred]

I don't know. There's a difference between making a profit and just breaking even.

Especially when you look at the decline at the BO with each Narnia movie, regardless of the studio.

I still think it did good considering the lack of hype. Not many people even knew this movie was being made and then all of a sudden it's like "oh yeah we made another Narnia movie and it opens next week." I said this before but I would really like Fox to give it one more try but this time build up the hype and promote it more and if it doesn't do better then drop it.

 

[Doc Ock]

I still haven't seen the Dawn Treader unfortunately, but I would feel saddened if this series didn't continue as films. I loved Wardrobe and Caspian, I'm sure I will love Dawn Treader when I see it.

Maybe Narnia will see more success when Harry Potter ends its film series? It just would be very unfortunate for the films to become unfinished.

 

[Majik1387]

Can't wait for it.

Just saw Dawn Treader on Tuesday and it pleasantly surprised me. I was never big into the book series, I remember being bored by the old cartoon movie, and I enjoyed the first two films by Disney, but never was hyped up for them. Hopefully this turns out as good as the past three.

 

[Octoberist]

If they make another one, I'll eat my shoes.* So I guess I won't be
eating my shoes anytime soon!

*When I say shoes, it's Codeword for ribeye steak.

 

[8wid]

Sure, sure.

After this, Eragon, and Percy Jackson*, Fox will FOR SURE go for another fantasy film (but this time as a prequel)

* (biting sarcasm)

Yep, and they'll probably get the rights for a Neverending Story remake.

 

[Airwings]

Have you seen The Thief Lord?
Rollo Weeks play the title character, and it's some kind of fairytale-themed film, but it kinda failed.
I think Rollo deserves to be in one major film, in the current trend of fantasy adaptions. But which one?
I know: the 4th Narnia film. If they are going to use Silver Chair as the story, then we have a contender for Prince Rillian. Rollo isn't a teenager anymore, neither is the character. But he's not too old either, and he's not busy with a lot of other projects. He hardly makes films these days. But he looks good in the upcoming Booked Out, and he clearly shows that he has what it takes to get a job in the acting industry.
And I really, really want him to be in Narnia. Please, let it happen.
Rollo Weeks is not too known to play the character. I mean, the audience won't just be seeing "Rollo in medieval clothes", but he's able to melt into the role.

 

[childeroland]

Aren't they doing Magician's Nephew next? And won't the next one take awhile because the Lewis estate has some sort of moratorium on when Walden Media can start working on the film?

 

[Webhead2006]

I thought I heard it would be silver chair and then maybe nephew. Perferably I rather they go in order of book releases.

 

[Donut]

It would not be a bad thing if they re cast Eustace if they wait to long & Caspian is also in this book at the end