Before heading into the Christmas holiday, Walt Disney Pictures announced that it will not be co-producing and co-financing the third installment of the “Chronicles of Narnia” movie series.
Citing "budgetary considerations and other logistics," Disney pulled out of its partnership with Walden Media, leaving the rights-holder of the Narnia books to scout for a new partner to produce “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” which they had planned to release in May 2010.
The latest move casts a cloud of doubt over the third Narnia film, which may cost around $200 million to produce. It has also drawn criticism from fans of the original book series, who blame Disney for the less-than-expected success of the second Narnia film, “Prince Caspian.”
“Disney flatly refused to have any pre-screenings of Prince Caspian and would not pursue any special marketing of the film to churches and other Christian markets,” observed the C.S. Lewis Society of California. “In direct contrast, for the first film an extensive and highly effective marketing campaign directed by Motive Entertainment (the marketing experts from Passion of the Christ fame) produced an enormous response from Christian movie goers.”
In 2005, the first Narnia film, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” raked in $745 million in ticket sales worldwide on a $180 million production budget. The second, however, pulled in only $419 million despite a larger $200 million budget.
“Unlike the first ‘Narnia,’ which had a holiday release, the sequel came out in the spring, and it was up against superhero summer fare like ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Indiana Jones,’” observed media analyst James Hirsen in a commentary for Newsmax.com. “Disney tried to market it as an action flick, with limited success.”
“Disney … presented Prince Caspian as a strictly secular and violent, fantasy/adventure/romance, and the result was all too predictable,” the C.S. Lewis Society added in its statement Monday.
The organization also blamed “Prince Caspian” director Andrew Adamson, who they say “refused to embrace the full story and theme of the book,” thus leading to a “weak and mangled script.”
Without Disney, some predict that Walden Media’s new partner will be Fox, which already markets and distributes Walden films using the Fox Walden banner.
Regardless of what happens, however, Walden Media says they remain committed to C.S. Lewis’ remaining books.
"We're disappointed that Disney has decided not to go forward," said David Weil, chief executive of Walden's parent company, Anschutz Film Group, according to the Los Angeles Times. "But we regard 'Dawn Treader' as an extremely valuable property and remain committed to the franchise."
Walden said that it hoped to find a new financial partner and proceed with plans to shoot the film in the first quarter of 2009 with director Michael Apted.
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And I would completely agree with you. The thing about Europe is that it acts as a control experiment in that the conditions are the same for both movies which in the states is untrue. Control experiments are important as they make good reference points. But you knew that already?
Since the church in Europe is largely post-Christian, that makes sense. My points stand.
"Check the facts again, Steve. The first Narnia film was wildly more successful in the States than it was across the pond in Europe, and the reason was because the churches here were involved in promoting the film."
I think it should be more like "read my post again" as I clearly agree with the above, but relatively speaking in Europe it took less than the first and both without the churches involvement.
I hope they do make the rest of the films, but it is going to be difficult to find financing in the present economic climate.
I've seldom been impressed with Disney's interpretations of any story, but I didn't think "Prince Caspian" was actually that bad. It probably didn't make as much because of the timing of the release and poor publicity (I almost missed it). Considering the overall awful quality of movies released in 2008, it should have done well.
Check the facts again, Steve. The first Narnia film was wildly more successful in the States than it was across the pond in Europe, and the reason was because the churches here were involved in promoting the film.
Disney didn't involve the U.S. churches in the second film (or even stay true to the book's spiritual focus), and as a result the second film tanked.
Thanks for the comments weekenderman, I take on board what you write about involving the churches in the states and can understand the diffrence that might make(though I think the churches would see it anyway). In Europe though where I am, like the first movie, the churches where not involved(as in the states) the movie took less money than the first(though still banked), so I'm not sure how much the diffrence the "churchs involvement" made in the long run. Another thing to maybe take into account is the popularity of TLWW to all the other books.
BW
Stev
I say good riddance. The first film was close, but the second one was so "Hollywoodized" that the story and message that C.S. Lewis so eloquently put forth was not recognizable. I have a copy of the old BBC version of the Chronicles which were very low budget productions, but incredibly true to the story and message. We like them far better than the new ones, especially Prince Caspian.
I say good riddance. The first film was close, but the second one was so "Hollywoodized" that the story and message that C.S. Lewis so eloquently put forth was not recognizable. I have a copy of the old BBC version of the Chronicles which were very low budget productions, but incredibly true to the story and message. We like them far better than the new ones, especially Prince Caspian.
talmid: I agree, Disney is just a bunch of godless homosexuals anyway.
"How (sic) they opposing a so called message just because they made a business decision(check the figures)?"
They opposed a "so-called message" by not promoting this film in the churches as they did the first movie, Steve. That means Disney therefore made a poor business decision (check the figures, they made tons less money this time).
It's really not that difficult to understand, is it?
How they opposing a so called message just because they made a business decision(check the figures)? I hate to dissapoint you but I watched Prince Caspian at the flicks (quite enjoyed it)but let me assure you , nobody gave their life to Jesus afterwards. Maybe Fox will take it onboard, then the occupants of the Dawn Treader (the most boring book of the lot, the best is the silver chair)can set out to defeat those who rather say happy holidays instead of christmas?
GOOD RIDDANCE! Disney, why keep them if they're going to oppose the message behind the films. Hopefully Fox will jump on this opportunity!
Cool, maybe a faith-based group will step up to the plate and make the investment (and reap the rewards) of all future Narnia movies.